BOSTON--For supporters of U.S. Sen. Robert J. Dole (R-Kan.), last night's celebration was well worth the wait.

The Republican presidential candidate won eight primaries nationwide yesterday--including Massachusetts and all of New England--sending him well on his way to the GOP nomination and a fierce battle with President Clinton in November's general election.

"This is the guy with not only the fire in his belly, but with a great vision to be president of the United States," said Gov. William F. Weld '66, speaking to a crowd of 100 raucous Dole supporters at the Colonnade Hotel in the Back Bay.

Dole's impressive victories last night were enough to drive several rival moderate candidates out of the race and could perhaps propel him past conservative commentator Patrick J. Buchanan, who last night vowed to hang on until the bitter end.

Former Tennessee gov. Lamar Alexander and U.S. Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.), two of Dole's rivals, both indicated last night that they will concede the race to the Kansas senator in planned press conferences today.

"We knew from the beginning that he would get the nomination," ABC News Political Commentator Cokie Roberts said in an interview with The Crimson. "It was just how hard [he would have to fight]."

With primary wins in Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont and a caucus win in Minnesota, Dole surged ahead in the delegate count with at least 276 at press time.

"The Republicans in Massachusetts--joining Republicans from every corner of the country--have sent a powerful message," said Lt. Gov. Paul Cellucci at Dole's festive event in Boston. "Bob Dole will be the nominee of the Republican party."

Amidst the dancing and loud music echoing throughout the crowded banquet room in the Colonnade, local Dole supporters last night were extolling the Kansas senator and looking forward to the general election.

"He's been in the political arena for so many years. He has the knowledge and the background of a seasoned veteran," said local restaurateur Anthony Lawrence. "He would be the man to make the right decisions, not waffling like someone we know."

Former Republican Senatorial candidate W. Mitt Romney said he is confident that Dole will be in the White House after November's election.

Romney told The Crimson he is less sure, however, whether the candidate can carry Massachusetts as convincingly in the general election.

"Massachusetts is a tough state for Republicans," said Romney, who ran against U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy '54-'56 (D-Mass.) in 1994.

However, some were not as solidly behind Dole as Romney was and went to last night's gathering eager to learn more about the Senate majority leader.

Brookline resident Evelyn Keene, who, in her mid-sixties recently left the Republican party to become an independent, said she has not yet decided whether to throw her support to Dole or Clinton.

"I'm not sure what [Dole's] politics are," Keene said. "He talks about having a vision for America, but he's not specific. He better come out and say something definitive or I won't vote for him."