Sen. Robert J. Dole (R-Kan.) received twice as many votes among Cantabrigians as his closest rival in Tuesday's presidential primary.

Dole was the choice of 732 Cambridge Republicans. He garnered 45 percent of all ballots cast in the city while conservative commentator Patrick J. Buchanan, his nearest competitor, received 338 votes, or 21 percent.

Millionaire publisher Malcom S. "Steve" Forbes Jr. placed third with the support of 268 voters, or 16 percent.

Some 53 percent of the city's 3,100 registered Republicans took to the polls Tuesday, braving a steady rain and sleet during polling hours.

But only 12 percent of Cambridge's 26,400 registered Democrats cast ballots, thereby producing one of the lowest turnouts in recent memory.

"There just wasn't much interest on the Democratic side, so numbers were low despite a large Republican turnout," said Cambridge Election Commissioner Artis B. Spears.

Spears also said the inclement weather may have suppressed overall turnout.

Cambridge Republican Ronald W. Potvin said Dole benefited from low turnout because he was the candidate endorsed by the Republican State Committee and was perceived as the strongest candidate in the field.

"Especially around here, many view Buchanan as too extreme," Potvin said.

Among the other Republican candidates, former Tennessee gov. Lamar Alexander received 144 votes, Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.) received 91, and Alan L. Keyes '72 received 52.

Illinois businessman Morry Taylor received 6 votes and Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Calif.) received 2.

President Clinton, who faced token opposition from convicted felon Lyndon R. LaRouche, received 2,710 votes to LaRouche's 94.