New Democratic National Chairman Paul Kirk is off and running in attempt to stitch Democratic Party together again. Last week he urged organized labor not to be a mug next time around and to withhold its endorsement until after the Democratic (natch) convention. . . . AFL-CIO chief Lane Kirkland is making no promises. Next Kirk says he’ll carry the message to other organized groups—blacks, women, Hispanics. . . . Kirk’s trip a fortnight back to Atlanta was far from successful: None of the 12 Southern governors he wanted to talk to was on hand to greet him. Commented no-show George Wallace: “The party’s got to get away from some of the ultra-liberal positions they advocated in the platform … if they ever hope to carry Alabama again.” . . . Two influential governors (Bruce Babbitt, Ariz., and Charles Robb, Va.) and Sen. Lawton Chiles, Fla., have formed their own Democratic Leadership Council to try to bring national party back to center. . . . Recent polls show Southern whites more and more identifying themselves as Republicans, and last week’s Gallup indicated 39 per cent of people feel Republicans are better at handling national problems, as against 29 per cent who think the Democrats do a better job—the best GOP showing since the first weeks of Reagan’s first term. . . . Democratic political analyst Richard M. Scammon says problem with Democratic Party is that it is torn between “cause men” and practicing politicians, with the “cause men” in control. “You can’t get the fifty million votes you need to elect a President” with causes, he says.
Looking ahead: Kevin Phillips sees clear sailing for Republicans in two gubernatorial elections this year: in New Jersey, where Democratic Rep. James Florio—who fought Republican Gov. Thomas Kean right down to the wire last time around—has announced he won’t run against Kean this year; and in Virginia, where popular Democratic Gov. Charles Robb cannot run again. Virginia Democrats are already at each other’s throats in the scramble to win nomination. … In 1986, Phillips says, Republicans have good chance at retaining seat Barry Goldwater will be vacating in Ariz., now that Gov. Babbitt says he won’t run for Senate. . . . Newsweek tries this one on for size: If, it says, Sen. Charles Mathias (Md.) decides to retire in ’86, Jeane Kirkpatrick might run for his seat as Republican, in preparation for a presidential bid. . . . Boston Globe says Kennedy family “inner circle” has notified other possible candidates that 23-year-old Edward Kennedy Jr., Teddy’s son, may run for Tip O’Neill’s seat in the 8th CD when the Speaker calls it quits. Kennedys apparently reason it’s their seat, since JFK once held it. . . . Democratic analyst Alan Baron throws this one out without comment: No incumbent Vice President has been elected President since Martin Van Buren in 1836. Richard Nixon was an ex-Vice President battling an incumbent VP in his successful 1968 run against Hubert Humphrey.
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