And Madeleine Kunin makes three. Having read the polls, Gov. Kunin of Vermont has decided against running again, which puts Republican former Gov. Richard Snelling well ahead in gubernatorial race. Gov. Kunin follows Michael Dukakis arid Connecticut’s William O’Neill—both of whom leave their states broke—in pulling out. . . . Republicans everywhere stunned that former Sens. Paul Laxalt and Barry Goldwater are sponsoring fundraising event for former Sen. Lowell Weicker, now running for governor of Connecticut as independent. . . . Also shocking to GOP stalwarts, decision of Connecticut National Republican Committeewoman Billie Boatright to resign that post to work on Weicker campaign. … In Massachusetts, most recent Boston Globe survey shows conservative Republican gubernatorial contender Steven Pierce leading his more liberal primary opponent, William Weld, 46 to 21 per cent. Primary is in September. Weld has not ingratiated himself with Bay State conservatives by appointing Stephen Tocco to high position on campaign staff. Tocco sabotaged gubernatorial campaign of Greg Hyatt in 1986 by spreading rumors about his personal life. Attorney General Frank Belotti, who leads five-man Democratic field, fancies Weld as opponent. In their last encounter (a race for attorney general) Weld got only 21 per cent of the vote. . . . New Yorkers lost opportunity for spirited gubernatorial race when outspoken conservative former Ambassador Evan Galbraith was ruled out of race on a residence technicality. Prof. Herbert London of NYU, another outspoken conservative, could be Conservative Party candidate. … In California, Democratic Attorney General John Van de Kamp failed by two votes to get the 60 per cent of state Democratic delegates that would win him party’s official endorsement in September primary against former San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein. Winner will face Republican Sen. Pete Wilson.
In congressional races, March Des Moines Register poll shows little movement in Right v. Left Iowa senatorial contest. Democratic incumbent Tom Harkin (ADA 95) leads GOP Rep. Tom Tauke (ADA 25), 51 to 40 per cent. Tauke has moved up just three points since December. . . . Decision of George Crockett (D., Mich.) to retire is good news. Crockett has been a key booster of Communist regimes in Cuba and Nicaragua along with other Black Caucus members Charles Rangel (D., N.Y.) and Ron Dellums (D., Calif.). . . . Not making things better: embattled Rep. Gus Savage (D., Ill.), criticized by Democratic National Chairman Ron Brown, among others, for anti-Semitic remarks at recent campaign rally, has taken to referring to Brown as “Ron Beige.” … In Indiana, GOP congressional candidate Fred Ray, frustrated by Indianapolis Star failure to mention his campaign, has tacked his list of nine grievances against the Star and its political editor, Pat Traub, to door of Star building. Traub was former press secretary to Ray’s opponent, Democratic Rep Andrew Jacobs (ADA 85).
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