Will Nixon Get A Senate

Early optimism is being replaced by recent confusion and worry among Republican strategists. In the past two weeks, observers have begun to be less sanguine about GOP prospects for capturing control of the Senate in November. On paper Republican chances look good, since only nine GOP seats are at stake and a number of Democratic seats are vulnerable. But some haphazard politicking and the absence of a discernible general strategy are not doing the Administration’s reputation for political savvy any good.

Typical of the confusion that has beset current GOP election strategy was the Punch-and-Judy show played out between incumbent Senator George Murphy (R., Cal.) and HEW Secretary Robert Finch. Would Finch run? Did he have the blessing of the White House? Did friends of Finch, possibly with White House knowledge, have anything to do with leaking the tale about Murphy’s yearly fee from Technicolor? Why did the Los Angeles Times weigh in against Murphy when it did? Why didn’t Administration operatives do something to discourage businessman Norton Simon from entering the primary against Murphy?

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Early optimism is being replaced by recent confusion and worry among Republican strategists. In the past two weeks, observers have begun to be less sanguine about GOP prospects for capturing control of the Senate in November. On paper Republican chances look good, since only nine GOP seats are at stake and a number of Democratic seats are vulnerable. But some haphazard politicking and the absence of a discernible general strategy are not doing the Administration’s reputation for political savvy any good.

Typical of the confusion that has beset current GOP election strategy was the Punch-and-Judy show played out between incumbent Senator George Murphy (R., Cal.) and HEW Secretary Robert Finch. Would Finch run? Did he have the blessing of the White House? Did friends of Finch, possibly with White House knowledge, have anything to do with leaking the tale about Murphy’s yearly fee from Technicolor? Why did the Los Angeles Times weigh in against Murphy when it did? Why didn’t Administration operatives do something to discourage businessman Norton Simon from entering the primary against Murphy?