For the Record

The Cuomo Non-Caper, cont’d: Chicago Tribune poll of five key states (California, Florida, Illinois, Texas, and New York) shows that 55 per cent of Democrats want someone other than six present contenders for President. Same poll shows Cuomo is as popular as Ronald Reagan among all voters and ahead of all 12 announced candidates. . . . Five of six Democrats are, understandably, handling situation gingerly. Not so Jesse Jackson, who says, “If I get beaten, I want ittobeby someone who’s on the playing field.” . . . Liberal columnists Richard Cohen, Mary McGrory maddened by what Mrs. McGrory calls Cuomo’s “peekaboo” tactics. . . . They also worry the pols. Says Ann F. Lewis, former Political Director of Democratic National Committee: “The candidates are like characters in a play where the audience keeps getting diverted by a shadow from offstage.” Mrs. Lewis can’t remember an election “where so many activists were staying so uncommitted so late into the process.” . . . That could change. New York Democratic state chairman Laurence Kirwan, a Cuomo man, is said to be passing word to state Democratic leaders that itisOKto “find the candidate you want and back him to the hilt.” In case you hadn’t noticed, the candidate du jour with liberals is Paul Simon, now No. 1 in Iowa with 24 per cent, to Michael Dukakis’s 18. . . . Washington Post did major puff piece on Simon with enigmatic headline: UPRIGHT BUT SHREWD. . . . Albert Gore, making pitch for position on right of Democratic field, is tripping over his own congressional record. Human Events has dug out the Pork Barrel & Subsidy Index, compiled by Competitive Enterprise Institute, which gives Gore big fat zero, meaning he hasn’t voted against a big spending bill in current Congress. . . . Hard-liner Elliott Abrams at State derides Gore’s wishy-washy Contra support record. Says Abrams: “[Gore is saying,] ‘All I want to do is send them bandages and tents.’ And that is considered to be a strange, right-wing view in today’s Democratic Party.”

Good week for George Bush. Chicago Tribune poll mentioned above says Bush is second only to Ronald Reagan in popularity among Republicans. . . . In Florida, Bush put damper on surging Pat Robertson campaign by winning 57 per cent in straw poll, to Robertson’s 37. . . . Latest New Hampshire poll shows Bush leading Bob Dole 40 to 27 per cent. . . . The Vice President has now made it unanimous: in letter to columnist Greg Fossedal he pledged to deploy SDI if he is elected. The other five Republicans had already done so. . . . Big shakeup of Dole campaign staff by campaign director Bill Brock means smaller role for two prominent conservatives, ACU Chairman Dave Keene and former Office of Personnel Management chief Don Devine.

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Presidential Election

The Cuomo Non-Caper, cont’d: Chicago Tribune poll of five key states (California, Florida, Illinois, Texas, and New York) shows that 55 per cent of Democrats want someone other than six present contenders for President. Same poll shows Cuomo is as popular as Ronald Reagan among all voters and ahead of all 12 announced candidates. . . . Five of six Democrats are, understandably, handling situation gingerly. Not so Jesse Jackson, who says, “If I get beaten, I want ittobeby someone who’s on the playing field.” . . . Liberal columnists Richard Cohen, Mary McGrory maddened by what Mrs. McGrory calls Cuomo’s “peekaboo” tactics. . . . They also worry the pols. Says Ann F. Lewis, former Political Director of Democratic National Committee: “The candidates are like characters in a play where the audience keeps getting diverted by a shadow from offstage.” Mrs. Lewis can’t remember an election “where so many activists were staying so uncommitted so late into the process.” . . . That could change. New York Democratic state chairman Laurence Kirwan, a Cuomo man, is said to be passing word to state Democratic leaders that itisOKto “find the candidate you want and back him to the hilt.” In case you hadn’t noticed, the candidate du jour with liberals is Paul Simon, now No. 1 in Iowa with 24 per cent, to Michael Dukakis’s 18. . . . Washington Post did major puff piece on Simon with enigmatic headline: UPRIGHT BUT SHREWD. . . . Albert Gore, making pitch for position on right of Democratic field, is tripping over his own congressional record. Human Events has dug out the Pork Barrel & Subsidy Index, compiled by Competitive Enterprise Institute, which gives Gore big fat zero, meaning he hasn’t voted against a big spending bill in current Congress. . . . Hard-liner Elliott Abrams at State derides Gore’s wishy-washy Contra support record. Says Abrams: “[Gore is saying,] ‘All I want to do is send them bandages and tents.’ And that is considered to be a strange, right-wing view in today’s Democratic Party.”

Good week for George Bush. Chicago Tribune poll mentioned above says Bush is second only to Ronald Reagan in popularity among Republicans. . . . In Florida, Bush put damper on surging Pat Robertson campaign by winning 57 per cent in straw poll, to Robertson’s 37. . . . Latest New Hampshire poll shows Bush leading Bob Dole 40 to 27 per cent. . . . The Vice President has now made it unanimous: in letter to columnist Greg Fossedal he pledged to deploy SDI if he is elected. The other five Republicans had already done so. . . . Big shakeup of Dole campaign staff by campaign director Bill Brock means smaller role for two prominent conservatives, ACU Chairman Dave Keene and former Office of Personnel Management chief Don Devine.