Letter from Washington

Better a weepy Muskie than a stolid Scoop? The Gallup Poll asked Democrats whom they would favor if forced to choose between Muskie and Jackson. Result: Muskie41 percent, Jackson 34 per cent, undecided (read: appalled) 25 per cent. Men were evenly divided, women favored Muskie, as did those who were under fifty, had less education, and lived outside the South. Other recent Gallup findings are: Kennedy over Jackson 70 to 23, Kennedy over Muskie 70 to 22, Kennedy over Wallace 69 to 24, Humphrey over McGovern 48 to 35. Among independent voters it is Kennedy over Wallace 51 to 40, over Jackson 53 to 36, over Muskie 52 to 33 per cent.

Political Notes: While Illinois Governor Dan Walker has visions of the Democratic presidential nomination dancing in his head, Illinois Republicans have visions of taking his job next year. All they need is a candidate. Some would like White House chief-of-staff Donald Rumsfeld to come home to make the race. Rumsfeld was a congressman from Chicago’s northern suburbs before joining the Nixon Administration in 1969. Attorney General William Scott and U.S. Attorney James Thompson are other possible candidates. . . . Ronald Reagan says the Democrats will nominate Kennedy. Senator Alan Cranston (D., Calif.) says Kennedy’s nomination is becoming an “inevitability.” According to columnists Rowland Evans and Robert Novak, Gerald Ford thinks Kennedy would be his toughest opponent, and will be his opponent. Candidate Representative Mo Udall (D., Ariz.) says it is an iron law: what everyone believes is true, is false. . . . Stop Press! Headline of the week: “Sen. Percy Is Critical of Ford.” The Illinois Republican says he is shocked to learn that support for Ford in Illinois is “paper thin.” So shocked is Percy that he may have to consider seeking That Great Office if Ford does not show more leadership. Says Percy: “Either now or in 1980 is my time to run for President.”

Better a weepy Muskie than a stolid Scoop? The Gallup Poll asked Democrats whom they would favor if forced to choose between Muskie and Jackson. Result: Muskie41 percent, Jackson 34 per cent, undecided (read: appalled) 25 per cent. Men were evenly divided, women favored Muskie, as did those who were under fifty, had less education, and lived outside the South. Other recent Gallup findings are: Kennedy over Jackson 70 to 23, Kennedy over Muskie 70 to 22, Kennedy over Wallace 69 to 24, Humphrey over McGovern 48 to 35. Among independent voters it is Kennedy over Wallace 51 to 40, over Jackson 53 to 36, over Muskie 52 to 33 per cent.

Political Notes: While Illinois Governor Dan Walker has visions of the Democratic presidential nomination dancing in his head, Illinois Republicans have visions of taking his job next year. All they need is a candidate. Some would like White House chief-of-staff Donald Rumsfeld to come home to make the race. Rumsfeld was a congressman from Chicago’s northern suburbs before joining the Nixon Administration in 1969. Attorney General William Scott and U.S. Attorney James Thompson are other possible candidates. . . . Ronald Reagan says the Democrats will nominate Kennedy. Senator Alan Cranston (D., Calif.) says Kennedy’s nomination is becoming an “inevitability.” According to columnists Rowland Evans and Robert Novak, Gerald Ford thinks Kennedy would be his toughest opponent, and will be his opponent. Candidate Representative Mo Udall (D., Ariz.) says it is an iron law: what everyone believes is true, is false. . . . Stop Press! Headline of the week: “Sen. Percy Is Critical of Ford.” The Illinois Republican says he is shocked to learn that support for Ford in Illinois is “paper thin.” So shocked is Percy that he may have to consider seeking That Great Office if Ford does not show more leadership. Says Percy: “Either now or in 1980 is my time to run for President.”