New York, June 4—They are saying (Scotty Reston is saying: ergo They are saying) that George McGovern might actually become the President of the United States.’ The reasoning is simplecomplex. To begin with, nothing is happening the way it ought to have happened. Three months ago it was not thought by any professional that Ed Muskie could be stopped. Ed Muskie! As well nominate Harold Stassen, at this point. And what did he do to earn such sudden, permanent obloquy? Nothing at all, just act normal. Moral of the season: act abnormal.
That is what George McGovern has for the most part been doing. Going left left left, ostensibly alienating the middle people, who are supposed to be indis-pensable to a true victory. Upsetting the labor union leaders, defying the bosses, ignoring the great social issue of busing, saying things like: “I still think Henry Wallace was right,” a statement of such breathtaking perversity as to render George Romney’s famous self- disqualifier about having been brainwashed positively unnoticeable by contrast. But it doesn’t stop McGovern. Nothing stops McGovern. I doubt if McGovern would lose a primary if he said that on second thought he wishes the Arabs would take over Israel. Or has he said it already, and nobody noticed?
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