For the Record

AFL-CIO bigwigs came and went at Bal Harbour, Florida, last week and bestowed the union label on no one. Democratic hopeful Sen. Joseph Biden warmed the heart of William Winpisinger (Machinists), the leftist leader, but Biden is small potatoes at this point in presidential sweepstakes. Mario Cuomo and Michael Dukakis, governors of heavily unionized industrial Northeastern states, are not in the race yet, were not at Bal Harbour. Gary Hart made his pitch, but cranky words about labor from ’84 campaign have hurt him with old-timers. . . . On New Hampshire Minus One (year), late polls show Hart handily ahead among Democrats (Hart 41, Dukakis 19, Cuomo 16, Jackson 4); while George Bush heads Republican list (Bush 40, Dole 14, Baker 9, Kemp 7). . . . Kemp’s show was disappointing, but election of conservative Ray Shamie to head GOP in neighboring Massachusetts should help; Shamie’s opponent was Bush man. . . . Kemp came up with some big party names in newly formed presidential steering committee, among them: Republican House Whip Trent Lott and conservative House activists Vin Weber and Newt Gingrich. . . . Aside from New Hampshire poll it was bad week for Bush. Re-evaluation of last summer’s Michigan delegate votes now indicates that Pat Robertson did at least as well as Bush there. . . . Clarification: “For the Record” report (Feb. 13) that Bush would not pledge to deploy SDI if elected is disputed by Bush aides, who say that doesn’t mean he won’t deploy, only that he wants a free hand. . . . Funniest man on hustings continues to be Bob Dole. Sample to GOP state legislators in Olympia, Wash.: “I ran once before, in 1980, but it was a secret. We didn’t tell anybody.”

Presidential ins and outs: Former Gov. Bruce Babbitt of Arizona will announce March 10, much braced by $1 million his campaign chest received from recent $l,000-a-plate dinner in Phoenix. . . . Lee Iacocca took himself out of the race fortnight ago; last week political consultant Terry O’Connell disbanded Iacocca exploratory committee. … It looks as if Georgia’s Sen. Sam Nunn will pass. Nunn has told Atlanta Constitution that he thinks “the chances are very much against” his forming an exploratory committee. . . . Both parties wooing Southland as evidenced by GOP choice of New Orleans for its convention (Aug. 15), Democratic choice of Atlanta (July 18). This is why: The 11 Deep South states control 138 electoral votes, more than half the 270 needed to elect; a majority of Southerners live in states with Republican governors. . . . Combine that with Super Tuesday Dixie primary right after New Hampshire and what you’ve got is pull to the right for Democratic candidates.

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Presidential Election

AFL-CIO bigwigs came and went at Bal Harbour, Florida, last week and bestowed the union label on no one. Democratic hopeful Sen. Joseph Biden warmed the heart of William Winpisinger (Machinists), the leftist leader, but Biden is small potatoes at this point in presidential sweepstakes. Mario Cuomo and Michael Dukakis, governors of heavily unionized industrial Northeastern states, are not in the race yet, were not at Bal Harbour. Gary Hart made his pitch, but cranky words about labor from ’84 campaign have hurt him with old-timers. . . . On New Hampshire Minus One (year), late polls show Hart handily ahead among Democrats (Hart 41, Dukakis 19, Cuomo 16, Jackson 4); while George Bush heads Republican list (Bush 40, Dole 14, Baker 9, Kemp 7). . . . Kemp’s show was disappointing, but election of conservative Ray Shamie to head GOP in neighboring Massachusetts should help; Shamie’s opponent was Bush man. . . . Kemp came up with some big party names in newly formed presidential steering committee, among them: Republican House Whip Trent Lott and conservative House activists Vin Weber and Newt Gingrich. . . . Aside from New Hampshire poll it was bad week for Bush. Re-evaluation of last summer’s Michigan delegate votes now indicates that Pat Robertson did at least as well as Bush there. . . . Clarification: “For the Record” report (Feb. 13) that Bush would not pledge to deploy SDI if elected is disputed by Bush aides, who say that doesn’t mean he won’t deploy, only that he wants a free hand. . . . Funniest man on hustings continues to be Bob Dole. Sample to GOP state legislators in Olympia, Wash.: “I ran once before, in 1980, but it was a secret. We didn’t tell anybody.”

Presidential ins and outs: Former Gov. Bruce Babbitt of Arizona will announce March 10, much braced by $1 million his campaign chest received from recent $l,000-a-plate dinner in Phoenix. . . . Lee Iacocca took himself out of the race fortnight ago; last week political consultant Terry O’Connell disbanded Iacocca exploratory committee. … It looks as if Georgia’s Sen. Sam Nunn will pass. Nunn has told Atlanta Constitution that he thinks “the chances are very much against” his forming an exploratory committee. . . . Both parties wooing Southland as evidenced by GOP choice of New Orleans for its convention (Aug. 15), Democratic choice of Atlanta (July 18). This is why: The 11 Deep South states control 138 electoral votes, more than half the 270 needed to elect; a majority of Southerners live in states with Republican governors. . . . Combine that with Super Tuesday Dixie primary right after New Hampshire and what you’ve got is pull to the right for Democratic candidates.