For the Record

So what are the pros saying about John Glenn’s candidacy? Not surprisingly, David Sawyer, the political consultant Glenn has signed up, says his man is “the strongest Democratic candidate.” Maybe so, asserts Sen. Paul Laxalt, Republican chairman, but can he get the nomination? John Glenn, he says, “could be the Nelson Rockefeller of the Democratic Party,” the man who could win the big one but can’t get past the convention. . . . Stuart Spencer, who will play a big part in the Reagan campaign if Reagan decides to go, rates the Democrats thus: Mondale should have it locked up. Glenn has lots of potential, but has he the political savvy? Gary Hart could do well in New Hampshire, and, says Spencer, “he knows the game.” . . . Political pollster Burns Roper says celebrity status won’t buy John Glenn much, but “it’s enough to make him talked about as a contender rather than a senator from Ohio.” . . . Washington Post headline day after Glenn announced was: “Glenn’s Campaign Staff Is Off and Walking.”

How about the Republicans? New York State GOP Chairman George Clark says he’ll “bet the ranch” that Reagan will run. . . . Laxalt has had to tell Reagan enthusiasts to “cool it” with their campaign funds, and wait for the President to give the word. Laxalt says they can crank up a top-flight campaign organization in thirty days. . . . Benjamin Hooks, head of the NAACP, is not so gauche as to say he opposes the presidential ambitions of Jesse Jackson, but Hooks says the NAACP will not support any black candidate in 1984. That, he maintains, would split the Democratic vote and might allow a “Reagan-type” candidate to win. . . . Charles Manatt, the Democratic National Chairman, says that in his opinion neither a woman nor a black will appear on the Democratic ticket in ’84. That may come before the end of the century, but not in ’84. . . . Incidentally, there will be fewer Democratic primaries in 1984 than in 1980: Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, Nevada, and Wisconsin will have caucuses instead.

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Presidential Election

So what are the pros saying about John Glenn’s candidacy? Not surprisingly, David Sawyer, the political consultant Glenn has signed up, says his man is “the strongest Democratic candidate.” Maybe so, asserts Sen. Paul Laxalt, Republican chairman, but can he get the nomination? John Glenn, he says, “could be the Nelson Rockefeller of the Democratic Party,” the man who could win the big one but can’t get past the convention. . . . Stuart Spencer, who will play a big part in the Reagan campaign if Reagan decides to go, rates the Democrats thus: Mondale should have it locked up. Glenn has lots of potential, but has he the political savvy? Gary Hart could do well in New Hampshire, and, says Spencer, “he knows the game.” . . . Political pollster Burns Roper says celebrity status won’t buy John Glenn much, but “it’s enough to make him talked about as a contender rather than a senator from Ohio.” . . . Washington Post headline day after Glenn announced was: “Glenn’s Campaign Staff Is Off and Walking.”

How about the Republicans? New York State GOP Chairman George Clark says he’ll “bet the ranch” that Reagan will run. . . . Laxalt has had to tell Reagan enthusiasts to “cool it” with their campaign funds, and wait for the President to give the word. Laxalt says they can crank up a top-flight campaign organization in thirty days. . . . Benjamin Hooks, head of the NAACP, is not so gauche as to say he opposes the presidential ambitions of Jesse Jackson, but Hooks says the NAACP will not support any black candidate in 1984. That, he maintains, would split the Democratic vote and might allow a “Reagan-type” candidate to win. . . . Charles Manatt, the Democratic National Chairman, says that in his opinion neither a woman nor a black will appear on the Democratic ticket in ’84. That may come before the end of the century, but not in ’84. . . . Incidentally, there will be fewer Democratic primaries in 1984 than in 1980: Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Montana, Nevada, and Wisconsin will have caucuses instead.