On the Record

Stuff of Democratic nightmares: Jesse Jackson in 1992. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D., Md.) put her finger on problem at recent Democratic fundraiser in New Hampshire. There is “an eerie silence” on the presidential campaign trail, she said. . . . Understandably, given George Bush’s high-flying approval rating. “I don’t sense 1992 is the year for Democrats to win the White House,” says Bert Lance, former Jimmy Carter White House aide. . . . “Usually by this time we have an awful lot of people in the ‘out’ party who are doing a lot of exploring,” says Brookings Institution political analyst Stephen Hess. “That is not happening now.” . . . Or as Carter press secretary Jody Powell put it in New Orleans: “Going after the Bush White House is sort of like rasslin’ with a down mattress—it assumes the shape of your own body.” So far, Jackson is only prominent Democrat visibly in the race, but there are signs his appeal may be waning among blacks. Al From, executive director of Democratic Leadership Council, points out that Rev. Jackson has chosen to stay on the outside, not to run for lesser political office, “and that is becoming less and less attractive,” says From. . . . New York Times quotes a senior elected black official at recent Democratic National Committee meeting in Indianapolis: “At some point African-American officials may say [to Jackson], “We love you, but we don’t want to play that game anymore. We want to win. Our people need to win.’ ” . . . Columnist Paul Gigot of Wall Street Journal suggests Democrats would be wise “to ditch Jesse Jackson and pick [Virginia Gov.] Douglas Wilder as vice-presidential candidate in 1992.” . . . Recent election of Wilder to governorship, says University of Virginia political analyst Larry Sabato, “is the most serious threat Jackson has faced. And I’m not certain he fully realizes it.”

Republicans stand to gain up to three seats in Senate this fall, says Christian Science Monitor. It finds very vulnerable Democratic Senators Paul Simon (Ill.), facing Republican Rep. Lynn Martin, who has started to move up in polls; Claiborne Pell (R.I.), facing another aggressive GOP woman, Rep. Claudine Schneider (private polls show Pell just four points ahead); and first-termer Tom Harkin (Iowa), running against politically savvy Rep. Tom Tauke. Also vulnerable, says Monitor, although less so, are Democrats Carl Levin (Mich.), James Exon (Neb.), and Max Baucus (Mont.). . . . Fighting for a chance at Levin are Rep. Bill Schuette (ADA 40; ACU 71) and prolife Detroit lawyer Clark Durant. Oliver North has been campaigning for Durant. Primary is August 7. . . . In gubernatorial races, GOP could be in big trouble with redistricting in prospect. L.A. Times poll shows former S.F. Mayor Dianne Feinstein with five-point edge over Republican Sen. Pete Wilson. … In Texas, macho statements by Republican gubernatorial candidate Clayton Williams [see “Me Bubba, You Jane,” p. 24] are hurting him not only with feminists but with women at large. . . . And sudden decision by Democratic former Sen. Lawton Chiles to enter Florida gubernatorial battle could prove knockout blow to hard-pressed GOP Gov. Bob Martinez. … In Connecticut, Everett Ladd of Roper’s thinks Lowell Weicker, running for governor as independent, is going to win, but Morton Tenzes, professor of political science at UConn, sees Weicker as splitting liberal vote with probable Democratic candidate, Rep. Bruce Morrison. . . . Local pols raising question: How effective would Weicker be as governor in dealing with ruffled Democratic and Republican state officials and legislators? . . . Connecticut’s loopy liberals beginning to break toward Weicker, despite Morrison’s nifty ADA (100) and AFL-CIO (100) ratings. Says impeccably liberal Rose Styron (Mrs. William): “We would have gone to Bruce [Morrison]. But we admire Lowell Weicker a whole lot.” Says ex— New York Timesman Harrison Salisbury: “I don’t have any trouble because I’m a strong fan of Lowell Weicker’s.” . . . Rep. Barney Frank (D., Mass.), meanwhile, has endorsed Morrison, and is urging Connecticut gay and lesbian community to do likewise.

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Presidential Election

Stuff of Democratic nightmares: Jesse Jackson in 1992. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D., Md.) put her finger on problem at recent Democratic fundraiser in New Hampshire. There is “an eerie silence” on the presidential campaign trail, she said. . . . Understandably, given George Bush’s high-flying approval rating. “I don’t sense 1992 is the year for Democrats to win the White House,” says Bert Lance, former Jimmy Carter White House aide. . . . “Usually by this time we have an awful lot of people in the ‘out’ party who are doing a lot of exploring,” says Brookings Institution political analyst Stephen Hess. “That is not happening now.” . . . Or as Carter press secretary Jody Powell put it in New Orleans: “Going after the Bush White House is sort of like rasslin’ with a down mattress—it assumes the shape of your own body.” So far, Jackson is only prominent Democrat visibly in the race, but there are signs his appeal may be waning among blacks. Al From, executive director of Democratic Leadership Council, points out that Rev. Jackson has chosen to stay on the outside, not to run for lesser political office, “and that is becoming less and less attractive,” says From. . . . New York Times quotes a senior elected black official at recent Democratic National Committee meeting in Indianapolis: “At some point African-American officials may say [to Jackson], “We love you, but we don’t want to play that game anymore. We want to win. Our people need to win.’ ” . . . Columnist Paul Gigot of Wall Street Journal suggests Democrats would be wise “to ditch Jesse Jackson and pick [Virginia Gov.] Douglas Wilder as vice-presidential candidate in 1992.” . . . Recent election of Wilder to governorship, says University of Virginia political analyst Larry Sabato, “is the most serious threat Jackson has faced. And I’m not certain he fully realizes it.”

Republicans stand to gain up to three seats in Senate this fall, says Christian Science Monitor. It finds very vulnerable Democratic Senators Paul Simon (Ill.), facing Republican Rep. Lynn Martin, who has started to move up in polls; Claiborne Pell (R.I.), facing another aggressive GOP woman, Rep. Claudine Schneider (private polls show Pell just four points ahead); and first-termer Tom Harkin (Iowa), running against politically savvy Rep. Tom Tauke. Also vulnerable, says Monitor, although less so, are Democrats Carl Levin (Mich.), James Exon (Neb.), and Max Baucus (Mont.). . . . Fighting for a chance at Levin are Rep. Bill Schuette (ADA 40; ACU 71) and prolife Detroit lawyer Clark Durant. Oliver North has been campaigning for Durant. Primary is August 7. . . . In gubernatorial races, GOP could be in big trouble with redistricting in prospect. L.A. Times poll shows former S.F. Mayor Dianne Feinstein with five-point edge over Republican Sen. Pete Wilson. … In Texas, macho statements by Republican gubernatorial candidate Clayton Williams [see “Me Bubba, You Jane,” p. 24] are hurting him not only with feminists but with women at large. . . . And sudden decision by Democratic former Sen. Lawton Chiles to enter Florida gubernatorial battle could prove knockout blow to hard-pressed GOP Gov. Bob Martinez. … In Connecticut, Everett Ladd of Roper’s thinks Lowell Weicker, running for governor as independent, is going to win, but Morton Tenzes, professor of political science at UConn, sees Weicker as splitting liberal vote with probable Democratic candidate, Rep. Bruce Morrison. . . . Local pols raising question: How effective would Weicker be as governor in dealing with ruffled Democratic and Republican state officials and legislators? . . . Connecticut’s loopy liberals beginning to break toward Weicker, despite Morrison’s nifty ADA (100) and AFL-CIO (100) ratings. Says impeccably liberal Rose Styron (Mrs. William): “We would have gone to Bruce [Morrison]. But we admire Lowell Weicker a whole lot.” Says ex— New York Timesman Harrison Salisbury: “I don’t have any trouble because I’m a strong fan of Lowell Weicker’s.” . . . Rep. Barney Frank (D., Mass.), meanwhile, has endorsed Morrison, and is urging Connecticut gay and lesbian community to do likewise.