For the Record

Is there anything left of Gary Hart’s candidacy? Just one outside chance, say Kevin Phillips and California pollster Mervin Field: a “high profile” win in California, the nation’s largest state, with a very mixed demography. A win there, says Field, would not only give Hart’s delegate total a big boost but also “lend credence” to his candidacy. With that under his belt, Hart could argue that he would run better than Old Retread against Ronald Reagan. … A Field poll in California a month ahead of the June 5 primary gave Hart a five-point lead over Mondale (42 to 37 per cent), not bad considering that he got only 5 per cent in a Field sounding back in February. . . . Why isn’t Hart doing better against Mondale, when the polls show him just one point behind Reagan? Because, says Democratic analyst Alan Baron, the qualities that bring out the young urban professionals— independence, fiscal moderation, coolness—are the very qualities the Democratic pros distrust. … A majority of Democratic National Committee members polled by U.S. News think Mondale will make it, but many “doubt he’s the best man,” and a majority doubt Mondale could beat Reagan in their own states. . . . Among Democrats at large, 51 per cent now pick Mondale, 28 Hart, 9 Jesse Jackson; among independents, however, it’s Hart over Mondale, 39 to 29 per cent.

Charles Dolan, executive secretary of the Democratic Governors Association, warns against the adoption of rules demanded by Jackson at Democratic Convention in San Francisco. He fears that “ignited by an emotional firestorm of a speech” by Jackson, the delegates will vote for the “sort of knee-jerk proposals that were included in the McGovern rules and platform.” . . . But Jackson and his allies are deeply committed to the changes. Mayor Richard Hatcher of Gary, Ind.-a moderate—has warned Democratic National Chairman Charles Manatt that the party has “to clean up its act” or face massive defections of blacks. . . . On the other hand the Jewish community remains up in arms over Jackson. Hyman Bookbinder of the American Jewish Committee says that only by divorcing himself from Farrakhan can Jackson indicate that he is “reaching out to the Jewish community.” . . . Columnist George Will, who has very little use for Jesse Jackson or his rhetoric, quotes Jackson as saying about the Khmer Rouge: “Unfortunately . . . sometimes the best of people lose their way.” Will says Jackson’s candidacy “began squalidly, in collaboration with Syria’s bloodthirsty regime, and has gone downhill.”

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Is there anything left of Gary Hart’s candidacy? Just one outside chance, say Kevin Phillips and California pollster Mervin Field: a “high profile” win in California, the nation’s largest state, with a very mixed demography. A win there, says Field, would not only give Hart’s delegate total a big boost but also “lend credence” to his candidacy. With that under his belt, Hart could argue that he would run better than Old Retread against Ronald Reagan. … A Field poll in California a month ahead of the June 5 primary gave Hart a five-point lead over Mondale (42 to 37 per cent), not bad considering that he got only 5 per cent in a Field sounding back in February. . . . Why isn’t Hart doing better against Mondale, when the polls show him just one point behind Reagan? Because, says Democratic analyst Alan Baron, the qualities that bring out the young urban professionals— independence, fiscal moderation, coolness—are the very qualities the Democratic pros distrust. … A majority of Democratic National Committee members polled by U.S. News think Mondale will make it, but many “doubt he’s the best man,” and a majority doubt Mondale could beat Reagan in their own states. . . . Among Democrats at large, 51 per cent now pick Mondale, 28 Hart, 9 Jesse Jackson; among independents, however, it’s Hart over Mondale, 39 to 29 per cent.

Charles Dolan, executive secretary of the Democratic Governors Association, warns against the adoption of rules demanded by Jackson at Democratic Convention in San Francisco. He fears that “ignited by an emotional firestorm of a speech” by Jackson, the delegates will vote for the “sort of knee-jerk proposals that were included in the McGovern rules and platform.” . . . But Jackson and his allies are deeply committed to the changes. Mayor Richard Hatcher of Gary, Ind.-a moderate—has warned Democratic National Chairman Charles Manatt that the party has “to clean up its act” or face massive defections of blacks. . . . On the other hand the Jewish community remains up in arms over Jackson. Hyman Bookbinder of the American Jewish Committee says that only by divorcing himself from Farrakhan can Jackson indicate that he is “reaching out to the Jewish community.” . . . Columnist George Will, who has very little use for Jesse Jackson or his rhetoric, quotes Jackson as saying about the Khmer Rouge: “Unfortunately . . . sometimes the best of people lose their way.” Will says Jackson’s candidacy “began squalidly, in collaboration with Syria’s bloodthirsty regime, and has gone downhill.”