For the Record

■ Already the talk is turning to ’84. How are the leaders doing? In in-depth interview with political analyst Richard Scammon (conducted by Christian Science Monitor’s Godfrey Sperling), Scammon finds the President doing well. “He’s hitting .305 in the four leagues he’s playing in,” says Scammon—communications, Congress, politics, running in ’84. . . . Which is more than Scammon can say for Edward Kennedy, who may be skewered by his liberalism. “It is Kennedy’s liberalism,” says Scammon, “more than Chappaquiddick that makes it difficult for him to be nominated let alone elected.” . . . Presidential historian James MacGregor Burns thinks Kennedy and other Democratic leaders—he names Tip O’Neill and Alan Cranston—made a bad strategic error when they supported Reagan’s tax bill. “I find this lack of [Democratic opposition] very disruptive in terms of the public’s view of the election. If Reagan’s program doesn’t work, he can blame the Democrats who went along.” . . . But a recent L.A. Times poll shows serious Reagan weaknesses. Only 49 per cent of those who voted for RR in ’80 would do so again, pollsters found. The highest defections were among blue-collar workers (40 per cent), Catholics (35 per cent), Irish (33 per cent). . . . The new Taiwan Communiqué has also not enhanced Reagan’s standing with the troops, according to The Merit Report, which says that twice as many Americans (39 per cent) would like to see the U.S. side with Taiwan as with Red China (19 per cent).

■ In gubernatorial races, Lew Lehrman is now taken very seriously indeed as possible next governor of New York. Washington Post political reporter Lou Cannon says recent polls show Lehrman “has a realistic chance of winning [the New York gubernatorial race] on Nov.

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Presidential Election

■ Already the talk is turning to ’84. How are the leaders doing? In in-depth interview with political analyst Richard Scammon (conducted by Christian Science Monitor’s Godfrey Sperling), Scammon finds the President doing well. “He’s hitting .305 in the four leagues he’s playing in,” says Scammon—communications, Congress, politics, running in ’84. . . . Which is more than Scammon can say for Edward Kennedy, who may be skewered by his liberalism. “It is Kennedy’s liberalism,” says Scammon, “more than Chappaquiddick that makes it difficult for him to be nominated let alone elected.” . . . Presidential historian James MacGregor Burns thinks Kennedy and other Democratic leaders—he names Tip O’Neill and Alan Cranston—made a bad strategic error when they supported Reagan’s tax bill. “I find this lack of [Democratic opposition] very disruptive in terms of the public’s view of the election. If Reagan’s program doesn’t work, he can blame the Democrats who went along.” . . . But a recent L.A. Times poll shows serious Reagan weaknesses. Only 49 per cent of those who voted for RR in ’80 would do so again, pollsters found. The highest defections were among blue-collar workers (40 per cent), Catholics (35 per cent), Irish (33 per cent). . . . The new Taiwan Communiqué has also not enhanced Reagan’s standing with the troops, according to The Merit Report, which says that twice as many Americans (39 per cent) would like to see the U.S. side with Taiwan as with Red China (19 per cent).

■ In gubernatorial races, Lew Lehrman is now taken very seriously indeed as possible next governor of New York. Washington Post political reporter Lou Cannon says recent polls show Lehrman “has a realistic chance of winning [the New York gubernatorial race] on Nov.