For the Record

It’s no surprise, but if and when Kennedy gets in the race he’ll have organized labor behind him. That’s how Lane Kirkland, heir presumptive to George Meany’s throne, sees it. But Kirkland doesn’t think a Kennedy-Carter fight will split the Democratic Party. “How can you divide what scarcely exists?” he asks, and characterizes the party as “a gossamer thing.” . . . Tip O’Neill, Speaker of the House, was hardly the trusted lieutenant when he said that if Teddy announces the entire New England congressional delegation will step in behind him. … The New Republic’s TRB is less sanguine that it’s all over but the shouting. “Kennedy,” he says, “is going to be tagged with Chappaquiddick, with Carter’s and Congress’ failures, with liberalism’s lack of clear answers, and with the economic problems of the 1980s.” . . . Our favorite of the draft-Kennedy groups, Oregon’s “Ready for Teddy.”

Just before he resigned, Reagan aide Lyn Nofziger was asked why Reagan was having trouble raising money at the moment. One reason is that Reagan is not a declared candidate, said Nofziger; a second, that he thinks “corporate America has simply decided that John Connally is a tougher and a bigger and a better candidate.” . . . But is he a candidate for conservatives? Not according to Connally campaign manager Eddie Mahe who says of Connally that “he’s not a conservative, a moderate, or a liberal, he’s just a Republican.” . . . What could hurt Connally in conservative and New Right circles is statement in article by Cory SerVaas, a Connally associate, in recent Saturday Evening Post. “As soon as he gets the nomination nailed down,” says SerVaas, “Connally is going to move off the right toward the center of the political spectrum. And he’s going todoitso fast that it’ll make the speed of light seem dawdling.” … In Washington, Charles A. McManus Jr., formerly of the ACA, has formed a Draft Haig committee and has filed with the FEC. … In Hartford, Richard Buzzuto, minority leader in the Connecticut Senate, says he believes his primary opponent in the race for Sen. Ribicoff’s seat will be former Sen. James L. Buckley. Kevin Phillips reports that Sen. Lowell Weicker, the liberal Republican, is “already moving to block Buckley.”

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It’s no surprise, but if and when Kennedy gets in the race he’ll have organized labor behind him. That’s how Lane Kirkland, heir presumptive to George Meany’s throne, sees it. But Kirkland doesn’t think a Kennedy-Carter fight will split the Democratic Party. “How can you divide what scarcely exists?” he asks, and characterizes the party as “a gossamer thing.” . . . Tip O’Neill, Speaker of the House, was hardly the trusted lieutenant when he said that if Teddy announces the entire New England congressional delegation will step in behind him. … The New Republic’s TRB is less sanguine that it’s all over but the shouting. “Kennedy,” he says, “is going to be tagged with Chappaquiddick, with Carter’s and Congress’ failures, with liberalism’s lack of clear answers, and with the economic problems of the 1980s.” . . . Our favorite of the draft-Kennedy groups, Oregon’s “Ready for Teddy.”

Just before he resigned, Reagan aide Lyn Nofziger was asked why Reagan was having trouble raising money at the moment. One reason is that Reagan is not a declared candidate, said Nofziger; a second, that he thinks “corporate America has simply decided that John Connally is a tougher and a bigger and a better candidate.” . . . But is he a candidate for conservatives? Not according to Connally campaign manager Eddie Mahe who says of Connally that “he’s not a conservative, a moderate, or a liberal, he’s just a Republican.” . . . What could hurt Connally in conservative and New Right circles is statement in article by Cory SerVaas, a Connally associate, in recent Saturday Evening Post. “As soon as he gets the nomination nailed down,” says SerVaas, “Connally is going to move off the right toward the center of the political spectrum. And he’s going todoitso fast that it’ll make the speed of light seem dawdling.” … In Washington, Charles A. McManus Jr., formerly of the ACA, has formed a Draft Haig committee and has filed with the FEC. … In Hartford, Richard Buzzuto, minority leader in the Connecticut Senate, says he believes his primary opponent in the race for Sen. Ribicoff’s seat will be former Sen. James L. Buckley. Kevin Phillips reports that Sen. Lowell Weicker, the liberal Republican, is “already moving to block Buckley.”