The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • Page 271

Florida's Democratic convention A-1 4 The Orlando Sentinel, Sunday, December 1 5, 1 991 Political notebook Harkin 'Real territory The Iowa of appealing core a-c 6 4 Miss Universe more of a draw than Democrats LAKE BHENA VISTA Orlando attracts all kinds and Friday, the Buena Vista Palace hotel was stakes out Democrat' as his senator makes a point to the Democrats' constituencies. He also localizes his approach. By Peter Mitchell OF THE SENTINEL STAFF LAKE BUENA VISTA Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa campaigned this weekend as the Real Democrat, a true believer, unafraid of appealing to the party's core constituencies. "I'm going to run as a Democrat not Tom Harkin for president, but as Tom Harkin, Democrat, for president," Harkin told county caucuses.

Striding from caucus to caucus Friday and Saturday, Harkin was an instant crowd pleaser. He made jokes using sign language with deaf delegates. He embraced the labor delegates as "my family." He told local activists that national candidates should rely on their expertise. Staffers in blue blazers using walkie-talkies guided Harkin around the Lake Buena Vista Palace hotel, handing him index cards with the names of county chairs or other key officials. "I travel all around the country and I see a lot of party chairs," he told each county caucus.

"You know what my idea of a good county chair is?" Then, he would insert the appropriate name. The routine raised eyebrows when Harkin inserted the name of Dade County Chairman Joe Geller, one of Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton's most active supporters. The high point in emotion came in his speech to the full gathering of delegates. Harkin told how his 54-year-old brother, who is deaf, had lost his job assembling jets, a victim of an employer's union-breaking tactics, and was now cleaning shopping mall toilets at night "People don't deserve to be treated like that in the United States of America," Harkin said.

i' i TOTS 'mmUr Skua JOE BURBANKStNTINEl Kerrey waved to cheering supporters at the state Democratic convention Saturday in Lake Buena Vista, Kerrey doesn't expect to win straw ballot no exception. Florida Democrats, holding 1 their biggest event of the political I season, shared the hotel's convention wing with Colgate-Palmo-j'live's Mexico-based employees and the nation's "Fourth Annual (Database Conference." It was an odd mix. But the groups paid little atten-l tion to each other. Colgate-Palmo-t live employees seemed less inter-i ested about American presidential contenders than about the celebri-j'ty headlining their convention: Miss Universe. Lupita Jones, who is also Miss Mexico, did not, how-t ever, bump into any presidential contenders.

Alcee Hastings hastens to forgive Harkin for vote I Forgive and forget: In 1989, Tom Harkin was among 69 sena-j. tors voting to kick Alcee Hastings off the federal bench in Miami (even though Hastings had been acquitted by a jury of bribery and i conspiracy. i That has not deterred Hastings who is now running for Con-I eress frnm hprnmino nnp nf "Our objective is certainly more limited than Clinton's or Harkin's," said Kerrey's Florida campaign chairman, state Rep. Mike Abrams of North Miami Beach. "There's more of a connection between the New Hampshire primary and the Florida primary than this convention and the Florida primary.

But we want to be respectful of the process." Abrams and the rest of Kerrey's advisers spent the day keeping expectations low. At times they seemed to go overboard. "Our main objective is to get Clinton's, I mean Kerrey's, message out," said Scott Sokol, Kerrey's Central Florida coordinator, "See? Even I've been swayed," Sokol said. of today's straw ballot at the state Democratic convention. Realizing that he's not likely to win or place, Kerrey and his staff played it cool and left the fight for delegate votes to Arkansas Gov.

Bill Clinton and U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin of Iowa. "We're not really leaning into a victory in the straw poll," the 48-year-old candidate said as he strode from one small caucus room to the next. "The real victory for me is for the people here to get to know me and hear me." Kerrey even stood by politely eating chocolate ice cream from a paper cup while Harkin's wife, Ruth, cut into his allotted speaking time with 70 southwest Florida delegates.

The senator from Nebraska plays it cool at the Democratic convention and leaves the fighting to others. By Sean Holton OF THE SENTINEL STAFF LAKE BUENA VISTA He shed his stuffy suit jacket, and he wore a "Stop Global Warming" sticker on his shirt. But appearances can be deceiving. Clothing and climate aside, U.S. Sen.

Bob Kerrey of Nebraska didn't sweat a bit Saturday least of all about the outcome 1 AnOtner 'orint for Paul itriotforPaiKs 1 uu Harkin's vocal presidential sup I i porters. "Yes, he voted against me. But you rise above your prejudices when you are talking about beating George Bush," said Has- it 'i-: 1 i ZA ft Clinton wows many delegates with looks, views1 The Arkansas governor has mounted a carefully prepared campaign to win today's straw ballot. Cost: About $30,000. By John C.

Van Gif son OF THE SENTINEL STAFF I I tings, Even the chairman's wife gets carded at the door I And the winner of the Rodney jDangerfield "No Respect" Award is Marilyn Ferro, wife of State (Democratic Chairman Simon 7 r3S Ferro. As Ferro was opening the convention, a guard refused to let his wife enter the hall because she was not wearing the right credentials. She was forced to cool her heels for several minutes while a friend got a pass to get her into the room. Vote for Gov. Bill Clinton and pass the soy sauce JOE BURBANKSENTINEL Paul Tsongas faced the cameras after his speech to delegates Saturday.

His wife, Niki, is next to him. Tsongas saving up for New Hampshire LAKE BUENA VISTA Alice Malaxos was looking for a place to sit down when she want dered into Bill Clinton's hospitality room. "I came to the convention uncommitted," the Clearwater woman said Saturday. "I sat down in his room last night because I wanted to rest, ana when I finished listening to him speak, I signed on as a whip because I believe he is electable." Malaxos was typical of hundreds of delegate won over by the Arkansas governor's boyish good looks or his stand on issues. Asked repeatedly about abortion, Clinton said; "I believe it should be safe, legal and rare.

My personal opinion is it's not any of my business what decision you make." I Janis Compton of the Florida Abortion Rights Action League was impressed. "He kissed this cheek!" she told a photogra pher. "Right here! This cheek!" The Clinton machine mounted a carefully crafted campaign to woo delegates, including i 41-member pep squad. Aides said they spen about $30,000 on the effort to win today's straw poll. I Hundreds of supporters donned Clinton hats, and T-shirts declaring "I Made History Cam paign '92." They turned on miniature flashlights attached to Clinton hand fans, as the lights dimmed when he entered the convention hall td the triumphant music from Chariot's of Fire.

1 Leaving nothing to chance, Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton's cam- ipaign laid a fortune cookie before jevery delegate at Saturday night's (banquet dinner. The red ink message noted: "Bill Clinton is in your future." He's determined to draft took his "economic truth" to gays, lesbians, the elderly and Palm Beach and Dade county caucuses. The former Massachusetts senator whose sign-waving loyalists appeared not to exceed 50 said that while it is important to be in Florida, he was saving his big guns and scarce funds for the first primary in New Hampshire. En route to a taping with Florida leaders of the American Association of Retired Persons, the sartorially correct Tsongas, in regulation dark suit, encountered Bill Clinton in sweat-drenched jogging togs.

"You are well organized," he told the Arkansas governor, who was still making personal, voice-mail pleas to uncommitted delegates at 3 a.m. Saturday. After complaining that laryngitis made them both sound like Mae West, Clinton headed for the shower and Tsongas to a taping for the 2.5 million member Florida branch of AARP. There was the obligatory talk of health care and Social Security and even a few words about campaign finance reform with local leaders of one of the nation's most powerful special-interest groups. The chat with a dozen gays and lesbians was also both global and parochial.

Asked whether, as president, he would sign an order allowing homosexuals to serve in the military, Tsongas replied: "Done." The former Massachusetts senator says he is saving his big guns for the primary in New England. By Anne Groer OF THE SENTINEL STAFF LAKE BUENA VISTA Paul Tsongas spent a methodically mellow Saturday afternoon working delegates, as befits a contender who claims he has nothing to prove. That, at least, was the spin as Tsongas Cuomo no matter what Stanley K. Shapiro of Miami Beach is a guy who can't take "No" for an answer. He launched a draft Mario LUOmU II1UVCII1C11L at U1C LUllYCir tion despite the fact that he can't He stressed the message that sold Malaxos; "If you want to win again, I'm your man." Democratic hopefuls blame Bush for nation's problems even get the New York governor's office to return his calls.

"I have called his office five different times, and they have returned no phone calls. When I called Albany, they wouldn't even give me the Democratic Party number," Shapiro said. Undaunted, Shapiro is asking delegation chairmen to ask delegates to write in Cuomo's name on today's straw ballot. Not a scoop: TV reporter just can't name names Name recognition is a big problem for most of the Democratic presidential candidates. Pass in point: During a live re The debate featuring the six Democratic presidential contenders will be broadcast tonight by NBC starting at 7 on WESH-Channel 2.

port on WFTV-Channel 9, a report-'er was asked which candidates but a decent and honest job." The candidates made only veiled refer' ences to each other, sidestepping anything that could be construed as direct criticism! Only subtle points were made. Clinton, for instance, answered hints from Harkin and others that his moderate views on economics and social program; veer toward Republican policies. "I know what you've heard about who ii the real Democrat in this race," Clinton said recalling how his father died shortly before he was born. "I was raised by my grandfa ther who thought he was going to Franklir Roosevelt when he died. His values are mj values, but let me add that we're againsi brain-dead politics in both parties." Clinton and Harkin have done the most to win today's straw ballot which has no binding effect on Florida's March 10 primary.

With walkie-talkies, headphones, scores of sign-toting supporters and floor managers, staffers for the two candidates are treating this gathering like a miniversion a national convention. Throughout the day candidates nifel with) county delegations, and Saturday evening they hosted receptions for the delegates, Two candidates former California Govi Jerry Brown and Virginia Gov. Doug Wilder! did not attend the convention. DEMOCRATS from A-1 shouted, using a refrain from Harry Truman's 1948 campaign. "But I tell you what: I'm really just giving him the facts, and he thinks it's hell." As the crowd erupted in laughter and cheers, Harkin grinned and added, "And boy, we're gonna have fun doing it, too." Arkansas Gov.

Bill Clinton brought down the house with a few one-liners of his own, noting that Bush is seen as more interested in foreign events than problems at home. "We have a president who can come up with an economic plan for the Soviet Union in five days but can't decide in five months what to do about our own economy," Clinton said, pounding his fist on the lectern in the hotel ballroom. Former U.S. Sen. Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts ticked off what he considered Bush's atrocities on social issues, including the president's firm opposition to the currently protected right of women to obtain abortions.

"George Bush has sold his soul to the radical right on this crucial freedom, and for that reason alone he does not deserve to be re-elected," Tsongas said. The candidates offered a few comments tailored to Florida politics. Clinton blamed Florida's worsening plan to reform health care, considered a volatile issue to use against the Republican administration. Most Americans spend about $4,000 a year on medical needs. "I had to go and get blown up in a war to get free access to health care," said Kerrey, who lost his right foot to a grenade attack in the Vietnam war.

He vowed to pursue a system of tax-financed care for all Americans. "If you have a right to a lawyer when you go to court, then you should have a right to a doctor when you need care," Kerrey said, quoting a line from U.S. Sen. Harris Wof-ford's winning Democratic campaign last month in Pennsylvania. Mindful that they are proposing many domestic programs that cost money, the candidates hinted at paying for them with cuts in the defense budget.

None proposed income tax increases to fund their programs; indeed, most said they would cut taxes for middle-income earners. Most would revive the nation's sagging programs with public works projects. Harkin wants to create millions of jobs for road building, mass transit, sewers and other infrastructure projects such as Franklin Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration. "The best social program is a job," Harkin said. "Not a handout or a welfare check, were at the convention.

budget crisis on pressures from the federal government, which has forced states to take over many programs without providing the funds. "What you see happening in the Florida Legislature today is one factor but not the only one of our nation's long dark night of neglect," Clinton said. Some of the contenders fired salvos at Cuba's communist regime and Haiti's military leaders, delighting South Florida delegations. "We will fight for freedom in Cuba and for freely elected leaders in Haiti," Kerrey said. Harkin noted that while a Navy pilot, he was once stationed in Key West, guarding against invasions by Cuban-based Soviet aircraft.

"We were waiting for ol' Castro to send up one of those MIGs, but he never did." Each of the candidates highlighted his She couldn name most ot them. Harkin's one-liner makes him the life of the party Best jab at the GOP: Harkin on President Bush's hope that the latest highway bin wiu create jods: "That's like spitting in the ocean Ito raise the sea level." Anne Groer, Peter Mitchell and I John C. Van Gieson of the Sentinel gtaff contributed to this report. in 1.