The Times Leader from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania • 8

EA The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, PA, Friday, February 14, 1992 Hnco for tho White House Looming N.H. primary roclcs Democrats' high hopes a lit! I i i ek Muddled field is turning Democratic dreams into dilemma I i. iiti ii J. mi umim-ii H---H I. I II I mpywj i i ,1 i 9t i a.

i I i i i 1 1 -v VV-- -J i i l. 1 PyDAVTOESPO ACTOctatad Press Writer WASHINGTON In their dreams. Democrats saw themselves emerging from New Hampshire with a front-runner who would swiftly unify the party and mount a strong, 50-state challenge to a Republican president weakened by recession. TcrnlSsrtdn Drumming up support iMiiMiaiAiMHM Paul Tscn Getting in the swing of things? II "i )'' a Hnrlim dooms VxwweteveJ CONCORD, N.H. (AP) Democratic hopeful Tom Harkin predicted Thursday a Vietnam draft controversy would doom trie candidacy of rival Bill Clinton.

The Arkansas governor dismissed the attack as an act of desperation. Paul Tsongas, leading in the polls, scoffed at Harkin's notion and traded barbs with the Iowa senator as the candidates battled into the final weekend before Tuesday's New Hampshire primary. "Governor Clinton is viable, to dismiss Governor Clinton, I think, is a major Tsongas, a former Massachusetts senator. Sen. Bob Kerrey of Nebraska expressed doubt that Clinton has been fully candid about the draft.

But he added, "I do not want to reopen the wounds of Vietnam." most liberal Democrat, but in a primary that has rejected the most liberal candidate in each of the last four elections. Brown seems irrelevant A Cuomo write-in is a genuine wild card. That leaves Tsongas, up from nowhere In the polls with his stern message that Americans need to rejuvenate their economy But with five days to go to the leadoff primary, the dream has turned to dilemma. Bill Clinton is struggling to regain his political foot ing and neither Bob Kerrey. Tom Harkin nor Jerry Brown Is generating much voter enthusiasm.

Former Massachusetts Sen. Paul Tsongas is positioned to win the first balloting of the year and the enormous momentum it will bestow. ANALYSIS Can an "Anybody but Tsongas" movement be far behind? Not even Ronald Brown, the chairman of the Democratic Party, rules out a late entry into the presidential race. would expect, at least at this time, for the Democratic nominee to come from the present field of candidates," he said recently. "I think It's unlikely that others will get into the race." Unlikely, but not impossible.

In i Brown's words, the rules and technicalities that would make it difficult for a late entrant to succeed could be "amended or changed." Then there are the 771 delegate slots allocated to members of Congress and party officials a third of the total needed for nomination. The roster of Democrats who once looked into the 1992 race and then looked away when President Bush was riding high includes: New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, whose supporters in New Hampshire are pushing him as a write-in option; Rep. Richard Gephardt; Sen. Al Gore of Tennessee; Sen.

Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia; Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey; and Sen. Lloyd Bentsen of Texas. campaign Bill Clinton Shadow of his former self? 1 Maine on Feb. 23, and Rhode Island and Massachusetts on March 10.

A total of 550 delegates will be picked before southern-dominated Super Tuesday on March 10, when another 783 will be chosen in 1 1 states. No money? If Clinton falters, none of the field will have money, and so at least the field will be level. Momentum will mean much. Ironically, one of the Democrats in this year's race has been through this before. As California's governor.

Brown made a belated entry into the 1976 race, winning several primaries against Jimmy Carter. It was too little, too late. though, as Carter methodically compiled a first ballot nominating maJorIty on Ua to white EDITOR'S NOTE: David Espo is assistant bureau chief in AP's Washington bureau and has covered presidential politics since 1980. ujr puuimg ujuucj iuiu pivoiua HOUSe that will create jobs. He holds traditional liberal views on abortion, 3 MANCHESTER, N.H.

(AP) Bank reform is a complex issue that doesn't make for stirring stump spesches or soundbites, but one thst voters in recession-wracked New Hampshire seem eager to dlscus3 with the presidential candidates. "I'm not sure that everybody in this room how hard it is to go out and gst new lines of credit," oria smalltown business owner toid Arkansas Gov, Bill Clinton. "it seems that peopie who are good people, who have dona everything right, are taking the brunt of a bad banking system," said the man, -who identified himself only as Joel Nowhere else does the banking issue seem more Important. Five large banks failed here in October in a sinking real estate market One out of every fivd. property transactions last year in New Hampshire" was a foreclosure.

But the campaign banking debate has focused on short-term solutions, instead of the underlying causes. "They've been dealing with ft at the margin," said Christopher Gallagher, counsel and lobbyist for the New Hampshire Bankers Association. 1 The top candidates have proposed foabM restructurtnglplanl; and urged federal regulators to slow down the pace of forecic-sures here. Topics such as streamlining an overlapping maze of regulations or increasing U.S. banks' ability to compete worldwide have been passed over.

Former California Gov. Jerry Brown said debate on bank reform is impeded "because peopie are divided on the issue "The financial environment has' changed so. much many of the proposals In Congress are not the kind of thing that lends itself to political debate at this point," he said. A UP YOUR SMILE! Open Dally 9 A.M. to 5:30 P.M.

Saturday 9 A.M. to Noon Evening Appointments (i original tickets on all designer clothing -j '''i ('' hi itijii ll.li -l'i'jlj: -i-I'i' -i'L Ik "1i 'mii" Election calender at a glance Dob Kerry Chewing the fat, breakfast To hear their handlers say it. their phones are ringing constantly with supporters and party leaders urging them to consider a late entry. It's an impressive list more Impressive on paper than the current crop of candidates. But there are problems, as well.

A late race carries huge risks, especially for a candidate young enough to run In 1996. Non-candidates often seem larger than life, at least until they decide to enter the race, as Sen. Edward M. Kennedy discovered when he ran and lost in 1980. The front-runner who wins New Hampshire Isn't going to welcome a party-anointed latecomer.

Tou spin out as much as you can about the inexorable march of delegates" to discourage a new candidate, says Leslie Dach, who did so in 1988 for Michael Dukakis. Even so, for many Democrats, the ones in the race seem small; the ones out of it larger. And the one who started smallest of all Tsongas suddenly looms as the hottest politician in America. Ron Brown offered his less-than-deflnltive view before Arkan-sas Gov. Clinton released the 1969 letter in which he thanked an ROTC official for "saving me from the draft." Clinton mused In anguished terms about trying to balance his opposition to the Viet-.

nam draft against his need to "maintain my political 'Viability within the system." For Clinton, who had converted his claim of "electability" into front-runner dom, the draft issue came on top of controversy over his personal life. He said on "Nlghtllne" that It was no wonder he was slipping in the polls, considering that "all that I've been asked about by the press is a woman I didn't sleep with and a draft I didn't dodge." Electability in the Democratic Party is code word for being able to win white, middle and working eusee Democratic 14 APRILS ALASKA Democratic Cauoueee Democratic Delegatea: 13 Republican Delegates: 19 APRIL? KANSAS Primary Democratic Delegatee: 36 Republican Oelegatea: 30 HIW YORK Primary Democratic Delegatee: 244 Republican Delegatee: 1 00 WISCONSIN Primary Democratic Delegates: 82 Republican Oelegatea: 35 APRIL 11-1S VIRaiNIADemeeratleCeuouee Democratic Delegatea: 76 APRIL as PBNNSYLVANIA Primary OemocraUc Delegetea: 169 Republican Oologetot: 91 MAYS OUAM Oamooratle Cauou Democratic Delegates: 3 MAYS DISTRICT Of COLUMBIA Primary Democratic Delegates: 17 Republican Delegates: 14 INDIANA Primary Democratic Delegatea: 77 Republican Delegetes: 91 NORTH CAROLINA Primary Democratic Delegates: 84 Republican Delegetee: 67 OHIO Primary Democratic Delegatea: Republican Delegates: 83 MAY1B NEBRASKA Primary Democratic Delegatea: 2S Republican Delegatee: 24 WIST VIROINIA Primary Democratic Dslegatea: 31 Republican Dalagatas: 36 MAY IB ORBOON Primary Democratic Delegatea: 47 Republican Delegatee: 23 WABHINOTON Primary (Waabington holds primary "besuty Delegates to both conventions srs selected Id party ceucuses, held on March 3.) MAY IB ARKANSAS Primary Democratic Delegatea: 36 Republlcen Delegatea: 27 IDAHO Primary (Idaho holds primary "beauty contest." Delegates to both conventions ars selected In party csueueea. Democrats hold caucuaea on March while Republicans caucuses sre held before June 6.) KBNTUCKY Primary Democratic Delegates: 62 Republican Delegatea: 36 JURIS ALABAMA Primary Democratic Delegetea: 66 Republican Delegatea: 36 CALIFORNIA Primary Democratic Delegetee: 346 Republlcen Delegatee: 201 MONTANA Primary Democratic Delegetea: 16 Republlcen Delegatee: 20 NBWJIRSIY Primary Democratic Delegetea: 106 Republican Delegetee: 60 NIW MBXICO Primary Democratic Delegatee: 26 RepuoUcan Delegetea: 26 JURIS NORTH DAKOTA Reeuolloan Primary Republican Delegatee: 17 (Democrats elect delegatee In caucusn) jULVis-ia DBMOORATIO NATIONAL CONVENTION NIW YORK AU0U8T1T.80 REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION HOUSTON Also: Alaska Republicans require that precinct csueueea be held before March 2. Nineteen delegetes are at etske. Repuoiicsns Hawaii hold eight regional caucuaea I April and May to ehooss 14 delegates.

WASHINGTON (AP) Here are key dates In the process of selecting delegates to the Democratic National Convention July 13-16 In New York and the Republican National Convention Aug. 17-20 In Houston. WITH WONDERFUL COSMETIC IDEAS FOR YOUR VALENTINE! Whitening Of Teeth Change Color, Shape Size Eliminate Cracked Chipped Teeth Straighten Crooked Teeth No Damage To Existing Teeth Reasonable Fees Gift Certificates Available Payment Plans Available FREE CONSULTATION (Does Not Include X-rays) Jerry Drown Far from the front "I would least at this time, for the Democratic nominee to come from the present field of candidates I think it's unlikely that others will get into the race. Ronald Brown Democratic Party chairman class votes in the Sun Belt, the foundation of Republican success In presidential elections. But Clinton's region may have a particularly tough time with his op-: position to the draft.

Nebraska Sen. Kerrey, wounded In Vietnam, a Midwest-emer, a self-styled leader of a new generation, has been unable thus far to generate much support in New Hampshire. Kerrey's "no regional candidate," says a new television ad that targets Tsongas. Iowa Sen. Harkin runs as the It's not the same oF Tsongas and dance Candidate recent surge brings in bigger bucks WASHINGTON (Knight-Rid-der) Back In August, former Massachusetts Sen.

Paul Tsongas held a fund-raiser in the conference room of a law office here. He collected only $9,000, enough to cover the costs of the melon balls and shrimp cocktail. Now, Tsongas supporters are setting their sights on hotel ballrooms. The Democratic presidential recent leap In the polls has been accompanied by a surge of desperately needed cash and promises of support Direct mall Is bringing in about $30,000 a day, up from about $1,200 a-day not long ago. The campaign is scrambling to arrange a 13-clty fund-raising tour that is set to begin after next week's New Hampshire primary.

"The first axiom of politics is that money follows a winner," crowed Nick Rizzo, Tsongas' finance director. For Tsongas, this reversal in fortune comes not a moment too soon. The candidate has been precariously short of money, so impoverished that many political observers thought he would be forced to withdraw after New Hampshire for a lack of money. The Tsongas campaign had just $112,798 cash left In the bank and was $250,000 in debt as of Dec. 31.

the last date for which complete records are available. Tsongas even sold stock he had set aside for his daughters' college education so that he could lend the campaign $50,000. Although Tsongas Is now well ahead of Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton in the New Hampshire polls, he places a distant fourth in the money chase. Based on various filings with the Federal Election Commission, it appears that Tsongas had received only about $1.5 million in private contributions as of the end of January.

gay rights and civil rights, to go with his unorthodox economic policy. The thought of another Greek Democrat from Massachusetts at the top of the ticket makes many Democrats nervous. But he starts off as a regional candidate with the good luck to see his region vote first After New Hampshire goes WOMEN'S MEN'S TEEN'S Designer Outlet always price or less BONNIE BILL SETS REG. $145 OUR PRICE $69.75 MEN'S POLO BY RALPH LAUREN CARDIGAN REG. $160 OUR PRICE $59.75 POLO SWEAT SHIRT REG.

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10 lOWACeueueee Democratic Delegates: 49 MB.1S NIW HAMMHIR! Primary SaKctlon Method: Primary Democret Delegetee: 1 8 Republican Delegatea: 23 ris.as MAIN! Damw ratio Municipal Caucus Democratic Delegates: 23 w.aa SOUTH DAKOTA Primary Democratic Delegetes: 16 Republican Delegates: 19 MARCH 1 AMBRICAN BAMOA Cauouac Democratic Delegetes: 3 Republican Delegetes: 4 (OOP Delegates selected at matting of tue state party executive committee) COLORADO Primary Democratic Dalegatei: 47 Republican Delegatea: 37 OaORQIA Primary Democratic 76 Republican Delegatea: 62 IDAHO Oamocratlc County Conventlcna Democratic Delegates: 11 MARYLAND Primary Democratic Delegates: 67 Republican Delegatea: 42 MINNMOT A Caucuaea Democratic 76 Republican Delegates: 32 WASHINGTON Cauoueee Democratic Delegates: 71 Republican Delegates: 35 UTAH Demooratlo Cauouaaa Democratic Delegates: 23 ARIZONA Oamocratlc County Cauouaa Democratic Delegates: 41 march aia NORTH DAKOTA Oamooratle Caueueaa Democratic Delegates: 14 MARCH 7-t Abroad Dameoratlc Cauoutaa Democratic Delegates: 7 MARCH 10 DBLAWARB Oamooratle District Cauouaa Democratic Delegates: 14 PLORIDA Primary Democratic Delegates: 148 Republican Delegates: 97 HAWAII Oamooratle Cauouaa Democratic Delegates: 20 LOUiaiANA Primary Democratic Delegates: 60 Republican Delegates: 36 MABOACHUaBTTB Primary Democratic Delegetea: 94 Republlcen Delegates: 36 MIBSIBBIPPI Primary Democratic Delegetee: 39 Republican Delegatea: 33 MISSOURI Oamooratle Cauoueee Democratic Delegates: 77 OKLAHOMA Primary Democratic Delegates: 4S Republican Delegetet: 34 RHOOIILND Primary Democratic Delegates: 22 Republican Delegatea: 16 TBNNIMIS Primary Democratic Delegetee: 66 Republican Delegates: 46 TBXA Primary and Caueueaa Oamocratlc Delegates: 196 Republican Delegatea: 121 MARCH 18 PUBRTO RICO Primary Democratic Delegetee: 61 Republican Delegates: 14 MARCH 1T ILLINOIS Primary Democratic Delegetea: 164" Republican Delegatee: MICHIGAN Primary Democratic Delegetea: 131 Republican Delegetes: 72 MARCH B4 CONNBCTICUT Primary Democratic Delegatee: S3 Republican Delegates: 3S march aa U.S. VIROIN ISLANDS Oamooratle Oau. aueee MARCH 11 VBRMONT Democratic Mynleloel Cay i iVL (: 5 i.I i i.