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Democrat women going down every where....and it ain't on the President....it's because of the President!!!
N.Y. Race Tops Busy Primary Day
By MICHAEL BLOOD Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- The Democratic Senate primary that could be Geraldine Ferraro's
last race tightened in its closing days, leaving the one-time vice presidential nominee facing
the prospect that she could again be an also-ran.
Tuesday's contest is a highlight of the last busy primary day of the year, with voting in nine
states plus the District of Columbia -- against the backdrop of the Starr report and talk of
possible impeachment.
Critical campaigns for governor will take shape in Massachusetts, New York and
Minnesota, where state Attorney General Hubert Humphrey III leads a battle of favorite
sons for the Democratic nomination.
In gubernatorial races in Maryland and Rhode Island, voters seem certain to set up
rematches with incumbents facing challengers they defeated four years ago.
Washington state Republicans are picking a candidate for a key Senate battle, North
Carolina and Connecticut voters choose congressional nominees, and Oklahoma
Democrats decide whether a dead woman is their choice for U.S. Senate.
In the nation's capital, five Democrats seek the nomination for mayor, a job that Marion
Barry is relinquishing after serving four terms.
Ferraro finished second in a four-way 1992 primary marked by mudslinging that spoiled
the party's chances to oust Republican incumbent Alfonse D'Amato. This year Ferraro,
city Public Advocate Mark Green and Rep. Charles Schumer have rarely bared their teeth
and they played to many of the same issues, like overcrowded schools and the future of
Social Security.
The race ''is not sexy,'' said consultant Norman Adler, an old hand in New York politics.
Compared to the 1992 bloodbath, ''You're moving from Sylvester Stallone to Miss
Manners.''
But after a summer dominated by headlines on President Clinton's sex scandal, taxi
protests and a deadly construction accident in Times Square, voters appear to be paying
at least some attention. The once little-known Schumer has gained on Ferraro in statewide
polls, and one showed him pulling ahead of her.
It's unclear whether a deluge of television advertising during the campaign's final days will
reach voters or blur the choices. Turnout for Tuesday's primary could be as low as 25
percent, some analysts say, and Clinton's legal problems may overshadow prospects for
the eventual Democratic nominee.
D'Amato is unopposed on the GOP line.
Among Democrats, ''The race hasn't been about anything. There aren't major contrasting
issues,'' said Marist College pollster Lee Miringoff.
As in the past elections, Democrats viewed D'Amato as a plump target to be voted into
retirement. But the three-term Republican has raised $20 million, his polling numbers have
rebounded and he latched onto a publicity-rich issue -- the pursuit of assets for Holocaust
victims.
Republican National Committee spokesman Mike Collins said he'd be watching to see if
the Clinton scandal depresses Democratic turnout in New York and the other states with
Tuesday primaries. But he doubted the controversy would affect D'Amato's race this fall.
''Al D'Amato is going to be re-elected, but it's going to have nothing to do with Monica
Lewinsky,'' Collins said. ''People in New York vote for the person who is running.''
Republican pollster Ed Goeas said his recent surveys showed Clinton's ethical woes could
have a ''dampening effect on Democratic voters.'' That could hurt Ferraro in the primary if
young, working women -- a key voter group for her -- stay home over disenchantment
with Clinton.
Ferraro entered the 1998 race in January and her celebrity imbued her with front-runner
status. But her campaign stumbled, and she was forced to defend herself against criticism
that in the years since the 1984 presidential race, she hasn't built many credentials beyond
the lecture circuit and CNN's ''Crossfire.''
She's also had difficulty raising cash to compete with Schumer, who has spent a record $8
million on the primary.
Schumer has been running a torrent of TV commercials since January, while
cash-strapped Green and Ferraro have been on the air for two weeks.
Schumer ''wouldn't be remotely competitive if he hadn't raised a tremendous amount of
money'' from businesses with interests in Congress, Green said.
Ferraro, who shook hands with voters Friday at City Hall Park, said she wasn't concerned
with polls showing her slipping but said she feared Clinton's problems could be
''distracting'' for voters.
Will key voter groups like women stay home?
''I hope not,'' she said.
With the prospect of six more years of D'Amato, ''It's not in their best interests to stay
home.''
In other major races, Minnesota Democrats will settle a gubernatorial primary that has pit
famous sons against each other. Hubert H. ''Skip'' Humphrey III, son of the former
senator, is favored to top a list of candidates that includes Ted Mondale, son former Vice
President Walter Mondale, and Mike Freeman, son of former Gov. Orville Freeman.
The winner is expected to face a former Democrat, St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman, who
is a heavy favorite to win the GOP primary.
In Massachusetts, Scott Harshbarger and Patricia McGovern are seeking the Democratic
nomination for governor. Harshbarger held a healthy lead in polls. On the GOP side, Gov.
Paul Cellucci was getting a tougher-than-expected race from Joseph Malone.
Democrats think they can win this seat in November, especially if the incumbent gets
knocked off.
Washington Republicans will settle a surprisingly close Senate primary campaign between
Rep. Linda Smith and Chris Bayley. Smith, once heavily favored, is considered a
top-notch populist campaigner, but her support of campaign finance reform has made
enemies in the GOP leadership.
The winner will face Sen. Patty Murray, one of the Democrats' most vulnerable senators.
In House races, Connecticut Democrats will pick their nominee to replace Rep. Barbara
Kennelly in a heavily Democratic district. Kennelly is running for governor. In Washington,
Democrats believe their candidate, Brian Baird, can win Smith's congressional seat;
Republicans will pick from a field of three.
Gov. Parris Glendening of Maryland is expected to easily win the Democratic primary. A
poor showing would suggest he's in trouble in November, when he has a rematch against
Republican Ellen Sauerbrey, who almost beat him four years ago.
Another rematch is likely in Rhode Island, where Republican Gov. Lincoln Almond has no
primary opposition and Democrat Myrth York has only a token challenge.
AP-NY-09-13-98 1308EDT
newsday.com
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