Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Voters to answer only poll that counts Date: Tue, 3 Nov 92 15:19:55 EST Message-ID: \SE A;CAMPAIGN '92 \HD Voters to answer only poll that counts \SH Local issues, races seen as big draw \BY Paul Bedard \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES Five hundred fifty-three days after Paul Tsongas opened the presidential season in chilly Lowell, Mass., Americans will vote their pocketbooks, emotions and vision of the future for the man who will guide the nation toward the 21st century. In what are expected to be record numbers, voters today will also decide whether conservative issues such as term limits, pro-life positions, tax caps and opposition to homosexual rights will continue to dominate the political agenda. President Bush, Democrat Bill Clinton and independent Ross Perot sought additional support yesterday in the final day of a campaign marred by charges of womanizing, scandal and a high incidence of negative advertising. Mr. Clinton and Mr. Perot appeared on national television last night for their last pitch. Mr. Bush declined to buy television time, and his aides said he preferred to rely on a fusillade of campaign advertising. Second to Mr. Clinton in all national polls, Mr. Bush held out hope for the biggest upset since Democratic President Harry S. Truman beat Republican Thomas E. Dewey in 1948. "You know, Governor Clinton has gotten a little premature. He's talking about his inaugural parade. My advice to him is: 'Put the parade on hold, Bill. You're not going to win this election!' " said Mr. Bush, who will monitor the results tonight in Houston. Mr. Bush's aides said internal polls indicate he was a long shot for re-election. They added that the president's surge in the polls late last week was halted by new charges linking him to the Iran-Contra scandal. "I smell victory in the air," said a confident, hoarse Mr. Clinton, who plans to watch the results in the Old Statehouse in Little Rock, Ark. Mr. Clinton campaigned in eight states yesterday. His voice virtually gone from a 30-hour, 4,100-mile election marathon, he whispered, "Drown out the negative voices that have held us back too long." Mr. Clinton, his throat doctor in tow, even introduced his wife, Hillary, as "the next first lady." Mr. Bush, racing toward what he feels is a photo finish with Mr. Clinton, took Air Force One to six states yesterday before ending the day with a nighttime rally in his adopted hometown of Houston. "We are going to pull off one of the biggest surprises in political history," he said. The president added that yesterday was "the last day I will ever campaign for myself." Mr. Bush's final message: "Bill Clinton wants to expand American government. I want to expand the American dream." Mr. Perot, meanwhile, continued to spend heavily on televison advertising as aides predicted a 50-state landslide. The billionaire pressed his message that Washington needs a business approach, not politics as usual. While the three candidates argued over their records and vision of America, they agreed that Americans should vote. Analysts said today's turnout could be the largest in history, although such claims are common the day before a presidential election. Driving that prediction was a large number of contested House and Senate races and ballot measures that have attracted passionate supporters and opponents. The biggest game in Washington was predicting the winner. In offices from the White House to the Democratic National Committee to the Friendly Inn tavern in Cheverly, voters picked their man. "Most everybody is saying Clinton is going to get in, but, me, I hope Bush wins," said Charlie Warner, owner of the Friendly Inn. "I wouldn't want to be George Bush today," said Democratic political consultant Alan Madison. He predicted Mr. Clinton would win 47 percent of the popular vote. With polls showing a close election, many hedged their bets. Gary Bauer, president of the Family Research Council, for example, said the popular vote would be 43 percent for both Mr. Bush and Mr. Clinton, with Mr. Perot getting the rest. He added Mr. Bush would edge the Democrat in the Electoral College. Everyone had a key to predicting the outcome. "I think we'll get a pretty early indication when the results from Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Delaware come in," said Mr. Bauer. "If Bush pulls off a win in Pennsylvania, that would be a real signal," said Burton Yale Pines, chairman of the National Center for Public Policy Research. He predicted the outcome would be known by 9:15 p.m. "There is nothing out West with the exception of Colorado that could tilt toward Bush," he added. Mr. Madison said exit polls of new voters would also give an indication of the winner. He predicted a surge of these voters would answer Mr. Clinton's call for change. It was unclear late yesterday when the networks would call the election, but there was no reason to believe they would break with the pattern of announcing a winner after the West Coast polls shut down. That practice began in 1980 after Ronald Reagan was declared a winner before the polls in California had shut, prompting supporters of former President Jimmy Carter to charge that the announcement kept voters from the polls. Most network coverage kicks in around 8 p.m. For humor, turn to cable's Comedy Central, which will present "Indecision '92" beginning at 8 p.m. Many Americans welcomed the end of the campaign, although Republicans in Washington were more cautious. After holding power for 12 straight years, they were uncomfortable with placing their fate in the hands of the voters. Many Republicans were prepared for a Bush defeat. Unable to stall Mr. Clinton's race for the Oval Office with charges of womanizing, issue flip-flopping and draft dodging, they conceded that his call for change and the prolonged recession doomed the re-election effort. "We started too late and hit too little," said a senior administration official. For most involved in Washington's basic industry - politics - today marks a return to normal life. And for those who can't get enough, the next presidential election is just 1,464 days away. ****BOX ELECTION NIGHT TV, RADIO ABC: Coverage begins on news broadcast at 6:30 p.m., running until 11 p.m. when it will break for local news until 11:30 p.m. Election coverage will resume at 11:30 p.m. and run past midnight. NBC: Coverage starts with news at 7 p.m., continuing at least until 1 a.m. CBS: Coverage will start with news at 7 p.m., continuing until 2 a.m. CNN: Begins its coverage at 4:30 p.m. C-SPAN: Airs election results beginning at 8 p.m., and will stay on the story throughout the night. PBS: "The MacNeil-Lehrer NewsHour" will begin its regularly scheduled broadcast at 6 p.m. At 7 p.m. an updated "NewsHour" will be telecast. From 8 to 11 p.m. it will air "The Finish Line," with a panel discussing the election results. A one-hour special report follows at 11 p.m., with a final half-hour update at 2 a.m. Univision network: Spanish-language coverage from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Comedy Central: Presents another installment in its "Indecision '92" coverage with a humorous twist, from 8 p.m. to midnight. National Public Radio: Will provide extensive coverage beginning at 5 p.m. Tomorrow, "Morning Edition" will start one hour early, at 5 a.m. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. 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