Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.news,americast.usa-today.news From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: news Fri, Oct 2 1992 Date: Fri, 2 Oct 92 04:56:03 EDT Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: News USA TODAY Update Oct. 2-4, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network PEROT REJOINS THE RACE: Ross Perot stepped to the front of his self-financed grass-roots movement again Thursday, vowing to run for president as a champion of the very people he disappointed 11 weeks ago. "Looking back won't solve our problems," Perot said. "Looking forward, working together, we can fix anything." Of 150,000 supporters canvassed over the past two days, 90% wanted him to run, an aide said. CLINTON TAKES WIDE LEAD: With the election one month away, Bill Clinton seems to be headed toward a landslide victory over President Bush. Clinton has gained eight percentage points and opened up a 17-point lead (52% to 35%) in the latest USA TODAY:CNN:Gallup Poll. On the issue of the economy, Clinton's proposals are most popular - nearly 2 to 1 over Bush's and 3 to 1 over Ross Perot's. Margin of error: 3%. INDEPENDENTS FLOCK TO CLINTON: Since presidential polling began, no incumbent has ever come back from this far behind this late in the campaign - not even Harry Truman in 1948, who trailed by only six points at this stage. Bill Clinton, who leads President Bush 52% to 35% in the latest USATODAY:CNN:Gallup Poll, surged among independents and suburbanites - two groups considered vital to winning this year. USS SARATOGA MAKES MISTAKE HIT: At least five Turkish destroyer crew members were killed Thursday after the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga, on NATO maneuvers in the Aegean Sea, accidentally fired two missiles at the ship. At least one hit. U.S. Navy rescue teams were assisting, said Defense Department spokeswoman Maj. Kathryn Ingram. The accident occurred about 6 p.m. ET. The Turkish ship was taking part in the maneuvers. BOSNIAN NO-FLY ZONE EXPECTED: Acting Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger, admitting the administration is deeply split over the issue, Thursday predicted a decision soon on a no-fly zone over Bosnia. If the allies interdict Serbian flights, he said, it "implies certain military commitments which we have to be very careful about in terms of where that might lead." SENATE OVERRIDES `GAG RULE': The Senate voted Thursday to override President Bush's veto of an abortion-related bill, but the president can probably count on the House not having enough veto votes Friday. Another Senate vote failed to override Bush's veto of a bill placing conditions on China's most-favored-nation status, thus preserving the president's so-far perfect veto record. BUSH SUPPORTS ETHANOL FUEL: Hoping to recapture dwindling farm support, President Bush on Thursday announced a complicated plan to use corn-based ethanol fuel as an antidote to urban smog. The announcement is expected to be good for Bush politically, particularly in key agriculture states like Illinois. It would allow ethanol-blended gasoline to account for as much as 30% of all fuel in smoggy Northern cities. MANUFACTURING INDEX BELOW 50%: The nation's anemic economic recovery started to look even weaker Thursday. Economic reports were disappointing. The National Association of Purchasing Management said its business index plunged to 49% in September from 53.7% in August. A reading below 50% means there is less manufacturing. Construction spending fell 0.8% in August from July to a seasonally adjusted $424 billion. ASTHMA DEATHS RISING: Asthma cases and deaths increased significantly in the past decade, a new study shows, and experts say pollution and poverty are among the culprits. A Centers for Disease Control report, out Thursday, says: 4 in 100 now have asthma, 10.3 million in the USA. That's up 38% over 1980. And 2 deaths in 100,000 are asthma-related, up 46%. ENERGY BILL NEARS PASSAGE: Congress is poised to pass an energy bill this weekend aimed at pushing the country toward conservation and alternative fuels. Major provisions include: Easing licensing for new nuclear-power plants; toughening efficiency standards for products from light bulbs to shower heads; and forcing industry to buy vehicles that run on alternative fuels. President Bush is expected to sign. CONTINENTAL GETS ANOTHER BID: Continental Airlines received a fifth bid Thursday. An investor group offered to buy the airline for $425 million and create an employee stock ownership plan that would give employees a 52% stake. Creditors would get 40%; the investors and current managers would own the rest. The bankruptcy court handling Continental's reorganization will pick a bid. SENATE OKS START: The Senate Thursday approved the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, capping a decade of negotiations that began in the Cold War. It is the most complex nuclear arms treaty ever approved and sets a seven-year timetable for reduction of nuclear arsenals of the USA and four former Soviet republics. U.S. warheads would be cut from 10,000 to 8,500. N.Y. JUDGE ALLOWS PANHANDLING: A New York federal judge struck down state and city bans on panhandling, saying they violate the First Amendment's free-speech guarantee. "Conduct and expression are inexplicably intertwined here," said Judge Robert Sweet. He said society may not ban begging in public streets or parks. The challenge was brought by two homeless people. DOW JONES OPENS ON DOWNSWING: The Dow Jones average of 30 industrials opens at 3254.37 Friday after closing down 17.29 Thursday. The New York Stock Exchange composite opens at 228.73, down 0.73. The American Stock Exchange market value opens at 374.81, down 1.91. The NASDAQ OTC composite opens at 578.33, down 4.94. SHOWERS PREVAIL OVER NATION: Damp and dismal weather will dot much of the USA this weekend. In the Northeast, readings will be in the 50s and 60s as showers dampen parts of New York and New England. And in the Southeast, look for a mix of showers and thunderstorms. Sunny, warm weather persists across the Plains and Rockies with record high temperatures possible. News Editor: Kate Coughlin. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution purposes violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM