European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 18, 1967, Darmstadt, Hesse Fog 4 Thi stars and stripes monday september 18, 1967 demos lbs would win if voting were now Washington up if the next presidential election were held tomorrow democratic state party chairmen and governors believe president Johnson would squeak through with a narrow s margin might be As thin As 25 electoral votes and shift of one big state such As Illinois or Pennsylvania could turn the White House Over to the republicans according to Apoll of democratic leaders conducted by United pres International. All 24 democratic governors and party chairmen or their counterparts in 50 states an the District of Columbia were contacted in the Survey. None saw a repeat of the 1964 democratic landslide in which John son captured 486 electoral votes in 44 states and the District of Columbia. The poll results pointing to close race were particularly significant in View of the Long standing custom of politicians to claim everything in sight before an election. They apparently reflected a Sharp dip in the president s popularity As revealed by the Harris and Gallup polls last month. Both poll measured Public approval of Johnson at a new Low of 39 percent. The democratic political professionals sized up former vice president Richard As the strongest Candi Date the republicans could Fiel against Johnson. Of 36 who expressed an opinion 15 regarded Nixon the greatest threat to voting Outlook by states Washington up Here is a rundown on How state democratic political leaders size up president Johnson s chances for re election if the presidential election were held tomorrow Alabama lbs would not carry Alabam if the election were held this week. Alaska yes could carry Alaska. No certain president has slumped in Alaska. Arizona Johnson could carry Ari Onanow depending upon who the gop candidate might George Wallace of Alabama will Cut into both parties conservative vote if he runs. California it is probably True that the president is not popular in California but none of the Republican candidates mentioned has indicated sufficient Appeal to defeat John son. That includes gov. Johnson could carry Colorado against any Likely Republican he would squeak through. Delaware Johnson would win by a reduced majority. District of Columbia lbs could carry if election were this week. Florida it would be difficult today for Johnson to carry the state. Georgia Wallace would carry if t h erace were among Johnson Wallace and any gop Johnson would win. Hawaii has always been strongly identified with depends on who the Republican candidate is. Illinois lbs would win. Indiana Kraft poll said he would probably would not win As of today. This does not mean his popularity is not going to be High in 1968. Much depends on whom he s running Don t think Johnson could carry the state under any if the election were today seriously doubt if Johnson could carry Testate. He s in real trouble Here. Louisiana Wallace is High Man in our state. Lbs will get 35 per cent of the Louisiana vote. If the gop nominates a conservative Wallace the gop candidate will split the opposition vote and lbs might the election is not this week it is in november 1968. Johnson is faced with such problems that it is doubtful any president would be Riding it would be difficult for lbs to win in Maryland at the yes he would win. Because there is no Quick solution to the problems of Vietnam and the cities the people take it out on the president. The gop has talked of meaningful alternatives but has not come up with in View of Republican failure to come up with solutions to Vietnam an the race questions Don t see any difficulty for the president in he would carry Minnesota. There is obviously some slump but not serious enough to do More than Cut into his substantial 1964 he has t slumped in Mississippi because he was never at present Johnson could not carry Missouri. His popularity goes up an Down like the Stock Market. His slump is caused by the Vietnam War and City riots. Great Deal will depend on the cities situation next probably would not carry Mon Tana if the election were this week. He won thave sen. Mike Mansfield on the ballot. Mans Field last time helped the election in t today but in 1968. These Are difficult times but they Ai difficult for republicans As Well As democrats. 1 Don t know of a Republican today who could beat Johnson. Nevada depending on who the Republican candidate is Johnson could carry Nevada. Almost everybody is dissatisfied that we re inthe War. Nobody else has come up with a bet Ter Hampshire he could carry the state because people would go to the poll realizing that despite tremendous problems an opponent could not produce better Jersey just Don t know. There is a certain unpopularity he is experiencing be cause of the Vietnam situation particularly. The Only answer i can give is that the election snot today but next year. New Mexico he could win York president Truman beat gov. Dewey despite the polls. Polls taken Well i Advance of an election Are straws in the wind. A poll does t affect the thinking of solid political leaders. Any number of things could change. Vietnam is chiefly responsible for the president s slump. Politically it is a very difficult Issue for the president. In the Campaign i think he could handle it. North Carolina if an election were held this week lbs could not carry North Dakota no he would t win As of today. The riots and the Vietnam War Dis sension Are both at a Peak and he is being blamed for the drop in wheat prices though not responsible for it. Ohio the outcome would be the president carried okla homa overwhelmingly in 1964, and i anticipate him to repeat that performance. Oregon Rockefeller could beat Johnson in Oregon tomorrow. The republicans second Best bet Here would be the president could carry Pennsylvania if the election were Hel this week next week or in november. I Don t think the polls reflect his stand with the vote sat this Point. Rhode Island obviously conditions Are unfavourable to the president right now but once the president begins campaigning and explaining his policies the people will rally to him. South Carolina one top Democrat said flatly no the president could not win the state As of now. Another refused to size up the situation today but insisted that at election time 1968, the democrats would carry Testate because Wallace would split the conservative Dakota Johnson would lose South Dakota today because of Vietnam agricultural discontent distrust of his integrity the grow ing deficit and the proposed tax president could carry ten Nessee if the election were this week or an week. Texas know of no one who could de feat him. Utah yes he could win primarily be cause he is the incumbent and no attractive Republican appears. Until the brainwashing thing came up Romney would have run Strong. Vermont yes he d win As of today if there is a True slump it s Normal. Virginia yes he d win. Nixon s pre Vious defeats and Romney s Lack of direction would help the democratic yes lbs would carry the state this week. Polls Are like a to lowest Virginia yes he d carry the state because of the Basic popularity of demo cratic programs. Wisconsin lbs could carry the state i the elections were this week. Nixon would run stronger than Johnson could carry the state. Any incumbent would have a Low rating a Yea to a year and a half before his next election. Johnson 12 named gov. Nelso Rockefeller of new York even though he says he will not run eight considered gov. Ronald Reagan of California the most potent gop candidate. Only one mentioned gov. George Romney of Michigan As the strongest Republican available. One selected Senate Republican Leader Everett m. Dirksen of Illinoisan the strongest candidate the gop could run against Johnson. The democratic political leaders were asked in View of president Johnson s slump in the polls could he carry your state if the election were Hel this week Why who among republicans being mentioned would run strongest in your state As of now could the democratic party do better at the polls with a candidate for president other than Johnson with a vice presidential Candi Date other than vice president Humphrey no sentiment showed against Johnson s running for re political leaders called that question naive or academic. Talk about someone other than or. Johnson is just parlor gossip said Zolon Ferency,.michigan state chairman. Any other candidate would wreck the party said Norbert Dreiling Kansas democratic chairman. Neither was there any move to drop vice president Huberth. Humphrey. Several of the party professionals went out of their Way to say that Humphrey s stature had increase since 1964 and that he would help the ticket in 1968. Mansfield Congress Johnson in Harmony Washington a sen ate majority Leader Mike mans Field has indicated he does agree with fellow senators who complain the White House to often ignores Congress in Mak ing major decisions on foreign policy. While he has some differences of his own with the administration on foreign affairs mans Field told an overseas audience on his current far East trip the president and Congress Are in substantial Harmony most of the time on those issues. By Robert t. Gray fro through a distance the prism of an the press the Montana Democrat said it May sometimes appear that the Senate is in constant conflict with the executive the reality however is tothe contrary he continued. The president of the unite states and the Senate Are in fre quent consultation and far More often than not in Mansfield commented at meeting of the japanese american Assembly at Shimoda Japan. Back in the Senate some members complain that the administration s idea of Consulta Tion is to Tell Congress what it has already decided to do before announcing it publicly. Chairman j. W. Fulbright,d-ark., of the foreign relations committee a leading critic of Johnson foreign policy mean while has introduced a Resolution that has served As a. Focal Point for discussion of foreign policy decisions. The Resolution would define . Commitment to another country As one that the senator All of Congress had a voice in making. While it would not be binding on the administration Fulbright views it As a step toward what he describes As a need for regaining congressional authority in foreign affairs. The administration oppose the Resolution on the ground that Congress has been consulted on foreign policy and no for Mal statement that such consultations should be held is Resolution is Likely to be approved by Fulbright s committee but there is no indication when it will come to a of the Vietnam War and . Help to the Cong government during a revolt by rebel mercenaries have Bee cited by Fulbright and other critics As examples of the executive Branch acting overseas without what they Call adequate consultation with Congress. Mansfield joined in the criticism of the administration when three transport plane were sent to the Congo de scribing himself As shocked surprised and dismayed at the majority Leader has also opposed escalation of the Viet Nam War and has pressed the administration without Success thus far to reduce substantially the . Troop commitment i Europe. European coition col. James w. Campbell Usa editor in chief it. Col. F. S. Michael jr., Usan Deputy editor in chief Arnold Burnett managing editor Elmer d. Frank production manager Henry 8. Epstein circulation manager an unofficial newspaper of and for the . Armed Force printed Dally at Darmstadt Germany under the auspice of the office of the chief of Public offal of he Usa eur. Military address the Star and Stripe Apo 09175. International mall the stars and Stripe poit Fach 1034, 61-Parmstadt, Germany. Tell Erlei Hent c prefix 06155 2071 m Darmstadt air strip prefix 2376 741. New York off ice i 641 Washington st., new York 10014, Tell area code 212 620-6771. Second claim postage paid at new York . ".,. The United states is an open society in which the people s right to know is cherished and guarded president Lyndon b
