European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 11, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Self immolating9 demo candidates Appolo former Viet president Walter mandate it would be very late but them still room Tor a new candidate , or up kick does mis wean in w we gift i Hawks new we by William  associated press their presidential Field thinned an bloodied democrats Are shaking their head with wonder and asking whether the series of debacles has already diminished their 1988 chances. Usually he democratic party commits suicide in presidential elections said Claiborne Darden a Southern political pollster based in Atlanta. Now we find the individual candidates Are quite capable of doing that to themselves. That s quite a delightful change or entertaining at  former vice president Walter f. Mondale reflected the thinking of most democratic insiders when he said there remains plenty of Lime Lor the party to recover. The election is still 13 months away and it is dear much of the Public has not begun to focus on the Campaign. I think this will be ancient history Long before even our convention Mondale the 1984 nominee said it s always painful but i think out of the process we will select a Strong  these Guys Are self Immo lating was the Way Joseph Napolitan. A democratic political consultant put it but once a candidate is chosen i Don t think it will have Nayef oct on  but the disasters that have wrecked Gary Harl and Joseph Biden and robbed Michael Dukakis of his political brain Trust May underscore in voters minds what some see As the Patty s problem that its candidates Are a largely untested and unfamiliar group relatively lacking in National stature people cannot help but Start to see Chr beginnings of patterns Tho beginnings of some kind of Syslo malic  and tack on the Parl of the candidates said Mark Mellman. A democratic pollster thankfully these things Are occurring tar enough in  he said by the Lime voters go to the Iowa caucuses new Hampshire primary and super tuesday i think most of this will be Long Lor Gollon it s a disease but we can to  Mellman added delivering a harsher assessment was David Garth the new York Media Consul land to new York gov Mario Cuomo and others. He said Dukakis has been severely damaged because of Tho intensity or press coverage on Iho problem and in said the scrutiny is bound to fall on Iho Republican at some Point. I think it has a pretty Nasty of Kcal on Ihrer  political scene said Garth i Don i think anybody s going to come out of this Ihal s not hurling eventually he republicans Are going to be hurting too " in the Sou in where the Campaign rapidly i urns afar the new Hampshire primary next feb 16.1 do cum ulal Ive effect May hurl Democrat is said Merle Black a University of North Carolina political scion so and Southern political specialist. In Many Southern Stales democrats lace the possibility of voters crossing Over on March b and voting in Tho gop primary instead. There May be some openings no Tor Olheis in the race but Lor democrats in general in really is a  said Black. When in looks like Tho whole held is Yelling weak there May be a feeling that no Mailer who the democratic nominee is you May not be Able to win this  Dukakis the Massachusetts governor suffered the latest setback when he acknowledged recently that in was his Campaign manager John Sasso who provided some news organizations with an attack video against Biden the Delaware senator. That videotape showing How Biden borrowed remarks without a unbutton was the tug of thread that unravelled his candidacy. Ii brought further charges of plagiarism and untruthfulness. Passing dirt on an opponent is hardly an unheard of act. But the Sasso admission came two Days Afler Dukakis had denied any role by his Campaign and Dukakis had positioned himself As a candidate above Pelly attacks. Dukakis hesitated in handling the affair first saying he would t accept Basso s resignation four hours later Sasso and political director Paul Tully were gone trom the Campaign Dukakis stumble followed by a week the departure of Biden itself a political Shock after the disintegration of Hart s front runner candidacy amid revelations of his relationship with a Young Miami Model democrats voiced frustration that in their View republicans were not being held accountable in the same Way their candidates have been. "1 wish the press would give the Sama prominence to misrepresentations by the president Mondale said in a Telephone interview. He s been getting away with murder for six eight years. He s outstanding at saying things that Don t happen to be  several democrats voiced the View that there is a limit to How much More the party can endure the democratic candidate Field has reached the stage where the Public is waggling it s head collectively and i would t want to see any More of that said former Iowa slate chairman Art Davis if nothing else happens this is october and people go on to other subjects. If there s More to come l starts to rattle pretty  the problems have increased pc Cullion about the democrats who opted not to enter the race although there was no evidence any would change their mind and become a candidate 31 this late Dale. And Given All this some asked who would want to get in Mondale said Hal As the race remains wide open in would be very late but there s is ill room for a new  and those who see Cuomo As still a possibility said the Silva lion could hardly be Beller Lor him i think in Cuomo got in it tomorrow he d be the front runner and the nominee said Napolitan i Don t know Hal Mario has any intention of running. But in there was some machiavellian strategy boy it s sure working " sunday october 11. 19b7 the stars and stripes Page 17