European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 9, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday april 9, 1992 the stars and stripes Page 13 commentary Tom Baxter democrats seem intent on self destruction the a crucial a the a Pivotal a the a a key new York primary is Over and All it has demonstrated is How much the democratic nomination process resembles a suicide assistance machine for the terminally ill. In slow doses the suicide machine has managed to mete out the worst of both worlds for the democrats. It has guaranteed that no one but Bill Clinton can win the democratic nomination before the party a National convention this summer. Yet it makes it impossible for Clinton to sew up the nomination before the last primary Day of the year ensuring that he will be stalked by Jerry Brown and probably Paul Tsongas right to the end. The arithmetic of the democratic process is so complicated its no wonder it is often ignored. But the numbers Tell quite a different Story than the spin out of new York. On april 6, 1988, Michael Dukakis led Jesse Jackson by about 70 delegates. Clinton went into yesterdays primaries about 400 delegates ahead of Tsongas and 900 ahead of Brown. Delegate Wise then new York was More of a Speed bump than a crucial juncture in the Campaign. Clinton got More delegates out of new York than anyone else and he did even better tuesday in Kansas and last weekend in puerto Rico. He even won in Wisconsin if not by much. It is this steady accretion of delegates in places that Arentt National Media centers which will make it very difficult to deny Clinton the democratic nomination. A a but since Tsongas a abrupt departure before the Connecticut primary the Clinton Campaign has seemed to lose a measure of composure. It appeared to buy into the idea that Connecticut where Clinton got More delegates than Brown was a defeat and not simply an embarrassment. Then it allowed the new York primary to become a referendum on the importance of new York. Clinton  do anything about the tabloids the Kamikaze television Crews the Bonfire of the vanities activists. But even if it had Cost him a few votes he would have been better off simply removing himself from them for a while. He could have toured the poconos in a Van and saved his voice. Or made another trip to Kansas which is More his country anyway. Anything in Short to lower the voltage a Little and slow the steady inflation of hot air under the new York pundits. Besides if he had left Brown in the City by himself the Media would have Tom the former California governor apart in a feeding frenzy. On the other hand things  have turned out any better for Tsongas if he had planned it this Way which you can to say for sure he did no to. Exhausted after the Illinois Michigan primaries he spared himself three weeks of being jostled and yelled at lowered expectations to Zero and came in thumping for a no candidate anyway. But it becomes very difficult to see How Tsongas plays his hand from Here on presuming he announces this week that he plans to do so. Its virtually impossible for him to win enough delegates in primaries to wrest the nomination from Clinton. His Only Hope would be to win what he can to underscore Clinton weakness and play for the Opportunity to be the alternative in a Hung convention. That a a harder task than that which faces Clinton who still has Arkansas Alabama Virginia and North Carolina left on his Calendar. But where does this tortured process leave him if he does become the nominee that a the question of the political year. C Cox Newa so Vlco Walter r. Mear Clinton has Only himself to fear rest of Way there a Only one Democrat left who could bar Bill Clinton a path to the presidential nomination. And he a it. Clinton turned tuesday night from confrontation to a Sermon on democratic Unity the language of nominees. Jerry Brown not Only Defeated but demoted to third place behind a dropout who did no to Campaign was an unyielding loser saying hell be challenging Clinton tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow. At his new York Victory rally Clinton said every Democrat voted for change on tuesday no matter the candidate they chose. A so tonight i ask you to reach out to those who did not vote for me but voted for change a he said. A we want to be their Campaign  out distancing the Field adding to his runaway Delegate Lead the Arkansas governor was on his Way to first ballot nomination to Challenge president Bush for the White House. Ronald Brown the democratic party chairman said Clinton would wind up with about 1,300 delegates after tuesday and a Lead it would be hard to dislodge. Tom Donilon a democratic strategist said Only a some unfathomable collapse could undo Clinton a nomination. Only a major misstep personal or political scandal could get in the Way. Clin ton has said repeatedly that there will be none that All the potential problems Are out and under control. But past evasions on Youthful marijuana use and an undisclosed 1969 draft notice haunted him in the new York Campaign. And among tuesdays democratic primary voters there were reservations about his honesty and integrity. That has become chronic. Clinton has called it a a Case of buyers remorse. A now that he a made the Sale he needs to find a remedy. Jerry Brown hammered at questions of character and Trust in the two week new York Campaign and he a said he will keep at his Challenge to the establishment a read Clinton a for the rest of a i i a flown of s5tt 7 a a in it uck wetly of a jew  no Mot inc status win the primary season eight More weeks. In surveys of voters leaving their polling places of tuesday network exit polls indicated democratic doubts about Clinton on character questions. Abc reported that Only 50 percent of new York democratic voters thought Clinton has the honesty and integrity to serve effectively As president Abc said 55 percent thought so in Wisconsin 48 percent in Kansas. Most democrats said they would like someone else to get into the party a contest 66 percent said so in new York 60 percent in Kansas 58 percent in Wisconsin. Clinton said earlier that such Adverse judgments were predictable Given the pounding he a taken. A i have been a punching bag in new York and All across this country a he said. A How can people think anything different a As the All but certain nominee he needs to make them think differently or watch the republicans take advantage of the doubts. Jerry Brown has said their attacks will make his look like Patty cake. Clinton has said it would Only be worse if the party turned away from him and went with a new candidate. A a. In a not worried about this character  c the associated press