European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 9, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday april 9, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 3british parties run neck and neck London up a on the eve of the general election Britain a political parties made final appeals wednesday to undecided voters who hold the key to one of the country a closest fought campaigns. Throughout the intense political Battle which has entered on Domestic issues Public opinion polls have shown the opposition labor party running slightly ahead of the ruling conservatives but lacking a Large enough margin to be assured of a decisive Victory during elections today. In their drive to capture a Clear majority in the 651-seat House of commons the conservatives and labor Are seeking to overturn political precedent. If victorious the tories would be the first party to win a fourth consecutive term since the Napoleonic Era. For a majority in the House of commons labor must win 97 seats a 9 percent swing among voters that has not been achieved since 1945. The latest polls put labor As much As 3 percentage Points ahead. In a Harris poll for Independent television news labor received 40 percent of the vote the conservatives 38 percent and the Liberal democrats 18 percent. In the 1987 election which swept Margaret Thatcher to a third term As prime minister the conservatives received 42.2 percent of the vote and labor 30.8 percent with a Liberal social democrats Alliance taking 22.6 percent. The British Economy mired in the worst recession since world War ii has been the main Issue of the Campaign. Polls have shown voters Are looking for the party that will Lead them to better times while maintaining the free National health service and assuring Quality education. Issues regarding the shape of the world following communism a collapse european Unity nuclear proliferation and the environment have barely been mentioned. The tories and labor have struggled to offer a Clear message to recession weary voters. The conservatives have assured voters that the ground is prepared for a robust recovery while labor has blamed the conservatives for the Economy a poor state. Labor Leader Neil Kinlock has called the conservatives led by prime minister John major a the architects of recession Quot who should be thrown out of office. A a we la be a government for All of the people a government for the whole country. We 11 give backing to the talents and skills of the men and women of Britain and Well do that to get our country working again a a Kinlock said wednesday in a final Appeal for votes. A after 13 tory years of wasted resources and wasted opportunities it s now time for a  in Many ways the election is a referendum on the free Market policies of Thatcher who oversaw Britain a economic Boom of the �?T80s and who was ousted As party Leader shortly before the country began sinking into recession. Clinton from Page 1 cratic vote in the four states voting tuesday. Bush had 71 percent of Republican votes in three of the states. There was no Republican primary in new York. Bush again beat Back the conservative Challenge of commentator Patrick Buchanan who failed to reach the 30 percent level he scored against Bush in Early primaries. Bush whose Victory margins ranged from 62 percent in Kansas to 78 percent in Wisconsin is expected to Clinch the Republican nomination with the next three primaries on May 5. According to an associated press primary results put. Clinch the Republican nomination with the next three count he now Lias 963 of the 1,105 Delegate votes needed at the Republican National convention in Houston in August. Buchanan has 54. Clinton still has a Way to go in the Delegate count but was far ahead of All challengers. He picked up 180 delegates tuesday for 1,262 of the 2,145 needed at july a democratic National convention in new York. Tsong As who formally dropped out of the Campaign two weeks ago had 539. Brown former governor of California had 266. Brown said he would press ahead with his candidacy but Clinton a showing prompted party leaders to suggest that the Arkansas governor was All but assured of the nomination. If so it would propel the 48-year-old Clinton into a fall Campaign against Bush 67, in a time of uncertainty overseas and economic hardship at Home. In a statement released at the White House on tuesday Bush said a a today a results Are another endorsement of our proposals for fundamental Reform. While the democrats offer Only confusion we Are earning a mandate to change America As we change the  a we re taking Comfort from the fact that voters in new York. Do not seem to find any of the democratic candidates particularly acceptable a said Fred Malek Bush a Campaign manager. In new York Clinton beat Tsongas 41 percent to 29 percent followed by Brown with 26 percent. In Kansas Clinton had 51 percent trailed by Tsongas with 15 percent and Brown with 13 percent. In Wisconsin Clinton led Brown 38 percent to 35 percent. Tsongas had 22 percent. The tightest race was in Minnesota where Clinton led Brown by one percentage Point 33 to 32, while Tsongas had 23 percent. Interviews with voters in several states reflected continuing concern about Clinton a integrity. The Southern governor has been besieged with controversy throughout his Campaign Over alleged womanizing the use of marijuana his record in office and his military draft status during the Vietnam War. Exit polls indicated that Clinton still must work to capture the loyalty of Many democrats. Asked whether Clinton has the honesty and integrity to serve effectively As president Only 50 percent of democratic voters in new York said he did. The number was 48 percent in Minnesota and 55 percent in Republican Democrat Kansas a 11 George Bush 62% Pat Buchanan 15% i Jerry Brown 13% Bill Clinton 51% Paul Tsongas 15% new York George Bush 68% Pat Buchanan 25% Jerry Brown 26% Bill Clinton 41% Paul Tsongas 29% Wisconsin George Bush 78% Pat Buchanan 17% Jerry Brown 35% Bill Clinton 38% Paul Tsongas 22% a Minnesota has no direct apportionment of delegates ass Wisconsin. But Clinton a victories appeared to be enough to Dampen any Hopes Tsongas a or anyone else a was harbouring of a late run for the nomination. Tsongas speaking outside his Home in Lowell mass., said he did not want to play the role of spoiler. Democratic party leaders have been anxious to rally the party around a single candidate so they can concentrate on a Campaign against Bush. Clinton a is going to get the nomination absent some unfathomable collapse a said Tom Donilon who helped in the campaigns of Jimmy Carter in 1980 and Walter Mondale in 1984. Party chairman Ronald Brown concurred. Brown who campaigns relentlessly As an opponent of establishment politics told supporters in new York a we intend to represent the unrepresented and Well do that As Long As it  meanwhile Texas billionaire h. Ross Perot was considering an Independent candidacy on the november ballot. Pace of presidential race slowing Washington apr a hiatus in the primary Jason follows tuesdays elections in new York wis Ansin Minnesota and Kansas. The Only other contests this month Are democratic accuses this weekend in Virginia and the Pennsylvania primary in three weeks. The april 11-13 caucuses in Virginia will select 78 democratic delegates. On april 28, Pennsylvania voters Register their choices on both democratic and Republican sides of the ballot. There Are 169 democratic delegates up for grabs in Pennsylvania and 91 Republican delegates at stake. The Pace picks up again after that with primaries on May 5 in the District of Columbia Indiana and North Carolina. On May 12, there Are primaries in Nebraska and West . Wirth says he s too fed up to run again Denver apr sen. Timothy e. Wirth says he wont seek a second term because he a disgusted with Washington. A when the enthusiasm starts to Flag when indignation decays into jaded resignation Ana personal anger starts to Shadow my instinctive Western born optimism i know myself Well enough to know that i need a new venue a the Colorado Democrat said in a statement tuesday. Wirth who also served 12 years in the House lamented divisions on Capitol Hill. A personal ambition and partisan bickering set too much of our Agenda a he said. A your rules Are too weak to keep these divisive forces in Check and the egos too Strong to submerge in a common defense of the institution  he Alst said his Campaign Likely would have grown ugly even though he believes he would have won. A in Colorado i would surely have had a a scorched Earth a a take no prisoners contest a he wrote. A voters would have been disgusted and the last person standing a the person elected to represent Colorado a would have been severely  Wirth is the seventh senator this year to announce he wont run for re election. In addition sen. Alan j. Dixon of Illinois was Defeated in the democratic primary last month. The other senators to announce their retirement Are democrats Kent Conrad of North Dakota Brock Adams of Washington and Alan Cranston of California and republicans Warren b. Rudman of new Hampshire Jake Gam of Utah and Steven d. Symms of Idaho. Four dozen House members have either announced retirements or been Defeated in primaries some of whom were involved in the House Bank scandal. Wirth 52, first was elected to Congress in 1974 and served six terms. He was elected to the Senate in 1986.Milwaukee mayor defeats Challenge Milwaukee wis. A mayor John o. Norquist promised to a keep shaking things up Quot in Wisconsin a largest City after being elected to a second term defeating a firefighter accused of sexual harassment. A fasten your seat belts. You Haven to seen anything yet a Norquist told supporters at his Victory party. Norquist polled 99,937 votes or 64 percent tuesday compared with 57,078 votes or 36 percent for Gregory Gracz. Norquist 42, a former state senator and representative was first elected mayor in 1988. Gracz 45, president of the Milwaukee firefighters Union made a Strong showing Early in the Campaign. He was apparently damaged by allegations by a Racine firefighter last month claiming Gracz had dropped his pants and exposed himself to her at a convention two years ago. Gracz denied the accusations saying they were politically motivated