European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 2, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 6 the stars and stripes election 92 monday Nam bar 2,1992 democrats favored for governor poll says i l a a us Arnu it ii u Tinnina a Verv comenti tip by Steve Gerstel \ United pres International it Washington a democrats could be headed for a near sweep of the dozen elections for governor being held in mostly smaller states races that have been overshadowed by the Battle for the White House and for congressional seats. A United press International Survey shows that with some Luck democrats could win As Many As 11 or All 12 states including a number where republicans live in the governor s mansion but Are either retiring or Are barred by Law from seeking another term. Among the strongest candidates fielded by the democrats is gov. B. Evan Bayh Iii of Indiana the son of a former senator and highly popular. He is considered a sure bet to defeat Republican attorney general Linley e. Pearson in a Strong Republican state. Three other states Are considered solid for the democrats a Vermont Missouri and Delaware. The democratic candidate in Missouri is it. Gov. Mel Carnahan the Only Democrat to hold statewide office in the last four years. He would be the first of his party elected governor in the state in 16 years. His opponent Republican attorney general William l. Webster is nationally known for his arguments before the . Supreme court in defense of restrictive abortion Laws. But in Missouri Webster is better known for what Robert Salisbury professor of political science at Washington University in St. Louis called a Quot Long series of exposed stories in the newspapers about his handling of his duties As attorney  in Vermont another democratic incumbent Howard Dean a physician is the favorite to defeat Republican state sen. John Mcclaughry and in Delaware where the Republican incumbent Michael n. Castle is running for the House the favorite is democratic rep. Thomas r. Carper. He faces Republican b. Gary Scott a realtor. States listed As leaning toward the democrats included two incumbents seeking another term in Rhode Island and West Virginia. In West Virginia democratic gov. Gaston Caperton is favored Over state agriculture commissioner Cleve Benedict. In Rhode Island democratic gov. Bruce Sundlun is Given the margin Over Republican Elizabeth Leonard who won in a closely contested primary. The Survey Calls new Hampshire North Carolina North Dakota Montana and Washington a toss up Quot races. In new Hampshire probably one of the nations most Republican states the Democrat state sen. De Borah Quot Amie Quot Arnesen is running a very competitive race against Republican former attorney general Stephen Merrill. In North Dakota democratic attorney general Nicholas Spaeth is in a fight with gop businessman Edward Schafer. In North Carolina democratic former gov. James Hunt jr., who narrowly lost a Senate race to Republican sen. Jesse Helms squares off against it. Gov. James c. Gardner. Montana s race Between Republican attorney general Marc Racicot and democratic state rep. Dorothy Bradley is in a virtual dead heat and both sides say the race is too close to Call Washington s governor s race is also very close with Democrat Mike lower a former five term congressman holding a statistically insignificant Lead Over Republican attorney general Ken Eikenberry. Lowry however has run statewide twice and never broke the 50 percent Barrier. In addition to shots at the Quot tossup races republicans May Well hang on to Utah with a Democrat and an Independent battling for second. The most recent statewide poll conducted by Valley research amp Survey inc., showed Republican Michael Leavitt an insurance executive and a member of state Board of regents with 34.9 percent the Independent mining executive Merrill Cook at 19 percent and Democrat Stewart Hansen a former judge and a lawyer 17 percent. Christian group backs Bush with mail drive Chesapeake a. Up Pat Robertson a political organization plans to distribute 40 million voter guides to people attending 100,000 churches nationwide sunday guides that Are expected to help president Bush. In addition to the Church bulletin sized voter guide the Christian coalition has printed a 16-Page, tabloid sized guide. The literature spells out the views of presidential and congressional candidates on Quot family values Quot issues considered important to Many of the nations estimated 40 million evangelicals. The brochures will be distributed to the churches through the organizations 522 nationwide chapters said coalition executive director Ralph Reed. He refused to say How much the Effort Cost. John Green a political scientist at the University of Akron and an expert on the religious right said that if the coalition distributes even half the voter guides it Quot would have a potentially major Impact on  the South is considered crucial for Democrat Bill Clinton. He is hoping to Cut into the Strong support Bush received in the Region in 1988. Exit polls showed Bush carried Between 75 and 83 percent of the evangelical vote in 1988. If Clinton could get 40 percent or More it would be Quot a real Triumph for the democrats Quot Green said. The voter guides do not Tell people How to vote. But the democratic National committee has filed a Federal elections commission complaint charging that the technically non partisan coalition is illegally supporting republicans. The coalition denies the charge. The tabloid guide compares the platforms of both political parties and presents the views of congressional candidates on six issues taxes abortion educational Choice a balanced budget amendment homosexual rights and Public funding of Quot obscene  Clinton in a if bellwether rings Trueno Candy coated remarks president Bush Points into the crowd As he and wife Barbara begin a whistle Stop tour in Burlington wish a the Home of nest chocolate. The president told the crowd Quot we Bushes Are delighted to be Here in Burlington a the chocolate City Usa. If my opponent were Here today he might even inhale a it smells so  Okanogan county Wash. Up a if you believe in Okanogan county a reputation As the ouija Board of National politics then its bad news for president Bush. For 104 years and 26 presidential elections voters in Okanogan county have correctly chosen the Winner. They were wrong Only once in 1900 when they sided with William Jennings Bryan Over the incumbent William Mckinley a poll conducted oct. 16-20 by the morning news Tribune of Tacoma and Seattle a King to showed Democrat Bill Clinton with a commanding 41 percent of the vote in the bellwether county. Bush had 28 percent and Ross Perot trailed with 21 percent. The poll had a 5-Point margin of error. Okanogan county is the third largest county in the Continental United states with a population of 34,400 spread Over an area larger than the state of Connecticut. Many people of Okanogan say although they do he to represent a Cross Section a the population is mostly White a their collective situation mirrors that of the nation As a  can t afford to elect Clinton Reagan says Atlanta up former president Reagan said saturday Quot America can to afford to make a mistake Quot by denying president Bush a second term in office and sending Quot an inexperienced fellow Quot like Bill Clinton to the White House. Quot you need to give president Bush the same sort of mandate you gave me in 1980,&Quot Reagan told a cheering crowd at a suburban Atlanta shopping mall. Quot we simply can to afford to put an inexperienced fellow in the White House particularly one with a dismal track record As a Small state  without mentioning either Man by name Reagan poked fun at both Clinton the governor of Arkansas and former president Carter a former Georgia governor. Quot you might have noticed that the democrats usually nominate unknown democratic governors that a because the democratic governors who Are known can to possibly get elected a Reagan said. Reagan accused Clinton of waffling on the important issues facing the nation. Quot when it comes to the issues of today we know where George Bush stands Quot he said. Reagan reminded the crowd of the 21 percent interest rates and double digit inflation rates of the Carter years and warned that a vote for Clinton could put the nation Back on the path to a similar economic situation. Noting that the rally was taking place on halloween Reagan warned the crowd to Quot be on the Lookout for a couple of tricksters masquerading As new democrats with new ideas. Behind those masks Are a couple of tax and spenders who will scare the daylights out of your