European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 5, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page22 a the stars and stripes election �?T92 thursday november 5,1992dominant Issue it s the Economy by David e. Anderson United press International Washington As the Early election returns were tabulated tuesday night the sign in Bill Clinton a Campaign Headquarters in Little Rock Ark., seemed to say it All a it s the Economy  by a Large margin a 43 percent a voters interviewed in exit polls named the Economy As the top Issue facing the country with 23 percent naming the Federal budget deficit and 21 percent saying the Economy related problem of health care. Among those asked their View of the Economy just 22 percent said it was in Good shape and 29 percent said the Economy a performance was poor. That was bad news for president Bush because 60 percent of those saying the Economy was doing poorly went for Clinton. The democrats Campaign plan focusing on the Economy Ana an Effort to win Back Blue Collar Quot Reagan Bush democrats and to ease the fears of the nations largest voting bloc a suburbanites a seemed to work. In Michigan 48 percent of the households with Auto workers voted for Clinton. Nationally Clinton won 45 percent of the suburban vote according to exit polls. Few of the key elements of Bush s strategy worked Well. Bush a attack on Clinton s draft record did not win him the veterans vote even among those who did not believe Clinton a answers on the Issue. Among veterans Clinton won 46 percent of the vote Bush got 35 percent and Independent Ross Perot picked up 19 percent. On the Trust Issue 70 percent thought Bush was lying on the Iran Contra affair which was revived Friday with additional incriminating evidence of Bush a knowledge of president Ronald Reagan s worst scandal. Nor did the fundamentalist vote with its emphasis on family values seem to enhance the president s prospects. Only 14 percent of those polled said family values were an important Issue and Bush who won 80 percent of the evangelical vote in 1988, carried Only 60 percent of it this time. Abortion also played a minor role cited by slightly More than 10 percent of the voters As a key Issue. In Pennsylvania of those who said abortion was important 60 percent went for Bush although he lost the state. In new York 58 percent of those who said the Issue was important went for Clinton. Clinton also made inroads into the recent Republican lock on White men and Young people. Both groups had been solidly gop since Reagan s election in 1980. Overall Only 60 percent of those who said they voted for Bush in 1988 voted for him this time and Only 32 percent of the democrats who said they voted for Bush in 1988 stayed with the Republican party in 1992. The democratic nominee won 50 percent of the so called mtg generation Young voters Between 18 and 24. And he ran even stronger among older voters winning 53 percent of the vote of those 60 or older who were especially concerned about health care. He was also running even with Bush among White men in Southern states a key part of the Reagan Bush base. The Black vote which Clinton was accused of ignoring during the Campaign remained solidly democratic with Clinton winning As much of 85 percent of the african american vote in several states. For nearly everybody however it was the Economy that Hurt Bush the most. Two thirds of those polled said they disapproved of the presidents managing of the  numbers of voters endure Long poll lines by John Solomon the associated press americans went to the polls in record numbers this year reversing a the acc decade decline in participation As they voiced Ancer Over the Economy and demanded something belter. They braved Snow in Minnesota withstood incredibly Long lines from Dawn to dusk in nearly every state and even endured a ballot machine in Indiana that broke Down from apparent Over us. Re a in be been eager for election Day to come Quot said Ruthann Schroeder 46, standing in a line of 100 or so others waiting to vote in blustery Iowa. Quot we need a change  the percentage of eligible voters who cast ballots is Likely to be the highest since 55.4 percent in 1972, said Curtis Gans a voter turnout expert. An estimated 100 million americans voted tuesday eclipsing the previous High of 92.6 million in 1984 and marking a 3 percent to 5 percent Rise Over 1988 when an All time Low 50.2 percent turned out Gans said. Even though exact figures arc not Likely to be known for a Day or so the incomplete returns assured a record. Still Gans cautioned that this was a Quot pocket Book election Quot in which economic concerns spawned a magnitude of turnout that is Likely to be Short lived unless reforms address the More serious problem of voter apathy. Quot the biggest reason is the recession and a Little bit of a read my lips and a Little bit Ross Perot. But there a nothing in the election itself to say it is anything but temporary Quot said Gans founder of the committee for the study of the american electorate. Indeed the Economy clearly was on the minds of Many of the millions Quot basically our problems Are related to the Economy so we need someone experienced and successful in this area to pull us out of the crunch Quot said David Osentoski 37, of land o lakes Ela. Long lines wrapped around polling places almost everywhere m the nation from Minneapolis where voters stood in 8 inches of fresh fallen Snow to Colorado where even gov. Roy Romer had to wait 45 minutes to cast his ballot. A we Haven to had a Stream like this in Ages Quot said  Devore elections judge at a teamsters Hall in Erie pa., where a High profile Senate race was contributing to High turnout. Veteran election clerks noted a higher than usual turnout among Young voters. A the kids Are taking a special interest this year. You can always count on the old timers to show up but about half the people through the door Are College students Quot said William Stark an elections judge in Pittsburgh. Hope Ark., resident James Perry strolls past president elect Bill Clinton a childhood Home tuesday. Hometown had Hope for Kool Aid kid by Sharon Cohen the associated press Hope Ark. A when America chose a new president Dale Drake had two reasons to Crow a Hometown boy was heading to the White House a and he happened to be her Cousin Bill Clinton. That a no Surprise to her. A after he met Jack Kennedy so Many years ago 1 knew it Quot she confided in a hushed tone. Quot i just knew All his life he was going to do something  on tuesday he did no to let her Down. Drake was among scores of relatives friends and neighbors crowding into a local Steakhouse to celebrate Hopes most famous citizen a Man who left the Community As a a amps 7-year-old child but remains in the hearts and memories of Many townsfolk. Some part goers wore Quot Fob buttons Short for a friends of  others carried faded Blurry childhood photographs. And almost everyone had a Story about Bill the easygoing Little boy who liked to drink grape Kool Aid play Ana read. Quot he was just different from other kids a said his great Uncle buddy Grisham his eyes Welling with tears. Quot he never ran off to the Creek to go fishing. He had his head in the books  but he was sociable too said George Wright a childhood Friend who wore a Lapel Button featuring a kindergarten picture of him with an impish Clinton. A the was always wanting everybody to like him Quot Wright said. A the was just a Happy go Lucky  some of the celebrants even knew Clinton before his school Days Wilma Rowe Booker was the nurse who helped deliver him. A the said a you were the first to spank me but you certainly weren to the last a a a she said. Quot in a not inclined to get teary but it s happening  Many others were simply beaming As they sat in a room decorated with Small american flags along with red White and Blue balloons and a handmade sign that said Quot our Hope is  a i done to need any whiskey tonight a said Margaret Polk another Cousin a sprightly 72-year-old, wearing a Clinton hat earrings and pin a talk about miracles  although Clinton Hasni to lived Here since he was a child As governor he ran in the annual 5-Kilometer race that is held in conjunction with the Watermelon festival. This towns other claim to Fame is growing whopper melons the record is 260 Pound she also returned this past summer for a family reunion in this Community of 10,000, about 100 Miles Southwest of Little Rock. And in his acceptance speech in july at the democratic National convention a Ana again in declaring Victory tuesday night a he said he still believed in a utile town called Hope. Those he left behind say they have always believed in him. Quot he always seemed a bit set apart from the other kids a said Danny key a Cousin. A the seemed like he had a destiny to fulfil. I always thought Bill would be president. I was waiting for this  a everyone always sets their goals a Little too High his childhood Friend Wright said wistfully. A the reached his., its Good to