Word: babbittism
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...such a high-tone forum. Two of the technocratic moderates in the race, Missouri Congressman Richard Gephardt and Tennessee Senator Albert Gore Jr., were largely content to enhance their images of quiet competence. That void left Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, Illinois Senator Paul Simon and former Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt in charge of providing charisma, a task akin to asking Comedian Jay Leno to dance Swan Lake...
...before the Iowa caucuses. But politics craves winners and losers, regardless of evidence. That explains the headlines generated by a debate focus group of 87 Iowa Democrats conducted by Hickman-Maslin, a Democratic polling firm unaffiliated with any presidential campaign. Their verdict: Dukakis, Gephardt and Simon gained ground, while Babbitt lost long yardage. Of course, such a tiny and far from representative sample is hardly conclusive. But in the game of momentum this Iowa focus group may turn out to have more political weight than its statistical worth...
Most slavish praise. Babbitt's hosannas to Democratic Patriarch Robert Strauss, who joined Buckley in the questioning. Babbitt twice promised Strauss a Cabinet post in his Administration...
...methodical, fired small-caliber slugs at minor targets, such as the lack of charisma he and Bradley share. "The fact of the matter is that I've been coming on charismatic the last month or two," said Dukakis. "I've learned everything I know from Bill Bradley." Bruce Babbitt demonstrated his yen for subtle complexity by playing off Jimmy Carter, with whom he is sometimes compared, and Gephardt, whom he must beat in Iowa. Like Carter, he deadpanned, he discusses issues with his children. Babbitt quoted his nine-year-old son as saying, "Dad, you've really...
...York Times." Democratic Front Runner Jesse Jackson charged last week that the Times had not distinguished between what is public and what is private. Earlier, a Jackson aide had attempted to rally fellow Democratic candidates to reject the Times's request. But when former Governor Bruce Babbitt of Arizona, Illinois Senator Paul Simon and Missouri Representative Richard Gephardt said they would cooperate with the paper, the plan was dropped...