Word: robertson
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...apologizing for his lack of eloquence -- this consensus choice as political nebbish suddenly transformed himself into the prim reaper who could not be denied. Bush last week harvested victories from Massachusetts and Rhode Island to Oklahoma and Texas. His weakest rival, Jack Kemp, promptly quit the Republican contest. Pat Robertson, another ostensible threat on Bush's right flank, collapsed in a puddle of his failings as a candidate, finishing third even in his home state of Virginia. Though still in the race, Robertson receded into a symbolic candidacy and began talking about...
Televangelist Robertson reached in another direction, toward alienated social conservatives who yearn for a counterrevolution against "secular humanism." His minions had enough zeal and savvy to take over local party cells in some regions where flaccid G.O.P. regulars slept. But Robertson proved to be so reckless and ineffective a campaigner that his message was never tested amid a blizzard of controversy. Among registered Republicans surveyed last week by Yankelovich Clancy Shulman, 58% had a generally unfavorable impression of Robertson...
Dole tried his own version of a broad appeal. Unlike Kemp and Robertson, he has the stature and maturity to be credible. But he based his claim on his personal conviction, bordering on obsession, that he is better equipped to run the country. His constant attempt to depict himself as the man of steel tempered in adversity, in contrast to Bush as an empty Brooks Bros. suit, was a promising beginning. But there was no ending, no compelling message extending beyond Dole's own considerable grit and intelligence...
...Bush effort had fallen short by a scant 3,000 votes. "Missouri is definitely lost," Communications Director Teeley remarked. But when the last precincts in St. Louis suburbs were heard from, Bush had won by a margin of 4,500. Dole had failed to carry a single state, while Robertson's organizers managed to win the poorly attended caucuses in Washington State. Talking about the primaries, Atwater exulted, "A clean sweep. A shutout. It doesn't get any better than this...
...Greenville. Teeter and Fuller discuss media buys and travel arrangements. Their plans are predicated on Dole's. Robertson is rarely mentioned, Kemp not at all. Teeter has learned that day about Dole's media plans. "He's buying the living hell out of North Carolina. He committed for $334,000 in the last two days alone." Teeter reports on their own buys: "We bought Columbia-Jefferson City today and upped our buy a little bit in St. Louis. We're only going comparative in South Carolina so far." (In their parlance, Dole's ads are negative; Bush's are "comparative...