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12. BEYOND THE SERIOUS ISSUES, THREE PERSONALITIES HAVE MANAGED TO KEEP THEMSELVES IN THE HEADLINES: GOVERNOR SUNUNU (THE WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF), AND SENATOR ROBB AND GOVERNOR WILDER (BOTH OF VIRGINIA).
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13. THE PRESIDENT'S LOYALTY TO HIS STAFF, THE HIGH VALUE WHICH HE PLACES ON SUNUNU'S ABILITY AND COMBATIVE POLITICAL STYLE, AND SUNUNU'S PUBLISHED APOLOGY FOR HIS MISTAKES, ALL MEAN THAT HE IS LIKELY BARRING FURTHER LAPSES OR DISCLOSURES TO STAY AT THE WHITE HOUSE AT LEAST UNTIL THE START OF BUSH'S SECOND TERM, ASSUMING HE WINS. BUT SUNUNU'S RELATIONSHIP OF TRUST WITH THE PRESIDENT, AND HIS CREDIBILITY WITH OTHERS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE ADMINISTRATION, MUST HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY THE DISCLOSURE OF HIS LIBERAL INTERPRETATION OF THE WHITE HOUSE TRAVEL RULES.
14.
ROBB AND WILDER CLAIM NOW TO HAVE BURIED THE HATCHET. THE MAIN EFFECT OF THEIR DISPUTE COVER ROBB'S ALLEGED CONNIVANCE AT THE TAPING OF WILDER'S MOBILE PHONE CALLS, AND WILDER'S ALLEGED INSTIGATION OF PRESS AND POLICE INVESTIGATIONS OF ROBB'S PRIVATE LIFE) WAS TO MAKE BOTH LOOK RIDICULOUS, AND REMOVE ANY SLIM CHANCE EITHER HAD OF BEING ON THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET IN 1992.
THE 1992 ELECTION
15.
ONE WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL RECENTLY FORECAST THAT THE MAIN PLANKS IN THE PRESIDENT'S PLATFORM NEXT YEAR WOULD BE KUWAIT, QUOTAS AND CRIME. BUT, WITH THE BUDGET DEAL LIMITING THE SCOPE FOR MAJOR DIFFERENCES OVER POLICY, PERSONALITIES ARE LIKELY TO BE AS LEAST AS IMPORTANT IN THE NEXT ELECTION AS THE LAST.
16.
IT WILL PROBABLY BE OCTOBER BEFORE THE DEMOCRATIC FIELD FINALLY EMERGES. MANY PARTY INSIDERS NOW SEE SENATOR JAY ROCKEFELLER OF WEST VIRGINIA AS THEIR BEST HOPE FOR 92. HE WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO RUN IN MID-AUGUST. HIS NAME AND BACKGROUND, AND HIS RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE IN ONE OF AMERICA'S POOREST STATES, ARE ASSETS. ANOTHER, PERENNIAL, FAVOURITE IS GOVERNOR BILL CLINTON OF ARKANSAS, WHO HAS YOUTH, INTELLIGENCE AND A CONSERVATIVE OUTLOOK. MUCH THE SAME IS SAID OF SENATOR AL GORE OF TENNESSEE, AND YOUTH APART OF SENATOR LLOYD BENTSEN OF TEXAS, NEITHER OF WHOM HAS RULED OUT A RUN. NOR HAS THE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER, CONGRESSMAN RICHARD GEPHARDT. BUT, WHILE THE PARTY ESTABLISHMENT MAY PREFER A CONSERVATIVE, THE ACTIVISTS IN MANY STATES REMAIN UNREPENTANT LIBERALS, AND HAVE GIVEN A CORRESPONDINGLY WARM WELCOME TO THE ONLY TWO (LONG SHOT) CANDIDATES ACTIVELY IN THE RACE
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