April 10, 1992
THE 1992 CAMPAIGN: The Front-Runner; Like Voters, Superdelegates Have Doubts About Clinton
By R. W. APPLE JR.,
Even though Bill Clinton won four primaries on Tuesday, even though Paul E. Tsongas announced today that he would not re-enter the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination, even though many of them concede there is probably no stopping Mr. Clinton now, dozens of Democratic senators and representatives remain reluctant to endorse him.
Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia scheduled a news conference for Friday to announce his backing. Senator Tom Daschle told news organizations in his home state, South Dakota, that the moment had come to rally around Mr. Clinton. But beyond that there was little movement.
Of 264 superdelegates in the House and Senate, 93, or 35 percent, have endorsed Mr. Clinton so far, according to a continuing survey by The New York Times. Most are Southern, and most made their statements some time ago. A much larger number remain officially uncommitted.
Dee Dee Myers, Mr. Clinton's press secretary, insisted that "people are starting to rally around the flag," and she mentioned Mr. Rockefeller as an example. She also said the Arkansas Governor plans to meet with uncommitted superdelegates on Capitol Hill on April 29, the day after the Pennsylvania primary, when Congress will return from the Easter recess. 'Terrible Doubts'
But Representative Dennis E. Eckart of Ohio, more willing perhaps to speak on the record than many of his colleagues because he has announced his retirement from the House, said that he and some of his colleagues had constituted an informal "Missouri caucus -- a show-me caucus" -- and would do nothing for now.
"The voters haven't embraced Clinton, so I don't see any reason why I should endorse him," Mr. Eckart said. "Look at the exit polls. People have terrible doubts about this guy, and we're talking about Democrats."
In the New York primary Tuesday, the turnout was exceptionally low, 29 percent of the electorate backed Mr. Tsongas, a ghost candidate, two-thirds of the voters said they were dissatisfied with the choice presented to them, and 4 in 10 said they doubted Mr. Clinton had the integrity to be President.
"There's no reason for us to do anything," said Representative Barbara B. Kennelly of Connecticut.
Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, one of those who competed with Mr. Clinton in the early primaries, has endorsed him and has been campaigning for him. But Senator Bob Kerrey, another erstwhile rival, has not. "He's got it locked up," the Nebraskan said, but aides said that he would issue no endorsement as long as there was still an active contest. No Place Else to Go
One of Mr. Clinton's supporters said heavy pressure has been brought on Senator George J. Mitchell of Maine, the majority leader, and Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas, who may be the most influential Democrat on Capitol Hill. An aide said Mr. Mitchell had been able to give the matter only limited attention. Mr. Bentsen said on Wednesday that he might issue a statement next week, but today aides said he might not do so quite so soon.
Ronald H. Brown, the party chairman, has been phoning uncommitted delegates and others, "discussing the lay of the political territory," as he described it. He denied putting pressure on anybody, but others in the party said he was sending a subtle but clear message that it was time to halt the squabbling.
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