U.S. CAMPAIGN WINDS UP

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30588, 3 November 1964, Page 13

U.S. CAMPAIGN WINDS UP

(N.Z .A .-Reuter—Copyright) NEW YORK, November 2. The United States Presidential campaign reached its final stride today after one of the roughest races in modem history and with most of the opinion polls giving President Johnson a smashing victory.

But as millions of Americans awaited tomorrow’s polling, which draws down the curtain on a two-month hectic campaign, President Johnson and the Republican, Senator Barry Goldwater, were still after votes.

Shrugging off the forecasts of political experts, who almost to a man are convinced he is heading for defeat, Senator Goldwater was due to wind up his campaign in San Francisco.

He is hoping to clinch unpredictable California, one of the states he must win to have a chance of the Presidency.

President Johnson was set for a motorcade and helicopter swing through Houston, Texas. His four-hour election eve barnstorming was to be marked by tight security measures. For the first time in his native state the 56-year-old President was to drive in the rebuilt and armour-plat-

their final pre-taped plea to the 70 million voters. From the beginning the professional analysts were forecasting a big victory for the President—and there have been no significant gains for Senator Goldwatei in spite of logging an estimated 80,000 campaign miles. Small Share The polls have averaged to give President Johnson 63 per cent of the vote 'and his rival the smallest total of anyone in a Presidential race since 1936.

Ted Lewis of the New York “Daily News” who has been accurate in his previous predictions forecast that President Johnson would win 47 states and the District of Columbia although some of them would be close. Another leading poll in its final survey gave President Johnson 61 per cent of the poll. If it was proved right President Johnson would sweep in with a popular vote never bettered this century. The “New York Times” survey of the nation’s thinking concluded that President

Johnson was “certain” to carry 27 states with a total of 369 electoral votes—99 more than the 270 needed to assure his victory. (There is no actual direct vote for president or vicepresident. Voters choose members of an electoral college which meets in December to cast ballots for the President and Vice-President). Bookmakers Out The newspaper also gave the President an edge in 16 other states—and believed that Senator Goldwater was cer-

tain to carry two, Alabama and Mississippi, and possibly Louisiana. Bookmakers meanwhile are reported to have wiped the President off their books after giving odds of 7 to 1 on a month ago. Outside of the central clash between the two men. 35 seats are at stake for the Senate and all 435 seats in the House of Representatives. Also at issue are offices of Governor and control of legislatures and those of local authorities where much of the American political power