Muskie wins, but McGovern strong

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32861, 9 March 1972, Page 15

Muskie wins, but McGovern strong

’ (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) MANCHESTER (New Hampshire), March 8. Senator Edmund Muskie emerged today as the winner of Hampshire’s Democratic Presidential primary election, but a strong showing by Senator George McGovern dimmed his victory. With half the expected Democratic vote counted, Senator Muskie was polling 48 per cent of the ballots cast, well ahead of his challengers but short of an absolute majority on his New England home territory .

President Nixon swept to easy victory with 70 per cent ofthe vote over two Republican House of Representatives opponents — Mr Paul McCloskey, of California, and Mr John Ashbrook, of Ohio. "I think I did very well indeed,” Senator Muskie said late last night. He said his showing: had to be measured against the fact that he was spread thin, campaigning in all the United States states where primary elections were held, and faced the opposition of New Hampshire’s biggest newspaper, the "Manchester Union Leader.” Senator McGovern said that his share of the New Hampshire vote, about onethird “on what was thought to be Muskie turf” was a big boost for his Democratic presidential bid. “I’ve never known a moral victory that won a nomination” Senator Muskie countered. Florida next N.Z.P.A.-Reuter said that the result in the Democratic primary, according to observers, was that Muskie, a 57-year-old Polish-American, more than ever needed a strong showing in next Tuesday’s Florida primary, as well as in later primary contests between now and the end of June. Mr McGovern, aged 49, who has been struggling for more than a year to make headway in nation-wide popularity polls among Democrats, had received a major boost as a result of the New Hampshire vote, observers added.

A major beneficiary of Senator Muskie’s less than sweeping victory in this New England state is Senator Hubert Humphrey of Minnesota, his closest Democratic challenger on the national scene who is waiting to take him on for the first time in next week’s Florida contest. With Mr Muskie and Mr McGovern between them accounting for more than 80 per cent of the Democratic votes, there were slim pickings for the three other candidates listed on the

party’s ballot —the Los Angeles Mayor Mr Sam Yorty, Senator Vance Hartke, of Indiana, and a 32-year-old Connecticut social worker, Mr Edward Coll. All won less than 10 per cent of the votes. Another also-ran was the House Ways and Means Committee chairman, Mr Wilbur Mills, of Arkansas, despite a well-financed drive to get voters to write his name in on the ballot, as permitted under New Hampshire election rules. In a victory statement before cheering supporters Senator Muskie said: “It’s been a hard, tough campaign here . . . and we’ve managed to win.” Exhorting his followers to renewed efforts, he said: “This is not a 100-yard dash . . . there are 24 primaries. "This is the first and it is not the last.” He added: “I seek the presidency for only one reason. I think the country needs a president in whom our people can believe.”

Recalling that Senator McGovem only yesterday had

predicted a "razor-close race,” Senator Muskie quipped: “I suggest that Senator McGovern ought not to try to shave with that razor.”

Moral victory At his own election night victory rally, Senator McGovern said: “Any way you slice it, it’s moral victory for George- McGovern.” He added: “What has happened is that we are building again the coalition that was started in 1968 among the followers of the late Senator (Robert) Kennedy and former Senator (Eugene) McCarthy. “We’ve reached out into the industrial sectors of this state, to add blue collar workers, to add housewives, and we’re doing very well indeed.”