Illinois primary another blow to Reagan

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34105, 18 March 1976, Page 17

Illinois primary another blow to Reagan

(-V.2. Press Assn—Copyright.' CHICAGO.

March 17.

President Ford won [the Republican Party’s Illinois primary in convincing fashion last ! night, and may have knocked out Mr Ronald Reagan from the party’s Presidential race. Mr Jimmy Carter handily won the Democratic voting. United Press International reported.

The victories were the fifth in a row for Mr Ford, and the fourth Mr Carter has picked up in the primaries. Illinois made the pair the ones to beat for any other aspirants to the White" House.

j Mr Ford Welcomed the Illinois returns as a “clincher” for the nomination, and Mr Carter enthused: “I am very pleased ... 1 did not expect to win that big.” Mr Reagan had all but conceded his native state a week ahead of the President, but the defeat hurt. Mr Stuart Snencer, Mr Ford’s acting campaign director. rubbed it in, saying: | “I’d say Mr Reagan’s got to give a lot of thought to his candidacy. Only Mr Reagan knows if he’s going to drop out.”

The defeated Alabama Governor, Mr George Wallace, [broke stride by going after Mr Carter by name for the first time.

I Mr Wallace, listening to I the returns in Raleigh. North [Alabama, called Mr Carter a I “warmed-over McGovern”— a reference to the 1972 Democratic landslide Presidential victim, Senator George McGovern, of South Dakota. “I feel good about running second in Illinois.” Mr Wallace said. ‘‘l think second is good.” Running far behind Mr Carter and Governor Wallace were Mr Sargent Shriver and Mr Fred Harris. Mr Shriver, after doing poorly in a state where he had high hopes, virtually withdrew from serious primary competition, say-

ing he would run only in Texas and his home state. Maryland.

After 26 per cent of the precincts had reported. Mr [ Ford had 60 per cent of the poll, and Mr Reagan 39 per cent, in the Republican race. In the Democratic poll, Mr [Carter had 48 ner cent. Gov[ernor Wallace 27 per cent, Mr ■Shriver 17 ner cent, and Mr [Harris 8 per cent. Baek fence ■ In the separate race for 155 [delegates to the Democratic (convention, 2 per cent of the precincts counted, Mr Carter was leading with 48. Senator Adlai Stevenson (Illinois i had ,30, Governor Wallace 8, with 8 uncommitted. In the Republican race for 96 delegates, Mr Ford led with 36, Mr Reagan 14. with 10 uncommitted.

In Los Angeles. Mr Reagan discounted any suggestion* he might fold his tent and (steal awav: "We have our goal in Illinois,” said M> Reagan, declaring that he would not null out, and saving he still has a “50-50 chance of winning the nomination.”

I Presidetit Fords political ! brain trust has initiated preliminary conferences designed to “grease the skids” for a withdrawal by Mr Reagan as a challenger for the nomination. and as a means of assuring Republican Partv unity for the general election campaign.

' According to Mr Rogers C. '[B. Morton, the President’s ([political counsellor at the 11 White House, these would be ■ [“working meetings.” He said that presumably, “the summit” a session between MrFord and Mr Reagan, “would come later, but that is a mat- ; ter for the Governor (Reagan) to decide.” Mr Morton admitted that there has been no response so far from Mr Reagan’s sup- • porters to Mr Ford’s bid for “talks across the back fence.”