Both Republicans claim victory

Press, 21 July 1976, Page 8

Both Republicans claim victory

NZPA-Reuter

Washington

President Ford and Mr Ronald Reagan are both claiming victory in their fight for the Republican Presidential nomination, but the decision rests with 95 uncommitted delegates.

Mr Ford yesterday told reporters on the lawn of the White House that he was confident of winning the nomination on the first ballot, and hinted that the person he picks for a running mate might not be a Republican. Top Reagan strategists, at the same time, claimed their candidate had gone over the top in the number of delegates needed to become the party’s standard-bearer. They said Mr Reagan had 1140 delegates, 10 more than needed. Mr Rogers C. B. Morton,

Ms Ford’s campaign director, promptly labelled the claim “baloney.” The A.F.L.-C.1.0. president (Mr George Meany) has announced that his powerful labour union is endorsing the Democrat Mr Jimmy Carter. Mr Meany, in hospital a short time later for treatment of a bronchial problem, described the G.O.P. contenders as “tweedledum ... or tweedledee.” “I don’t think he’s satisfied the way things are, and I think he wants to change the whole economic picture, and that’s what we’re interested in,” Mr Meany said.

been wary of Mr Carter. At his press conference yesterday, he said he had not at first considered the Southerner a serious candidate. Mr Meany’s backing revives again the alliance of organised labour and Northern and Southern Democrats that Franklin Roosevelt first put together in 1932. Mr Ford, tourists looking on, talked about possible running-mates and said he would not rule out Mr Reagan, Vice-President Nelson Rockefeller, and “a fine, fine array in the Republican Party and maybe elsewhere.” When reporters appeared surprised by the possibility of going outside the party to fill the number two spot, Mr Ford said, “You heard me correctly,” but declined to elaborate.

“I’m very happy with Carter,” he said, adding that he found him very warm. But until a month ago, he had