Carter stakes campaign on Iran victory

Press, 6 December 1979, Page 8

Carter stakes campaign on Iran victory

NZPA-Reuter Washington, President Carter yesterday openly staked his re-election campaign on his ability to, guide the United States safe-, ly through its crisis with Iran. The priority he gave to Iran in formally announcing that he would seek a second White House term took ad-, vantage of the new-found popularitv he has won for his handling of the situation. Mr Carter, who has abandoned all political activities to monitor the crisis, said: “I have but one task” — to bring about the release of the hostages in Teheran. The President’s plunging political fortunes have already shown significant improvement with one opinion poll putting him ahead of Senator Edward Kennedy, his main rival for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. [ Mr Carter, who took, office in 1977, declared his I candidacy for another four-| year term during a nine-min-ute ceremony shorn of all political fanfare in the White House East Room. His patience towards Iran, linked with a hint of military action if the hostages were harmed, brought even Republican opponents to his side after comments from Senator Kennedy about the deposed Shah of Iran. The senator angered the White House and Republicans alike by saying on Sunday that the Shah had stolen billions of dollars from the people of Iran. Senator Kennedy yesterday accused the Carter Administration of leading the United States into a, recession. But many political commentators said they thought Iran would make or break the President in next year’s

election campaign and that success in resolving the crisis would overshadow any weakness perceived in his approach to domestic probjlems. In a short political i address after his formal announcement, Mr Carter said; I "Fifty of our fellow Ameri-' cans have been unjustifiably I thrust into agony and dan. ger. and I have a personal i responsibility to get them J out of that danger as fast as possible.” j The President, with about >|7s per cent of the American ■ people reported by a poll to be backing his handling of ; the crisis, said he was proud ' but not surprised by the unity of the country. “Not since Pearl Harbour, ■ some 40 years ago, have we , felt such a surge of determination and mutual resolve,” I he said. “But I must warn vou that this crisis may not ; be resolved easily or quick- ; ly.” • | Mr Carter has cancelled 'all his campaign engageiments including a Democrat:ic dinner in Washington yetserday and a four-day , tour to 11 cities in four states due to start today. “I must remain here, in i the White House,” he said, i “While the crisis continues, i I must be present to define and to lead our response to an ever-changing situation >of the greatest sensitivity and importance.” Senator Kennedy catai logued his criticisms of ■ President Carter’s leadership and domestic policies yesterday in a speech apparently ■ timed to coincide with Mr ; Carter’s announcement that • he is seeking re-election. “America knows that today our leaders are falling : short,” Mr Kennedy told a ; crowd of 350 women invited ; by his campaign committee.