Candidate’s deal with TV network deplored

Press, 15 July 1980, Page 8

Candidate’s deal with TV network deplored

NZPA Detroit! John Anderson, the one time Republican now running for the Presidency as an Independent, will haunt his former party from afar during the convention in Detroit.

Although he is in Europe on a tour designed to show his awareness of foreign policy issues, Mr Anderson will comment on convention developments twice a day on a nationwide television current affairs programme. The move, by the National Broadcasting Company, has infuriated Republicans. “It’s like allowing one of the three candidates to make free commercials during the convention,” said Congressman Guy Vander Jagt, who

will make the keynote address.

A spokesman for Mr Ronald Reagan said, “What it amounts to is N.B.C. injecting itself in a political campaign to give free publicity to one candidate in a most unusual way.”. A Right-wing group which supports Reagan has lodged an official complaint ‘with the Federal Communications Commission, seeking equal air time for the other two candidates. Mr Reagan and President Carter.

The F.C.C. can not stop the N.8.C.-Anderson commentaries, but: it can legally insist that Messrs Reagan and Carter get the same amount of television time. Such a move is thought unlikely, and officials say that

the other candidates have not lodged a complaint. Mr Anderson, aged 58, has frequently upset his former; Republican colleagues after; bowing to Mr Reagan's su-i periority in the primary; elections and deciding to run as an Independent.

A veteran of the House of Representatives for 19 years and former chairman of the Republican Conference — the third highest party position in the House — he has taken liberal stands on many ; issues on which Mr Reagan [and the rest of the party ■hold staunch conservative I views.

Many Democrats are attacted to him. and he ,is thought likely to take more votes away from Mr Carter than from Mr Reagan in the. November 4 election.