Kennedy leaves 1984 race

Press, 3 December 1982, Page 6

Kennedy leaves 1984 race

NZPA Washington Senator Edward Kennedy, citing an “overriding obligation” to his three children, said yesterday that he would not run for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 1984. Mr Kennedy, brother of the late President John Kennedy, lost the Democratic nomination in 1980 to the then President, Jimmy Carter, and was widely believed to have intended to run again in 1984. He was the early favourite. Mr Kennedy, who is 50, said that “for the members of my family, the 1980 campaign was sometimes difficult and it is very soon to ask them to go through it again.” “In addition, the decision

Joan and I have made about our marriage has been painful for our children as well as ourselves. For these reasons, I believe my first and overriding obligation now is to Patrick, Kara and Teddy.” Mr Kennedy and his wife are working on a divorce settlement that is expected soon. His statement left open the possibility that he might run for the White House later. “Actually, I enjoyed campaigning a lot in lowa in 1980 and who knows, some day I may do it again.” Mr Kennedy has thus changed the whole complexion of the 1984 Presidential campaign by bowing out before the battle has really begun.

The main impact of his decision was to create prospects for a much livelier Democratic nomination race as many hopefuls bid for the political support he leaves behind. Mr Kennedy's departure made the former Vice-Presi-dent, Walter Mondale, the favourite to win the Democratic nomination. Mr Mondale said he was as stunned as anyone by Mr Kennedy’s decision but added that he would continue to explore party sentiment before formally announcing his own plans. Political experts said that several other potential challengers might now surge to the fore — especially Senator John Glenn, the former astronaut hero of America's

manned space programme and a bright new face among Presidential prospects. Mr Glenn said that the Kennedy withdrawal "opens up the race considerably.” Representative Morris Udall, of Arizona, a longtime Kennedy ally, announced that he would now consider becoming a candidate. On the Republican side, President Ronald Reagan has not announced whether he will seek re-election. In Brasilia, where he was opening a South American tour, he said he was surprised by Mr Kennedy's action but hinted that he was unlikely to drop out. “I don’t see that there's much in my record of imitating Teddy Kennedy," Mr Reagan said.