Hopeful given boost

Press, 3 October 1983, Page 10

Hopeful given boost

NZPA-Reuter Augusta, Maine

The former American Vice-President, Walter Mondale, has boosted his position in the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination by winning the support of labour leaders and trouncing his rivals in a vote by party activists.

He was endorsed at the week-end by the leaders of the American Federation of Labour—Congress of Industrial Organisations by a 25-1 margin over the Ohio senator, John Glenn — 12,957,738 votes to 470,367. It was the first time the 14.5 million-member union, which is holding its biannual convention in Hollywood, Florida, has decided to back a candidate before the primary elections. the A.F.L.-C.1.0. has traditionally backed Democrats. Mr Mondale, in Maine for the non-binding preference poll among Democratic Party activists in the northeastern rural state, said that he was honoured by the support he had received from the labour leaders “on behalf of the working men and women of America.”

He won 51 per cent of the 1849 votes cast in Maine. Senator Alan Cranston, of California, came in second with 29 per cent. A South Carolina senator, Ernest Rollings, finished third with 11 per cent, pushing Mr Glenn into fourth place with 6 per cent.

Mr Glenn has so far been considered Mr Mondale’s closest rival.

Mr Mondale told cheering supporters after the results were announced: “As Maine goes, so goes the nation.”

It was a “dream weekend” for him. On Saturday he won the endorsement of the largest teachers’ group, the National Education Association, which is not affiliated to the A.F.L.-C.1.0. Mr Mondale’s selection by a full convention of the A.F.L.-C.1.0. on Thursday does not assure him of every member’s vote in next year’s Presidential election, should he win the Democratic nomination.

But it will give him a ready-made campaign network with the'potential of reaching every registered union voter.

This could be a significant organisational advantage over his rivals during the approaching primary season in which voters will select delegates to the nominating convention.

The Maine victory allows him to shed his recent image of somehow slipping in the hearts of Democratic voters.

It was the last main test of voter opinion before next year’s gtimary season.