Report may hurt Hart

Press, 22 January 1988, Page 6

Report may hurt Hart

NZPA-Reuter Washington Democratic rivals of the Presidential aspirant, Gary Hart, say an adverse report about campaign finances probably will hurt his comeback chances. The “Miami Herald” newspaper said a longtime Hart backer, a Hollywood video producer, Stuart Karl, may have violated campaign finance laws in helping Hart in both his 1984 and current campaigns. He had dropped out in May after the same Miami newspaper reported that he spent part of a week-end in Washington with a Miami model and actress, Donna Rice, while his wife was in Denver. “I understand that questions have been raised about contributions by ... a supporter of mine,” Mr Hart said on Wednesday. “I don’t know the details of the story or the accusations involved. I’ve asked for friends of mine to look into it and advise me of what did or did not go on.” Defending his compliance with campaign finance laws, he said: “It’s as scrupulous as anyone else’s.” “I can’t imagine it would help,” said a spokeswoman for the former Arizona Governor, Bruce Babbitt, one of six rivals of Mr Hart for the Democratic Presidential nomination, of the new report. “If you talk about honesty, integrity and character, campaign financing falls in there,” Rita Carilia said.

Mr Hart, who has fallen to second place in a new

poll in lowa, where the first important political test of the year will be held on February 8, has said character is a legitimate issue.

“I think the task of any candidate, perhaps particularly or uniquely me in this election, is to demonstrate qualities of character, of leadership, of courage, of independence, of integrity that are necessary not only to put forward new ideas and policies but to educate the American people and to form consensus,” he said earlier this month. John Norris, leader of Jesse Jackson’s lowa campaign, told Reuters the report would hurt Hart. “It’s negative press. Any time you get negative press, it has an impact on the voters. It’s not good,” he said. Another top aide of another candidate, who asked not to be identified, said of the report: “It’s part of a longstanding record of trouble with money and credit.” The “Herald” said Mr Karl — who made a for- . tune with Jane Fonda workout and “Playboy” video films — chauffeured Mr Hart in private jets, paid a Hart aide, Dennis Walto, $3OOO a month while Mr Walto campaigned with Mr Hart in 1986 and 1987 and may have exceeded the $lOOO limit on individual donations in 1984. It is a violation for corporations to make contributions or keep employees on a payroll if they campaign in elections. Furthermore, individuals cannot make personal campaign donations beyond $lOOO dollars per election.