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- <text id=92TT0473>
- <title>
- Mar. 02, 1992: Forward Spin
- </title>
- <history>
- TIME--The Weekly Newsmagazine--1992
- Mar. 02, 1992 The Angry Voter
- </history>
- <article>
- <source>Time Magazine</source>
- <hdr>
- GRAPEVINE, Page 15
- FORWARD SPIN
- </hdr><body>
- <p>By Janice Castro/Reported by Wendy Cole
- </p>
- <p>LEADING INDICATORS
- </p>
- <p> What key issue will swing this year's presidential
- election? Now that the economy appears to be easing up,
- Republican political consultant Tom Edmonds predicts that the
- focus will be on character. Let's go to the tabloids.
- </p>
- <p>CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS
- </p>
- <p> Remember Reagan's giant convention video? Edmonds bets on
- an equally elaborate homage to Barry Goldwater this year.
- Honoring the party paterfamilias could help strengthen Bush's
- shaky right flank--but look out: the feisty Arizonan also
- tends to say what he thinks, regardless of the script.
- </p>
- <p>CAN WE TALK?
- </p>
- <p> In 1988 candidates leaned so hard on political ads that
- voters seemed forced to pick their President the way they'd pick
- a station wagon. This year look for candidates following Bill
- Clinton's example and buying live TV time to talk to the folks.
- Unlike canned messages, these paid fireside chats look sincere
- and avoid the pitfalls of actual contact with journalists.
- </p>
- <p>TERM-LIMITATIONS OUTLOOK
- </p>
- <p> A call to throw the rascals out is always good for a round
- of applause, but when the elections are over, expect to see the
- old familiar faces.
- </p>
- <p>BACKFIELD STRATEGY
- </p>
- <p> Don't be surprised if Bush comes out of the conventions
- lagging in the polls. He's done it before: Remember the 17-point
- gap against Dukakis? Bush will wait at a distance, counting on
- economic recovery and the emergence of the character issue late
- in the game, then move in tight for the finish.
- </p>
- <p>UNINVITED GUESTS
- </p>
- <p> If there's one thing Republicans like, it's a nice,
- orderly convention. Uh-oh. Shades of 1968. Get ready for throngs
- of militant aids activists outside the Houston Astrodome. ACT
- UP and Queer Nation have been booking hotel rooms and preparing
- for mass arrests. The protesters do not plan to apply for any
- permits, since that would reduce the opportunities for havoc.
- Houston police are armed to the teeth with the latest in riot
- gear.
- </p>
-
- </body></article>
- </text>
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