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                                                                                THE WEEK, Page 22

NATION

Clinton Edges Closer, But Doubts Persist


Though bloodied in New York, he's now more than halfway home


    The street fight in New York produced neither the knockout
for Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton that pundits had once
predicted nor the upset for former California Governor Jerry
Brown that seemed possible in the heat of the ugly brawl there.
As both candidates limped back to their corners, only
Massachusetts Senator Paul Tsongas had reason to grin: he came in
second by staying away.

    When it was over, Clinton was left standing but bloodied
with 41% of the vote against 26% for Brown and a stunning 29%
for Tsongas, who had suspended his candidacy last month.
Clinton's trifecta in New York, Kansas and Wisconsin did little
to assuage fears within his party that his nomination could lead
to disaster in November against George Bush. Two-thirds of New
York Democrats said they wanted another candidate in the race,
and only a dismaying 27% of eligible voters bothered to show up
at the polls, the lowest turnout since the current primary
system has been created in 1980.

    The New York primary showcased once again Clinton's
astonishing ability to take punches and keep coming back.
Clinton emerged with a near insurmountable lock on the
Democratic nomination, with 1,273 of the 2,145 necessary
delegates in hand. Tsongas has 528 delegates, Brown 264.

    Brown had vaulted into the New York klieg lights after his
upset of Clinton in the Connecticut primary on March 24. But he
alienated Jews, almost a third of New York's Democratic vote,
when he flirted with Jesse Jackson as his choice for Vice
President. His association with Jackson, who had referred to New
York City as "Hymietown" during his presidential bid in 1984,
did not produce a commensurate jump in support among black
voters. Brown's fuzzy plan for a 13% flat tax bothered almost
everyone. A bad week got worse when unnamed former security
guards claimed on an abc newscast that there had been rampant
marijuana and cocaine use during parties at Brown's Los Angeles
home while he was Governor. Brown himself was not accused of
drug use, and he vehemently denies all charges.

    Tsongas remained on the New York ballot after he suspended
his campaign on March 19. For anyone who wanted to lodge a
protest vote against Clinton but couldn't stomach Brown, or vice
versa, Tsongas' sober message of economic growth offered an
appealing alternative. "Tsongas is Greek for `none of the
above,' " quipped political analyst Kevin Phillips. Buoyed by
his showing, Tsongas weighed a possible re-entry into the race
for two days before deciding to stay out. He saw no real chance
of winning the nomination and refused to be a spoiler, a term
that bothered Brown not at all.

    Tsongas' Lazarus performance in New York uncovered the
depth of dissatisfaction with Clinton, whose immediate concerns
are the primaries in delegate-rich states like Pennsylvania on
April 28 and California, Ohio and New Jersey on June 2. He must
also woo the 772 "super delegates" -- party and elected
officials -- whose support he will need to secure the
nomination. On doctor's orders, Clinton repaired to Arkansas at
week's end to rest, his voice reduced to a croak. By the end of
the New York campaign he was exhausted. So were the voters. (See
related story on page 38.)