From: clarinews@clarinet.com (KEN CAFARELL)
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Message-id: <politics-tsongasU2A9315pe@clarinet.com>
Subject: Tsongas stays out of the race
Keywords: politics
Date: Thu, 9 Apr 92 12:20:34 PDT
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Slugword: politics-tsongas
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	BOSTON (UPI) -- Paul Tsongas said Thursday he will not re-enter the
race for the Democratic presidential nomination despite primary showings
in New York and Connecticut that ``exceeded any reasonable expectations.
''
	Tsongas, who collected 29 percent of the vote to finish second in
Tuesday's New York primary without actively campaigning, called on his
volunteers to suspend their efforts on his behalf.
	The former Massachusetts senator also garnered substantial vote
totals in Kansas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, which also held primaries
Tuesday, but Tsongas said that was not enough to push him back into the
race against Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton, the front-runner, and former
California Gov. Edmund ``Jerry'' Brown Jr.
	``The vote for me was unprecedented in our history and in all five
states we exceeded any reasonable expectations,'' said Tsongas. ``We did
very well, and so did Bill Clinton. He won those states.''
	``Thus my campaign must remain suspended. The hope that I will re-
enter (the race) is a false hope,'' he said.
	Saying he would not run just to be a spoiler, Tsongas did not endorse
either Clinton or Brown.
	Tsongas said he would have resumed the campaign if Brown had been
victorious in New York.
	Asked if he would consider being a running mate for Clinton, Tsongas
said, ``I would defer on that question,'' adding, ``I have feelings, but
it serves no purpose to express those feelings. Let time pass. ... I
don't expect it, so let's just leave it at that.''
	``On March 19, I suspended this campaign,'' Tsongas said at a news
conference. ``It was an exceedingly painful decision. It reflected a
deep concern on my part that the lack of financial resources will bring
about the demise of a message that I cherish. The messenger was
sacrificed to the message.''
	``Today that message is stronger than ever thanks to the staggering
commitment of volunteers in Connecticut and New York, Wisconsin,
Minnesota and Kansas,'' Tsongas said.
	But Clinton's victory, Tsongas said, ``removed the argument that my
re-entry would rescue this party. Indeed, his winning took me back to
the option that I rejected three weeks ago -- the role of spoiler. I
reject that role.''
	In a statement from Little Rock, Ark., where he is taking a brief
rest, Clinton said, ``I have great respect for Paul Tsongas and know how
difficult his decision must have been._._._._ Paul's core conviction that a
Democratic Party, united behind a message of economic growth, could win
back the White House remains more true today than ever.''
	According to a New York Times tabulation, Tsongas had 520 delegates
to the national convention in July. These delegates, which could
increase slightly in the primaries ahead, will allow the former senator
to have a voice at the convention in New York.
	He issued a challenge to both political parties: ``Hear me well,
Democrats and Republicans, the old ways that have taken this country
into economic ruin and social chaos are over. The people of America are
ready for a new resolve.''
	Although he is out of the race, Tsongas said he will continue to
spread the message he brought to the campaign.
	``I intend to have my voice heard,'' he said, adding that his name
will remain on ballots in the states yet to hold primaries.
	Tsongas had suspended actively campaigning March 19 because of a lack
of funds and poor showings in the Michigan and Illinois primaries.
	At that time, he said he lacked the financial resources to compete in
expensive states such as New York and Pennsylvania, which holds a
primary April 28.
	Tsongas said he has a campaign debt of under $500,000 and will make
periodic appearances at fund-raisers to pay off the debt, including a
visit to California.
	After he suspended his campaign, Tsongas still gained 20 percent of
the vote in Connecticut on March 24, prompting reports that he might
rejoin the fray.
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