Evening star., 1936-10-18
Political Pulse of the Nation
BY ]. A. O'LEARY.
.HE answer to who will be
elected President November
3 rests with a group of

"HE answer to who will be
elected President November
3 rests with a group OF
L about ten doubtful States,
including such big electoral vote
centers as New York. Ohio and
Illinois.
Considering only the States
where latest dispatches from polit-
ical correspondents reflect a def
mite trerd, President Roosevelt con-
tinues to hold the advantage, but
the doubtful sectors Of the coun-
try still represent block Of elec-
toral votes more than large enough
to give either Landon or Roose-
welt the final decision.
The campaign, therefore, is
heading down the home stretch
with every indication Of a close
finish that will prompt Republican
and Democratic campaigners to
work at top speed during the re-
naming two weeks to swing the
States that are swaying on the
borderline.
High lights of the dispatches re-
ceived during the past week are:
Indiana and Washington. previ-
ously regarded as doubtful. show
ing trends to Landon; indications
that Idaho and Nevada, previously
classed as doubtful, are leaning to-
hi
which had been leaning Repub-
lican, appears now to be debatable
ground.
Observers Finding Predictions
Difficult.
Unbiased observers, looking be-
yond the optimistic predictions OF
party leaders, are finding it hard
to predict with much certainty
what the final count will show in
such important States as New
York, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania,
Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa and in
several smaller States.
The battle for New Yorks AZ
electoral votes is still a question
of whether the Democratic plural
ity in New York City will outweigh
the Republican lead upstate. And,
in attempting to measure these
two factors. political analysts are
wondering which party will ben
eft most from the unusual in
crease in registration of new voters
this year. In the city, the increase
is viewed as favorable to Roose-
velt and Lehman, but there also
has been a rise in registration fig
ures in the Republican area north
Of the Bronx. An observer in the
Metropolis predicts that if the
Democrats in the city achieve a
plurality Of 100000, it would give
Roosevelt the State, but the inde-
pendent city voters, including
many who have not registered in
previous years, are the unknown
quantity that leaves the State still
doubtful two weeks before the
election.
Landon is given the edge in
Pennsylvania by observers there,
on the basis of the Republican
lead in registration for the State
as a whole. together with the
traditional adherence of the Key
stone State to the Republican party
In presidential elections. These
political analysts differ somewhat
on the question of whether he will
succeed in holding the advantage
against the strenuous efforts the
Democrats are making, both in
Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
Latest predictions from Ohio are
that the winner, whether it be
Landon or Roosevelt, may not
have q plurality of more than
$4,000. With total vote of 3,000,-
600 expected, this indicates how
close observers regard the race in
the Buckeye State. The rural areas
OF the State appear to be definitely
Republican, with the Democrats
strong in the cities.
The political picture in Illinois
Is good deal like New York,
with Republicans hoping to come
into Chicago with a lead suficient
to offset the Democratic vote in
that city. There are no signs of
landslide for either party.
Minnesota's Tangled
Situation Watched.
Normally, Republican Iowa, with
II electoral votes, also finds itself
In the spotlight this year because