Evening star., 1952-10-23


of political prospects for the Asso-
ciated Press is that the Democratic
nominee now might get Utah and
Washington by a hairline margin
if the election were held at this
time.
These are the first apparent
switches to turn up in the survey
The two States were regarded as
leaning slightly toward the Repub-
lican candidate around Labor Day
In Utah and Washington, as in
many other States, margins favor
ing one candidate or the other are
so wispy as to leave the outcome
on November 4 very much in
doubt. Silent voters-people who
have taken no position or who pre-
fer not to discuss their stand
could be the decisive factor in the
election.
See Truman Back firing.
Other elements are at work, too,
In the political cross currents
sweeping through the West:
For the most part, editors say
the rocking. socking campaign
President Truman has carried to
the whistle stops has backfred
against Gov. Stevenson. A few
think the President got in telling
blows on Gen. Eisenhower.
Most newsmen say the general
got a boost from the airing of the
financial affairs of his vice presi-
dental running mate. Senator
Nixon of California. Only couple
called the affair a "fiasco" or
anything of that sort.
Gov. Stevenson is regarded as
scoring with his own campaign
ing, particularly with attempts to
persuade the people that Gen. Eli
senhower has surrendered the
COP reins to Senator Taft of
Ohio. Editors in Oregon, New
Mexico, Colorado. Washington
and Idaho mention the Eisen-
hower-Taft tie as hurting the
general.
In the main, the same old
issues stand out-peace. prosper
ity, time for a change, and all of
them Jumped together with cor
ruption, communism and Korea.
How They See the State.
The way newsmen see things in
the West, California, Wyoming,
Colorado, Montana, Nevada. and
Oregon probably would go Repub-
lican if this were election day.
Those six States have 81 of the
70 electoral votes for the whole
area.
Oregon is believed safe for the
COP. regardless Of the formal in
dorsement given Gov. Stevenson
by the States independent Re-
publican Senator, Wayne Morse.
His action was no surprise and
therefore lacked the impact 1t
otherwise might have had. AS
things stand, both Stevenson and
Eisenhower stock has risen as
more voters made up their minds,
but Gen. Eisenhower's rose more.
Classed as doubtful, but with
some advantage for the general,
are New Mexico and Idaho with
n n1nctroo1 vofoc oooI1
Arizona and her four votes re-
main probably Democratic, while
the 13 votes of Washington and
Utah are regarded as doubtful
but inclined at the moment to-
ward Gov. Stevenson.
In addition to stronger show
ings in Utah and Washington. the
Governor seems to have picked up
power in Wyoming. Idaho and
Montana in recent weeks. Editors
think Gen. Eisenhower shows
more momentum in California,
Arizona, New Mexico. Colorado,
Oregon, and Nevada.
In California, they believe the
gain has been enough to change
the State from doubtful to prob.
ably Republican at this point
Partly because more information
on prospects is available than ir
the first AP survey in September
Colorado has hoped from tht
toss-up to the probably Republi.
can category.
West Takes Traditional Pattern.
The up and down. roller-coastel
tendency in the West seems II
have brought the region a little
closer to its traditional voting pat
tern. Down the years. for two dec.
ades, these States have stood BY
the Democratic Party in presiden.
tial elections almost as firmly a!
the South.
All have gone consistently Dem.
ocratic from 1882 on, except Ore.