The Key West citizen., 1954-10-29
|Eisenhower's Popularity Versus Economic
Discomfort Are Forces in Campaign Fight
N JACK BELL

Unless intensified appeals by
Eisenhower for 4 Republican Con-
gres change voter sentiment in the
few days before the Nov. 2 election,
Democrats could gain two Senate
and four House seats In these
states Eisenhower carried handily
two years ago.
The eight states are Oklahoma, /,
New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado,
Wyoming, Utah, Idaho and Mon
tana. ALI except Utah and Arizona
are electing senator's this year.
with four Democratic and two
COP seats at stake.
Twelve Democratic and nine Re-
publican House seats are being
contested as are five governorships
held by Republicans and one by
a Democrat. Democrats now are
reported leading in all but one Of
the governor contests.
Eisenhower evidently retains
most Of the strength he demonstra-
ted In this area in 1852 when he
swept all eight states by a mar
gin Of $40, 900 votes over his Demo
cratic opponent, Adlai E. Steven
son.
Republicans In all Of these states
have been leaning heavily on the
demonstrated Eisenhower popular
ity.
But it remains doubtful whether
the continued high-tide prestige Of
the President-which isn't disputed
seriously by the Democrats - can
offset what seems on the surface To
be a Democratic trend.
Some republican politicians say
privately they are convinced they
could have pulled the situation out
Of the fire if Eisenhower had done
even q limited measure Of the kind
Of onthe-spot personal campaign
ing that former President Harry s.
Truman did In 1948.
Eisenhower's eight-week work
and play vacation in Denver gave
Colorado Republicans a lift to the
point where they are talking hope
fully of grabbing off a Senate seat
being vacated by Democrat Edwin
c. johnson, who is running for
governor.
| The Presidents recent visit to
Montana brought out about 10000
persons. Many probably travelled
more than 500 miles to look at him
and hear what was billed as a nom
political speech.
Republicans everywhere in the
area have been drumming the re-
frain that Eisenhower needs a Re-
publican Congress to complete his
program. They are defending that
program vigorously, although they
are beset by what even they con-
cede Is dissatisfaction among farm
ers.
While there have been charges
about "coddling Communists" in
the bitter Montana senatorial bat
tie, the Reds-in-government issue
nowhere seems to be dominant. Re-
publican Sen. Joseph r. Mccarthy
Of Wisconsin seems to be pretty
much the forgotten man of the
campaign in this area, although he
evidently has strong support in
such states as Montana.
Democrats on the whole have can
didates with better known names
than the Republicans, and many Of
the races are revolving around
personalities and local issues.
Without openly forecasting an
economic downturn, Democrats in
all the states have been talking
about what they claim is a some
what lower level of business, en-
ployment and farm income this
year than last. As one politician
put It in talking to this reporter:
Everybody seems to be getting
along pretty well but thinks he
ought to be doing better"
But President Eisenhower and
Secretary of Labor Mitchell this
week asserted that 1854 has been
''the most prosperous peacetime
year in our history"
Although Republican candidates
obviously can draw from a reser-
voir Of good will toward the admin
istration for the end of the shooting
in Korea, nowhere does foreign
policy seem to be a major issue.
Candidates on both sides Of the
fence report they get no reaction
to their mention of foreign af-
fairs.
Generally, voters appear apa-
thetic.
At this reading. just before
the election, here is the consensus
of professional political opinion in
the eight states:
Oklahoma-Democratic Sen. Rob-
ert s. Kerr given a substantial
advantage over Republican Fred
M. Mock in the senatorial race.
Democrats likely to retain 81 edge
in House delegation Democrat
Raymond Gary reported leading
Republican Reuben X. Sparks for
governor.
Noxx Mnw&on nA,ranwa4;n Co.