The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1959-10-27
w''hin9to"

washington, ID. L. - Inc polls IN
Great Britain missed the boat in
the recent election. as they did in
the United States in 1913. Practi-
cally all Of the polls predicted the
Conservative Labor Ell e t 0 n
would be very close
AS it turned out. the Conserva-
tives won by landslide and hold a
margin of about 100 seats over the
Laborites. This has rasied anew
questions about the value Of polls
in political campaigns. Some doubt
ers have said there is no chance
of hitting an election right By in
terviewing a few. thousand persons
when many millions vote.
Back in l948 all the polls showed
victory for Thomas E. Dewey in
the U. S presidential election that
year 1t was a question Of how
large the margin for Dewey would
be AS the reader knows. the Re
publican candidate didn't win at all
NixOn's Lead
Up until recent weeks. Vice Prcsi-
dent Richard Nixon was a victim
Of poll psychology. The various polls
indicated he asn't as popular as
certain potential opponents Some
polls also limited that Governor Mel
son Rockefeller might be a better
vote getter than Nixon.
Nixon's supporters were = a d
that this weakness cleared tip
somewhat after his trip to Russia
this past summer. They are glad
now. that the polls have been re
pudlated in England. Even one of
the poll conductors in England has
repudiated the system.
Meanwhile Nlxons lead has III
creased aDpreciably in the last few
months. Supporters Of Governor
Rockefeller are SO well aware OF
this that it is the motivation be-
hind the new Rockefeller decision
to get into other states and test the
reaction.
There is, too, now more talk of
ticket with both Nixon and Rookie
Teller on it than ever before, though
most observers doubt that Rookie
feller would agree to run in the
second spot on the ticket. If he
did. it might be a very difficult
ticket for the Democrats to beat.
Business in 1860
Another strong pillar of support
the Republicans are depending on
is good business in 1850. All indi-
Gcations are that business will be
brisk during the election year.
There might even be a boom in
progress if the Administration S
tight money policies cannot hold
the lid down.
If any lessening of international
tension is apparent by election
time in 1860, it will make the job
of the Democrats infinitely more
difficult, for peace and prosperity
are strong campaign slogans.
Democratic Turmoil
Ironically the job the Democrats
now face-in winning back h e
Executive Department looks
tougher than it did a year or six
months earlier. A little while back
it appeared that the Democrats had
number of available and talented
candidates while the Republicans
had only Nixon. for certain. whose
popularity was disparaged by the
political polls.
Today the Republicans have an
alive and kicking Nixon and an
available Rockefeller, while the
Democratic candidates are being
hurt by the wide open fight among
them for the nomination.
Senator Jack Kennedys Catholic
religion is getting much publicity.
Senator Lyndon johnson - perhaps
the most talented Democrat in the
0cIldtC - ID UClllS given tiAC hAA'o VI
death because he is a moderate on
civil rights, from Texas. Senator
Hubert Humphrey would lose the
South, it is argued. And Adlai
Stevenson is not only a twice-beat-
en- man but a divorce.
All of these men have answers
to these assessed handicapS. Ken
nedy thinks suspicion Of Roman
Catholicism is over rated, that
people will vote for the man. John
son hackers likewise think the ira
ditional line that no southwestern
can be nominated is non
sense. (Ike is also moderate, was
also born in TexaS0 Humphrey
thinks he can carry the South or
most Of it. Stevenson supporters say
Adlai's ability and experience Will
win over a new Republican candl-
date.