Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-11
MICHIGAN
Swanson Seeking
To Woo Woverers
Continued From Page A.


poll to a narrow early Septem-
Der lead.
The momentum of that early
drive, a key campaign aide said
last night, continued to boost
his standing until about three
weeks ago. Since then" be
said, cts been steadily down
HE got no lift from either
Of his debates with Gov
Swanson this week. Now the
question is, will he continue
to slump, will he level off or
will he find something that
will turn the curve back up?"
Evidence of the possibly pre-
mature "peaking out" Of the
Romney drive is found in the
September 80 Detroit News
poll, which shaved is per
cent from his early September
lead over Gov. Swanson.
Breaks for Governor
Since then, the Democrats
say, the Governor has had some
good breaks. After arguing de-
fensively for months about the
defeat of several of his key bills
in the Republican Legislature,
he went on the attack last
Thursday with a singing &C
cusation that the Ford Motor
Co.'S lobbyist personally killed
tax reform.
On Friday, he received word
that the September employ
ment figures looked the best in
seven years.
On Saturday, President Ken
needy stumped Detroit for him.
drawing large crowds. On Mon
day night. he won a debate
from Mr.. Romney in the hostile
environment of the Detroit
Economic Club. And on Tues
day night, he managed at least
a draw in their first televised
encounter.
How significant these breaks
may prove cannot be Judged.
A sampling of 20 Detroit
voters yesterday morning found
only six of them had heard or
seen either of the two debates.
In each case, the voter judged
his favorite had won or said 1t
was a standoff.
Only one Of the six was
switching from his 1860 ale
glance.
Tells Why
A parking lot operator, he
had decided months ago to vote
for Mr.. Romney.
His reason: Il don't think
much of politics. l generally
lust vote against the guy l
don't like. I voted against Bag
well two years ago, cause he
was a professor or something
or other and I figured he
wouldn't know much. But last
year, I stood next to Swanson
at a meeting down here and 1t
was like standing next to an
usher. The guys got nothing. y
In somewhat inelegant terms,
the parking lot man was ex-
pressing what many Democrats
see as the Governors main
problem: His apparent failure
to develop a personal following
among the voters.
The overwhelming majority
of those who plan to vote for
him said they will do so be-
cause they have always been
Democrats"
Their comments are general
" unenthuSiaStic. A downtown
said, hes done a fair
Job, when you consider all the
opposition he's had"
A retired Negro railroad
maintenance man in West De-
troit remarked: swanson
didn't know much about the
Job when he started, but he'll
learn more as he goes on"
A suburban auto salesman
commented: Il just generally
feel the Democratic Party is
better for my family. Sure, we
might have a better Governor,
but Swanson is the one the
Democrats nominated"
Negro Resistance
The lukewarm attitude to-
ward the Governor is particu-
larly worrisome to the party
managers in connection with
Detroits large Negro popula-
ton, More than any other
group, the Negroes seem resist
ant to Mr.. Romney's blan-
dishments.
Indications are that close to
90 per cent Of them will vote
for Gov. Swanson. But how
many of them will bother to
vote?
Romney partisans, by con-
trast, seem highly stimulated.
The biggest factor in his favor
has nothing to do with his
politics. 1t is simply his wide
spread reputation as the man
who saved American Motors
Co. from bankruptcy by de-
veloping the compact car.
A Detroit probation officer
normally a Republican, COM
mented, You don't get a man
like George Romney running
on your ticket very often. He
picked up American Motors
and he can do it for the State"
An electrician who retired
and moved to the suburbs is
switching to Mr.. Romney after
voting for Gov. Swanson and
Richard Nixon in 1860. His
reason: "Romney's man of
real substance. He did some
thing for himself and I think
he might do something for the