Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 8, 1992 TAG: 9203080264
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
The W&L Mock Convention - known for its uncanny record of accuracy - gave Clinton a surprising first-ballot victory over four other presidential hopefuls.
Clinton received 809 delegate votes, just four more than the total needed for a majority. Former Massachusetts Sen. Paul Tsongas finished second with 563 votes.
They were followed by Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin (120), former California Gov. Jerry Brown (207) and Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey (12).
Clinton, who spoke at the 1988 mock convention, sent word through his campaign manager that he was thrilled by the symbolic victory on the eve of the "Super Tuesday" primaries.
"He was very, very, very happy with the outcome," David Wilhelm told students in a phone hookup to the Warner Center. "We think it's an accurate window of what's going to happen in the next few days."
Clinton wooed students at this elite private college four years ago when he showed up at a late-night party and ended up playing a number on the saxophone with the band.
If Clinton was a sentimental favorite, mock convention organizers put that aside in favor of research they hoped would help them predict the outcome in each state primary or caucus.
At stake was the W&L Mock Convention's record for choosing the presidential nominee of the party out of power - perfect since the Korean War except for 1972, when George McGovern was overlooked.
One unpredictable factor this year was the keynote speaker: New York Gov. Mario Cuomo.
Mock convention organizers were torn between their dedication to accuracy and their desire to grab the national spotlight by drafting the eloquent Cuomo.
"I'm hoping something will happen," said John Kannapell, a steering committee member. "What better place for him to announce?"
"Draft Cuomo" posters appeared during Cuomo's speech, and New York delegation chairman Jason Robinson, a junior from Roanoke, had a nomination speech ready in case the convention deadlocked between Clinton and Tsongas.
Cuomo said nothing to encourage the draft movement, which became moot after Clinton captured the nomination on the first roll-call vote.
Cuomo's name resurfaced during the balloting for the vice presidential candidate - a free-for-all in which students were allowed to vote for the Democrat of their choice.
Seven candidates were placed on the vice presidential ballot, including Virginia Gov. Douglas Wilder. Virginia delegation chairman John Flippen said he tossed the governor into contention "to get him out of the state."
When the convention deadlocked on the first ballot, Robinson - a North Cross graduate - grabbed his nomination speech and placed Cuomo's name on the ballot.
W&L students, who by that time were eager to adjourn to a campuswide party, stampeded to Cuomo on the second ballot.
Cuomo left before the Clinton-Cuomo ticket was set. He told reporters, however, that he had no interest in the No. 2 spot.
But Cuomo agreed with the convention's prediction that Clinton would face President Bush this fall. The New York governor said he thought Clinton could be in a commanding position within the Democratic Party after Tuesday's primaries in several Southern states.
"Clinton could wrap it up in a few weeks," Cuomo said.
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB