Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, October 25, 1994                   TAG: 9410250074
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: The Washington Post
DATELINE: AKRON, OHIO                                LENGTH: Medium

ECONOMY GIVING CLINTON A BOOST

Clinton warned in a speech to the City Club of Cleveland that the economic accomplishments of his administration would be jeopardized by a return to the ``easy promises and superficial attraction'' of Republican policies of the 1980s.

``This is not a government-inspired, deficit-driven recovery,'' Clinton said. ``This is more enterprise and less government, better for the long run.''

Clinton's comments came as a new Washington Post-ABC News poll showed that more Americans are encouraged about the state of the economy and give Clinton at least partial credit. Clinton's overall performance rating increased, and his approval ratings for handling of the economy improved for the first time in six months.

His speech in Cleveland contrasted sharply with his campaign of two years ago, when he seldom mentioned the deficit while promising an activist government that would tackle the nation's problems and provide a middle-class tax cut. But the deficit reduction of the last two years is seen as one area where Democrats can appeal to a public grown increasingly sour toward government policies.

``I hope you will make a decision in these coming elections that is consistent with keeping on this course, because it is working,'' he said.

Clinton took aim at the Republican ``Contract with America,'' the series of campaign promises devised by House Minority Whip Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., for Republican congressional candidates. He called the document, calling for tax cuts, increased military spending and a balanced budget, among other pledges, ``cynical'' and ``a trillion dollars in promises'' that would ``indulge the present instead of preparing for the future.''