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HenchPAC News(CNSNews.com) - With presidential polls showing George W Bush with a
double-digit lead over Al Gore in North Dakota, a long-time Democratic senator from that
state may be trying to distance himself from Gore.
A statewide television commercial for Senator Kent Conrad used the word
"independent" or "independence" four times, but never mentioned that
Conrad is a Democrat.
Republican Duane Sand is challenging Conrad in this year's general election. Sand is a
34-year-old former Navy submarine lieutenant, whom the National Republican Senatorial
Committee labels as its "dark horse" candidate for November.
Conrad won his election six years ago with 58 percent of the vote, and a recent
unscientific poll by KFGO, one of the state's most prominent radio stations, put Conrad
ahead of Sand, 57 to 43 percent.
Laurie Boeder, a spokesperson for Conrad's Washington office insisted that North Dakota
voters already know Conrad is a Democrat, and argued - repeatedly - that any
"accusations" of Conrad distancing himself from Gore or the party were
"ridiculous."
"He's a 14-year incumbent. People understand very well what party he represents. The
word independent is used in his commercial because he thinks independently. Independent
here is an adjective, not a political affiliation," Boeder said.
Still, the ad is reminiscent of the tactics used by some Democrats in the 1994
Congressional campaigns, whereby they avoided joint appearances with a then-unpopular
President Bill Clinton in order to save themselves from defeat.
Mark Pfeifle, deputy director of communications for the Republican National Committee,
said just as Democrats sought to appear independent of President Clinton in 1994, the
current ad in North Dakota represents Conrad's attempts to "reinvent himself, just
like Al Gore."
"North Dakotans know that Kent Conrad isn't independent," Pfeifle said.
"The second his plane touches down inside the beltway, he is a sure vote for Ted
Kennedy and the rest of the Washington liberals. He can run but he can't hide from his
liberalism."
The 60-second advertisement includes references to Conrad's "hard work and
independence" and his "independent" leadership. It also describes the
Senator as "just one of us. North Dakota, through and through. Kent Conrad.
Independent." At the end of the commercial, the words "Independent" and
"Effective" appear next to his logo.
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Gore 2000 campaign officials did not return
telephone calls requesting current polling results from either Conrad's race or the
Gore-Bush contest in North Dakota.
Bush 2000 campaign officials, however, claimed Bush's lead over Gore in March was 22
points.
Zogby International, a self-described independent polling corporation, released statistics
compiled June 9 through 12, also highlighting Bush's substantial lead over Gore in the
Central Great Lakes region, 48.9 percent to 36.5 percent.
HENCH adds: Dukakis in a tank, Al hugging Bill. Different scene, same effect. Election......BLOWN!
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