Correspondents' Correspondence
JORDAN, GARY L.
Correspondents' Correspondence BRIEF TAKEOUTS OF MORE THAN PERSONAL INTEREST FROM LETTERS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED BY THE EDITORS. Democratic Loophole Austin-As the 1976 Presidential...
...The prevailing sentiment among Bentsen opponents, however, is that by pushing for the new measures supporters of the 54-year-old Texan may have won the primary battle but stimulated sufficient ill-will to endanger his chances in the Presidential war...
...The Texas legislation takes advantage of what has become a controversial loophole in Section 11 of the recently adopted Delegate Selection Rules of the 1976 Democratic National Convention, entitled "Fair Reflection of Presidential Preferences...
...Liberal Democrats, who have an edge here in Travis county, Wallacites, spread sparsely throughout the state, and even Republicans, so few that they hold only remote enclaves, are understandably upset...
...Presidential hopefuls entering the Texas contest will be able to put up a slate in any or all of the 31 senatorial districts they choose to compete in...
...Democratic Loophole Austin-As the 1976 Presidential primaries draw closer, Texas is planning major changes in its method of picking delegates to the major party nominating conventions...
...Bentsen and Governor Jimmy Carter of Georgia would seem to be the two main pillars in this "defense team...
...In his unsuccessful 1972 bid for the nomination, Jackson's Southern primary efforts made hardly a dent in the Wallace bloc...
...Why did Bentsen hazard even the slightest disturbance when he was sure to win impressive victories in his home state through the three-level convention system...
...But Governor John Williams of Mississippi, former Governor Terry Sanford of North Carolina and Senator Dale Bumpers of Arkansas also have shown signs of moving to hold down their respective homefronts against a Wallace uprising...
...Intended to insure a more representative nominating process, Section 11 requires that 75 per cent of all delegates be chosen from party units no larger than congressional districts, and that any one receiving a minimum of 15 per cent of the vote be granted proportionate representation in a state's contingent...
...Hence, Democratic seekers of the nation's highest office will face the virtually hopeless task of vying with the pluralities Lone Star Senator and Presidential aspirant Lloyd Bentsen can be expected to receive in most of the regional decisions...
...Thus liberal Democrats may yet be forced into the ironic position of either joining the Wallace group in a battle for the "Fair Reflection of Presidential Preference," or sitting on the sidelines in 1976.-Gary L. Jordan...
...But these rules do not apply to primaries where delegates themselves are voted for instead of candidates...
...Growing numbers of conservative and moderate Democrats appear to be making concerted efforts to slow down the Alabama Governor's campaign across the South-the most prominent being Senator Henry Jackson...
...The answer may be George Wallace...
...In the case of the 130-man Democratic delegation, registered Democrats will be allowed three choices and the three top vote-getters in each electoral area will go to the convention-adding up to 93, or 75 per cent of the total...
...The remaining 37 places are to be filled by the state Democratic Committee so as to reflect the over-all vote...
...In fact, since both houses of the State Legislature-supported by Governor Dolph Briscoe and Lieutenant Governor Bill Hobby-have already passed only slightly differing bills to bring this about, final approval of the new system is expected in a matter of weeks...
...It is more than likely that all the winners in each district will be from the same camp...
...These nominees will be listed on the ballot with the name of their candidate-sponsor following in parentheses...
...In such instances, the persons with the most votes in each sector will attend the convention...
...Small wonder, then, that the new proposal was quickly dubbed the "Bentsen Bill...
...It is not difficult to imagine a political cabal, perhaps led by Jackson, that would push for use of the procedural loophole in states that could muster support for a favorite son, thus limiting any Wallace convention influence...
Vol. 58 • April 1975 • No. 9
