POLITICS: Vote of Self-Confidence

Like a man who is all ready to cash the coupons of a gilt-edged bond, Bob Taft clipped off all 56 G.O.P. delegates in his home state of Ohio last week, and tucked them into his briefcase. The big Ohio bloc was never really in doubt for Mr. Republican; only Harold Stassen was entered in the primary against him. The vote put Taft back in front of Eisenhower in the seesaw delegate quotations (see box), and gave him a luxurious feeling of wellbeing. Said he with a satisfied air: "I'll never be headed now."

On Ohio's Democratic side, Estes Kefauver opposed onetime U.S. Senator Robert J. Bulkley, a favorite son and choice of party regulars. Without any visible organization support, Kefauver confounded the experts and walked off with 27 of the 54 Democratic convention votes (winning all but four of the delegate contests he had entered).

Said Candidate Kefauver, with a new vote of self-confidence for himself: "My significant victory . . . practically assures me of the nomination."