Republicans: This President Thing

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Thus, if only by a process of elimination, Arizona's Goldwater moves far toward the front.

A Real Choice. Goldwater has plenty going for him-entirely aside from Rockefeller's remarriage and the problems confronting other G.O.P. possibilities. At 54, with a trim build (6 ft., 185 Ibs.), a bronzed face, silver hair and a man's-man personality, he is one of the most attractive politicians in the U.S. today. He has earned for himself a label as Mr. Conservative. Yet at the same time, as a dashing, fast-driving, jet-flying, adventuring, hobby-loving good fellow, he has shattered the shibboleth of the conservative as a starched-collar fuddy-duddy.

In past decades, Republican National

Conventions have refused to nominate presidential candidates from the party's conservative wing. The reason has been that "a conservative can't win." Today, Barry Goldwater is profiting from a realistic admission in Republican circles that any G.O.P. candidate, whether conservative or progressive, is going to have to run uphill against John Kennedy. That being the case, the argument goes, why not give a real conservative a chance for a change? Says Texas Republican Leader Kenehan: "This is the first time we've ever had a real choice between a conservative and a liberal candidate. Not in my lifetime have I had a chance to vote for a real conservative for President." Says Harry G. Taylor, Macon County (111.) Republican chairman: "If the conservatives are ever going to elect anyone, perhaps this is the time to give it a test."

The Republican feeling that the chances of taking over the White House next year are less than fifty-fifty has led to increased party emphasis on electing lesser candidates-Senators, Congressmen, Governors and other state and local officials. Toward this end, Republicans feel that their candidates would be helped by the presence at the top of the ballot of a presidential nominee who is readily identifiable as a "real" Republican. And nobody quite fills that bill as Goldwater does.

So reasoning, Republicans have made Goldwater the top prospect for their 1964 nomination. Last week a regional rundown showed him running ahead everywhere except in Rocky's own Northeast and the Pacific Coast-and even in those areas, Barry was moving up fast.