Republicans: This President Thing

(6 of 11)

Northeast. In New England, Rocky's forces are shaken. Maine, where the Rockefeller family has summered for years, still likes Rocky. But, says Portland's Fred Scribner, general counsel of the G.O.P. National Committee: "Re marriage will really hurt Rockefeller." In Massachusetts, Harvard Business School Lecturer George Lodge (son of Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.), a liberal Republican says, "I don't at this stage have a candidate." Frederick Dumaine Jr., newly elected Massachusetts G.O.P. chairman, represents Goldwater people. Says Lloyd Waring, a four-time National Convention delegate and an influential Massachusetts Republican: "Goldwater is definitely strengthening. There is a big independent demand for him. I think they're looking for a real other-side-of-the-coin conservative to put up this time. That way they'll settle this liberal-conservative business once and for all." In Vermont, leaders and voters are still for Rocky, but, says G.O.P. State Chairman Theodore Corsones: "Goldwater could make it if he gives the go-ahead signal for a real fight."

New Hampshire, whose early-bird March primary makes it one of the most politically significant of the New England states, now appears to favor Goldwater. Similarly, Rhode Island, once a strong Rocky state, has softened.

The womenfolk, says National Committeewoman Mary Jackson, simply "don't like" Rocky's remarriage: "Goldwater is out in front." As of now, Rocky could probably still count on New York, plus Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland.

South & Southwest. This is almost completely Goldwater territory. Says Alabama's 32-year-old State Chairman John Grenier, who masterminded a near upset of veteran Democratic Senator Lister Hill last fall: "I figure Goldwater won't lose 15 [out of about 325] delegate votes in the South. Everything's coming up roses." Adds Grenier: "Even if we wanted someone else, we couldn't go up to the convention and sell out our people. They want Gold-water." Says Oklahoma's Republican Governor Henry Bellmon: "I know personally of perhaps half a dozen people in this state who are for Rockefeller. But I know thousands who are for Goldwater." "The people need a strong hand in Washington," insists Texas Committeewoman Mrs. Charles Gibson, "and I feel that Goldwater will just set us straight."

Midwest & Mountain States. As of now, Goldwater probably would get nearly all the convention votes of Utah, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. "This guy," says Barry-Booster Frank Whetstone of Cut Bank, Mont., "can sell-and he can win." In California, former Governor Goodwin J. Knight, a Rockefeller man, admits Goldwater gains over Rockefeller in his state, but insists that Barry "couldn't possibly win." Nonetheless, California has a huge assortment of conservatives -from mild to Birch. They are well organized and gave Richard Nixon a tough fight in the gubernatorial primaries last year. If the delegation goes to the convention uninstructed-as may well happen-California might split its votes down the middle, with half each for Rocky and Goldwater.