Laxalt Vows Not to Be Campaign Spoiler

Sen. Paul Laxalt (R-Nev.) declared Monday that conservatives trust him, as opposed to Vice President George Bush, and said that if he seeks the party’s presidential nomination “my competitive juices will flow and I’ll give it hell.”

Vowing not to play a spoiler’s role in the GOP presidential sweepstakes, Laxalt said that he would run only as a “genuine candidate” and that, as party chairman, his primary goal will be to nominate a candidate who can be elected.

Laxalt’s potential candidacy has caused particular concern in the political camp of Bush, the early front-runner for the nomination, and the senator’s comments during a luncheon session with reporters here appear bound to increase that concern.

During the hourlong interview, Laxalt also said that the Senate Finance Committee tax revision bill has a 50-50 chance of passing the full Senate without major amendments and that there are “very, very positive” signs the United States will reach an arms control agreement with the Soviets before President Reagan leaves office.

Campaign Chairman

Laxalt, who served as the Reagan-Bush campaign chairman in 1980 and 1984, resisted discussing how he differs politically from Bush. But, when pressed on how a Laxalt candidacy would differ from a Bush candidacy, he said:

“Without creating any kind of divisions between Bush and me, I’d talk about continuity (with the Reagan Administration), credibility with conservatives. Conservatives in the country trust me and certainly those that have been in the last campaign with us have implored me to stay loose and keep my options open.”

Bush, who has earned a reputation as an exceptionally loyal vice president, has counted on at least tacit support from Reagan in his quest for the nomination and has assiduously courted the party’s conservative wing, which plays a crucial role in selecting the party’s nominee and which has never shown much enthusiasm for the vice president.

Laxalt, responding to a question, conceded that if he runs it could be a “pivotal” event for the Bush candidacy because the perception would be that the senator was running with Reagan’s endorsement. “That’s what makes this decision so troublesome,” he said.

Bush Comment

Although he and Reagan have never discussed his possible candidacy, Laxalt said, Bush raised the subject at a recent Cabinet meeting by commenting on the amount of publicity it has attracted. “He noted I was getting a lot of good ink,” the senator said.

The Reagan-Laxalt friendship dates to the 1960s when the President was serving as California’s governor and the senator was serving as Nevada’s governor. Laxalt emphasized that they are still “very close” and noted their similar backgrounds and philosophies.