The Senate Campaign: It’s Down to the Wire : Reagan Hits Cranston on Military Issues

President Reagan on Saturday tried to stoke Republican passions for Senate candidate Ed Zschau with a searing denunciation of Democratic Sen. Alan Cranston.

At an Orange County political “homecoming,” a $250-a-person fund-raising brunch, the President criticized Cranston with the toughest language he has used in the 1986 midterm elections, an attack that also was among the toughest heard from anyone during the long Senate campaign in California.

The President said of Cranston:

--”He plays fast and loose with the lives of those who protect us.”

--”I cannot think of a single member of the Senate who has a record as anti-military, anti-preparedness, anti-security as Ed’s opponent. He would leave the frontiers of freedom unguarded. . . . “

--”He looks at your take-home pay as his personal treasury.”

--”It’s about time we put an individual in this Senate seat who reflects the spirit of California, instead of the dying vestiges of collectivism.”

--”Let me sum it up for you, Alan Cranston has voted against me more than Ted Kennedy.”

The appearance was the first of two that Reagan plans to make for Zschau in Orange County during the closing 72 hours of the campaign. A bastion of conservative politics, Orange County is considered by Zschau a make-or-break source of votes in his drive to unseat the three-term incumbent.

Zschau has been concerned about his support in the county because of lingering doubts on the GOP right that he is too moderate. Reagan’s appearances are chiefly aimed at convincing these doubters.

“I remember coming to Anaheim 20 years ago in my first campaign for governor,” Reagan said. “Orange County was essential to success. . . . Today, you are no less vital to securing the gains we’ve made, and keeping our country moving forward.”

String of Appearances

Reagan’s return to California followed a string of appearances in other states considered important in the Republican drive to keep its majority in the U.S. Senate.

“If the other party regains control of the Senate, they could well drag us right back into the same pit we left behind,” Reagan told the crowd of about 1,200.

As is customary when he is speaking to California audiences, Reagan was interrupted by applause every few sentences. But looking out into the ballroom of the Anaheim Hilton, there was an unusual sight, too, greeting the President in his home state--a scattering of empty tables.

A Zschau assistant said the tables were set for donors who paid but who did not arrive. In total, the fruit-cup brunch grossed $500,000, according to the Zschau campaign.

‘Would Be Pained’

White House aides have said that the President has particular interest in the California Senate election and “would be pained if this one slipped away.”

This was evident enough from the intensity of the Reagan broadsides on Cranston. The President focused on the three themes that Zschau has used as the basis of his campaign, government spending, crime and national defense.

On defense, the President made a generalized attack on the Cranston record and then delivered the strongest charge of the morning--that the senator “plays fast and loose with the lives of those who protect us.”

Reagan cited Cranston’s opposition to a 1982 bill that would have made it a felony to disclose names of U.S. intelligence agents and sources. Aides to Cranston said the senator opposed it as a flawed proposal that could make criminals out of U.S. journalists if they published names of agents already exposed in foreign publications.

Adds to Criticism

Reagan also complained that Cranston “opposed vital weapons systems and the modernization of our military.”

The President did not mention his own differences with Zschau on the same matter of weapons programs. Zschau has opposed Reagan on the MX missile and has supported reductions in the President’s controversial Strategic Defense Initiative, or “Star Wars,” defense research program.

Reagan, in fact, referred not at all to any of the differences he has with Zschau. These differences have found Zschau on the opposite side of the Administration on about 30% or more of votes in the House during the congressman’s two terms.

Last September, in a previous visit to Southern California for Zschau, Reagan acknowledged having differences with the Senate nominee but said they are “trivial” compared to differences the Administration has had with Cranston.

Slip of the Tongue

Reagan praised Zschau on Saturday as someone “who personifies enterprise and creativity, a candidate who young people can identify with, and who can lead this party and our country into the 21st Century.”

In a slip of the tongue, the President mispronounced Zschau’s name at the first reference in the speech--sounding out the “Z” that is actually silent. Near the end of his speech, Reagan departed from talking about Zschau and made an ad lib criticism of the favorite target of conservatives this election, state Supreme Court Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird. She is on the ballot for confirmation to another 12 year term.

“By the way,” the President said. “I reflected as I filled out my California absentee ballot that we also have a chance to improve the judicial system in California. . . . “

Reagan, although not using Bird’s name directly, noted that he had disclosed his opposition to her election, and so had Zschau and Gov. George Deukmejian. “Isn’t it about time Ed’s opponent had to take a stand?”

Gives Him a Sign

Zschau made only a brief introductory speech in Anaheim. At the end, he presented the President with a Zschau-for-Senate lawn sign for the presidential ranch at Santa Barbara.

“I’m not going to waste this on the ranch. What’s Alan Cranston’s address?” Reagan responded, waving the sign.

Zschau made only one other campaign appearance all day, a brief stop at a Republican get-out-the-vote rally in San Diego. The congressman did nothing else in public so as not to detract from Reagan’s speech

“The turnout in Orange County will be critical to our victory,” said campaign manager Ron Smith.