Democrats Seeking Presidency Reveal Surprising Unanimity

Fourteen announced and potential Democratic and Republican candidates for President, in a set of position statements on major issues released Wednesday, reveal surprising unanimity among the Democrats on their central theme for the 1988 campaign but stark disagreement among GOP candidates on what to do with President Reagan’s legacy.

The central theme of the Democrats’ campaign--judging by the statements written at the request of the AFL-CIO--will be that America has slipped during the final years of the Reagan presidency and that “presidential leadership” willing to make “tough choices” will be necessary to “get America on the move again,” as some of them put it.

Republican candidates, by contrast, disagreed about the country’s current condition. Vice President George Bush, at one end of the spectrum, glowingly described the nation as being in the “fifth year of our record-breaking economic expansion.”

‘Changes Must Be Made’

Former Delaware Gov. Pierre S. du Pont, on the other hand, sounded almost like the Democrats as he talked of “changes that must be made in this country if you or I and our children and grandchildren are to have the opportunity that is the promise of America.”

All eight Democratic respondents said they would consider additional taxes to help balance the budget. All, however, avoided a direct call for a tax increase, preferring instead to use such phrases as “increases in revenue.” Each also talked of taking a stronger position on trade, while avoiding what Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, one of the leading contenders, called “the simplistic choice between free trade and protectionism.”

The Democrats also emphasized increased spending on programs for children, including education and day-care programs. Many Democratic strategists have suggested that children’s issues may be a way for the party to recapture the votes of the “baby boom” generation, which has leaned Republican in the last two presidential elections.

In keeping with Reagan’s position, none of the six Republicans called for new taxes, with several vowing to resist a tax increase.

A Moderate Tack

On other issues, however, most Republicans took a moderate tack that appeared to distance them from some of the most controversial elements of the Reagan agenda. Only Du Pont and Rep. Jack Kemp of New York, for instance, chose to use the statements to voice support for Reagan’s “Star Wars” space defense plans.

And Kemp was the only one to express opposition to abortion.

The labor federation asked each candidate to submit both a four-minute videotape about their general views and a set of written responses to questions on trade, the budget deficit, domestic social policies and the role of unions in the political process. The responses will be distributed to all AFL-CIO member unions and are designed to help the AFL-CIO to decide which candidates, if any, to endorse this fall, AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland said Wednesday.

In addition to Biden, the Democrats responding to the survey were former Arizona Gov. Bruce Babbitt, Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis, Rep. Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri, Sen. Albert Gore Jr. of Tennessee, Sen. Paul Simon of Illinois and 1984 candidates Gary Hart and Jesse Jackson.

Republicans responding, in addition to Bush, Du Pont and Kemp, were Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, former Secretary of State Alexander M. Haig Jr. and evangelist Pat Robertson.