Governors, 8 White House Hopefuls Meet

The nation’s Democratic governors met with their party’s eight presidential hopefuls here Wednesday and pledged their support to the eventual nominee, but offered no endorsements.

The governors concluded their three-hour private meeting with the candidates, saying they were enthusiastic about them all and could support each of them.

“There is no doubt in my mind that any one of them would not only run a first-rate campaign, but would govern effectively,” said Michigan Gov. James J. Blanchard, chairman of the Democratic Governor’s Assn., at a press conference after the session.

The eight candidates attending were Sens. Paul Simon of Illinois, Albert Gore Jr. of Tennessee and Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Reps. Patricia Schroeder of Colorado and Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri, Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis and former Arizona Gov. Bruce Babbitt.

Babbitt stirred discussion among the governors and Democratic National Committee members with his proposal of a federal sales tax to help cut the budget deficit, an idea conference participants called “risky” and “gutsy.”

DNC Chairman Paul G. Kirk Jr. said he thinks that the idea will stir a great deal of discussion in the party.

“Maybe this is a bold stroke; maybe there’s some political risk, but given the fact of where we are, $220 billion in budget deficits and an Administration that won’t even talk about it, you’re going to get some tough-minded proposals coming from the Democrats,” he said. But, he said, the Democrats will not be known as the party that is going to raise taxes.

The governors called the unusual meeting with the candidates in an effort to get involved early in the presidential campaign. “We want to make sure the candidates are going to be reflective of our agenda,” said Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton.

In return for the eventual nominee supporting such issues as welfare reform, developing a trade policy and reducing the federal deficit, the governors said they would consider strong fund-raising commitments and chairing the nominee’s state campaign committees.