Gephardt Makes Iowa Comeback With Populist Theme

Rep. Richard A. Gephardt, whose campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination seemed on an irreversible slide a month ago, is making a come-back here with a sharpened, populist message, an effective media campaign and help from 80 of his congressional colleagues.

In a swing throughout eastern Iowa last week, the Missouri congressman attracted enthusiastic crowds, ticked off endorsements by state political leaders and delivered hard-edged speeches railing against “the Establishment” and declaring himself the candidate of change.

“I’m running for President because I want to change the country in fundamental ways,” he said over and over again before audiences ranging in size from 40 to 200.

While showing his candidacy can not yet be written off, Gephardt still has a long way to go to win a much-needed first- or second-place showing in Iowa’s Feb. 8 caucuses.

Standing in Polls Fell

In November and early December, his campaign watched in horror as his standing in Iowa polls plummeted. Attendance at his Iowa campaign appearances plunged, a lack of money forced a few staff members to go temporarily without pay, and some workers mused aloud about which candidate they might defect to in the event of a Gephardt loss.

Although the timing and small sample of the surveys make early polls highly unreliable as predictors, they became what one Gephardt aide called a “self-fulfilling prophecy.” Momentum dropped and caucus-goers, eager to support a winner, began crossing Gephardt off their lists.

The congressman, a dogged, tireless campaigner, intensified his efforts and spent the holidays retooling his message. He still devotes most of his speeches to his support of a farm bill that would allow growers to set production controls and a trade bill that calls for retaliation against countries that restrict imports of U.S. goods.

Sharpens His Language

But he has sharpened his language and assumed an anti-Establishment posture to promote this platform.

Standing in an ice-cold barn in front of a mountain of corn, he sarcastically told a group of Iowa farmers that newspaper reports have declared the farm crisis over.

Clad in a sweat shirt, blue Windbreaker and a cap, he concluded: “Tell that to an Iowa farmer.” The farmers, their breath filling the barn with steam, snickered and nodded.

At another stop, he said: “My dad used to tell me, ‘If you work hard in America, it pays off.’ ” Then came the familiar refrain. “Tell that to a farmer.”

On trade, he told groups of laborers that a $10,000 Chrysler K-car costs $48,000 in South Korea because of that government’s taxes and tariffs. “They are not a hot item right now,” he said in a deadpan.

Hyundais for $7,000

South Koreans, however, can sell their Hyundais in the United States for $7,000. As President, he says, he would force the South Koreans to remove their taxes and tariffs. If they don’t, he says, they’ll have to ask themselves: “How many Americans are going to pay $48,000 for one of their Hyundais?

“My trade policy,” he concludes, “is ‘Treat us as we treat you.’ That’s what I will demand.”

Gephardt launched his first television commercial blitz after Christmas, and by many accounts, it is having results.

“In the last month or so (before the caucuses),” said Phillip Roeder, Iowa Democratic Party spokesman, “the media does matter because new people start paying attention.” Roeder credits the commercials in part to what he admits is his “gut feeling” that Gephardt is recovering from political stagnation.

‘Sort of Hit Bottom’

“He sort of hit bottom a month or two ago, and just recently, he’s been able to turn that around,” Roeder said.

Kenneth Glattfelder, 63, a retired printer from Ottumwa who, with his wife, Helen, were waiting to hear Gephardt speak at a union hall there, said they both decided 10 days ago to stand up for Gephardt in their caucus.

“I’m very, very much against foreign products in this country,” Kenneth Glattfelder said. What ultimately helped him decide? “I’d have to say his commercials have had a lot to do with it,” the retiree said. “They help you understand somebody.”

Members of Congress from outside Iowa are also helping the candidate by contending to Iowa audiences that Gephardt has strong support in their states. This reassures Iowans, who like the attention they get as hosts of the first major presidential contest and fear they will lose their importance and pre-eminence if they select an ultimate loser.

Polls Give Some Relief

Polls released last week gave the Gephardt campaign some relief. They showed Gephardt back in the game, running neck-and-neck with Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis, behind Gary Hart and Illinois Sen. Paul Simon. The numbers, however, were generally close enough and the margin of error wide enough to underscore just how unpredictable the race remains.

Gephardt, striving to show he is still a serious contender, refuses to even discuss poll results.

“I think sometimes when people are called by a pollster, they just want to get off the phone,” he said in an interview in his five-seater airplane during last’s week campaign swing. “They just tell him anything.”