CAMPAIGN ’88 : Local Issues Dominate Puerto Rican Elections

Puerto Ricans will pass judgment on Democratic and Republican presidential candidates today in the commonwealth’s primary elections, but presidential matters are taking a back seat to an assortment of local issues.

Vice President George Bush has the island’s 14 delegates to the Republican National Convention sewn up, Kansas Sen. Bob Dole is not actively contesting the race and former religious broadcaster Pat Robertson is not on the ballot.

The Democratic primary will be a “beauty contest” with no influence on the 56-member Puerto Rican delegation to the national convention, which party leaders are determined to keep in the uncommitted column. As a result, none of the candidates have devoted much time or money to campaigning in the commonwealth.

What really is at stake is control of the local Democratic Party, now split between the Popular Democratic Party and the out-of-power New Progressive Party. The primary also is a sort of referendum on the island’s political status and a test of strength between Gov. Rafael Hernandez Colon and former Gov. Romero Barcelo.

The New Progressive Party wants Puerto Rico to become the 51st U.S. state. The Popular Democratic Party favors a continuation of the status quo, under which Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens with most every right and obligation except they cannot vote for President in general elections and pay no federal taxes.

Among the Republicans, there is no such debate--statehood has long been a plank in the GOP platform.