POLITICS 88 : Sen. Bradley Endorses Dukakis Bid, Calls Governor Innovative, Resilient

Sen. Bill Bradley (D-N.J.), the target of speculation as a dark horse presidential candidate if the Democratic convention deadlocks, Wednesday endorsed Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis’ bid for the party’s nomination.

Bradley, the 6-foot-5 former all-star forward for the pro basketball New York Knicks, said Dukakis, a 5-foot-7 one-time starting guard for the Brookline, Mass., High School team, “can beat George Bush because he is tenacious, innovative, resilient and disciplined, and he has the personal depth and life experience that embodies the promise of America.”

Bradley’s endorsement came a day after Connecticut Gov. William A. O’Neill and Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.) declared their backing for Dukakis, whose campaign appears to be gaining strength among Democratic elected and party officials.

Today, two members of California’s House delegation, Democratic Reps. Robert T. Matsui of Sacramento and Norman Y. Mineta of San Jose, will move publicly into the Dukakis camp.

Los Angeles Appearance

In Los Angeles Wednesday night for a $250-per-person fund-raiser hosted by the area’s Greek community, Dukakis drew a crowd of more than 300 supporters at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

City Councilman Marvin Braude appeared briefly to endorse Dukakis, saying he met him and was “overwhelmed by his compassion. He looks straight at you and has a feeling for people that’s tremendous.”

Nikolas Patsaouras, a director of the RTD and a well-known leader in Southern California’s 75,000-strong Greek community, said most Greeks in California are registered Republican. However, he said a large number are crossing over to vote for a native son of the Greek homeland.

One of those is Ernie Zaferis, a produce wholesaler, who says he has voted Republican for the last 16 years.

“I’m voting for Dukakis for one reason, because of the beautiful job he has done in Massachusetts,” Zaferis said.

Sen. Bradley will be among the 646 “super delegates” of the Democratic Party, whose support will be vital to produce a majority for the nomination. But the significance of his endorsement goes beyond the numbers.

Bradley is regarded with substantial respect in national Democratic circles. He, along with Sen. Sam Nunn of Georgia and New York Gov. Mario M. Cuomo, were considered by many as strong potential Democratic presidential candidates.

Bradley now removes any lingering impression he might run, and he simultaneously makes Dukakis more attractive to admirers of Bradley within the party.

Dukakis’ stock also was boosted by an ABC-Washington Post poll showing him running ahead of Republican front-runner Bush in a direct match-up. The poll said Bush would beat the other Democratic candidates if the election were held now.

‘Understands the Economy’

In endorsing Dukakis, Bradley said the Massachusetts governor “understands the economy.”

Bradley, a man whose speaking style has been described as soporific, dealt jokingly with the complaint that Dukakis lacks charisma. “It has been said of Michael Dukakis that he is dull, a charge with which I am not unfamiliar, but governance is not an amusement park,” said Bradley. “It holds lives in the balance.”

Bradley and Dukakis stood on a platform in a restored railroad station in Liberty Island Park, 2,000 feet west of the island on which stands the Statue of liberty.

“Many years ago, the parents of Michael Dukakis sailed past the Statue of Liberty on their way to a new life in America,” Bradley said, prefacing his introduction and endorsement of Dukakis.

He also said he did not expect to be considered as Dukakis’ running mate. Bradley said such a ticket would be too heavily weighted toward the Northeast.

‘A Lot in Common’

“I think Massachusetts and New Jersey have a lot in common, but I don’t think they go together on a national ticket,” Bradley said.

Bradley also praised the other Democrats seeking the nomination, singling out the Rev. Jesse Jackson as “running a campaign that challenges the best in all of us.”

But Bradley predicted Dukakis would get the nomination.

“I believe Michael Dukakis can win. I believe he will be the next President of the United States,” Bradley said.