Dukakis Narrowly Leads Jackson in Seesaw Vermont Delegate Battle

Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis edged narrowly ahead of the Rev. Jesse Jackson in Vermont’s Democratic caucuses Tuesday night in a seesaw battle that tightened dramatically as the votes were tallied.

Dukakis’ scored a 2-1 victory in the state’s “beauty contest” primary last month.

With 92% of 1,300 state convention delegates picked, Dukakis had 553, or 46%, while Jackson had 535, or 45%. Tennessee Sen. Albert Gore Jr. had 4, or 0%; 109 delegates, or 9%, were uncommitted.

Jackson had held a narrow lead throughout the early counting. In New York, where he lost to Dukakis, Jackson claimed victory in the contest here.

“We won Vermont tonight,” he said, perhaps prematurely.

Prominent Democrats

A victory for Jackson in the Democratic caucuses would be a disappointment for the Dukakis campaign, which has most prominent Democrats in the state behind it, including Gov. Madeleine M. Kunin, Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, Lt. Gov. Howard Dean and House Speaker Ralph Wright.

Kunin said Jackson’s strong showing in Vermont was “not unexpected,” but pointed to Dukakis’ solid victory in Tuesday’s big New York primary.

“I continue to be very optimistic about Dukakis,” she said. “I think his showing in New York is fantastic.”

Supporters of Jackson said they had built a solid organization in Vermont and noted that Jackson has done better in caucus states, with relatively small turnouts, than in primary states.

The 1,300 delegates elected Tuesday night will attend next month’s state convention, at which time 14 of Vermont’s 19 delegates to the national convention will be chosen. The remaining five spots belong to Gov. Kunin and four state party officials.

Bush Wins 89%

On the Republican side, some 1,000 delegates to the state GOP convention were being chosen Tuesday night.