Dukakis Visits Glenn, Says He Likes Dullness

Democrat Michael S. Dukakis auditioned Sen. John Glenn (D-Ohio) as a vice presidential prospect before a home-state crowd today and said he rather likes “dull and boring”--a description often attached to both men.

As for the criticism of Glenn’s failed 1984 effort to become the Democratic presidential nominee, Dukakis said: “I’ve won campaigns and I’ve lost campaigns. I’ve run good campaigns and have had one disastrous campaign, so I’m very sympathetic.”

Glenn--flashing the double thumbs-up sign he made famous in 1962, when he became the first American to orbit Earth--appeared with Dukakis at a United Auto Workers hall, the final stop on a Midwest campaign swing by the Massachusetts governor.

There was no question who was the favorite among the crowd for a spot on the Democratic ticket.

‘Sounds Unanimous’

“I’ve been taking a poll all over America about running mates. What do you think about John Glenn?” Dukakis asked the union audience.

The response was loud applause and whistles. Dukakis turned and shook Glenn’s hand, then turning back to the microphone, said, “Sounds unanimous to me.”

In remarks to the audience, Dukakis took issue with President Reagan’s criticism of him this week as a free-spending “true liberal.”

“What we’ve seen in the last eight years is not fiscal conservatism,” he said, referring to the huge budget deficit run by the Reagan Administration.

“I was told by my father that a serious conservative is someone who pays his bills.”

Terming Reagan’s fiscal policies “the most irresponsible I have ever seen,” he vowed to return America to fiscal moderation if elected.