Harkin Says Rival Clinton Favors Rich in Home State

The morning after he blistered his Democratic presidential opponents in a televised debate, Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin tried to harness momentum Monday by delivering a new round of gibes at apparent front-runner Bill Clinton.

Before an empty storefront meant to symbolize the economic peril faced by New Hampshire and the nation, Harkin accused the Arkansas governor of favoring the rich over the poor at home.

“Gov. Clinton bought into Reaganomics in Arkansas. He did what Reagan did to this country. Tax breaks for the big corporations, bigger tax breaks for the wealthy. Stick it to the little guy with sales tax and that kind of thing.

“Look at Arkansas--last in just about everything,” Harkin said. “Last in environmental policy. Last in workplace safety; next to last in early childhood education. This is the legacy of Reagan and those who buy into Reaganomics.”

Clinton was campaigning in New York on Monday, but his New Hampshire spokeswoman, Mary Ellen Glynn, said Harkin was off base. Glynn said that Arkansas is 49th among the states in per capita state and local taxes, and that Clinton has lowered income taxes on 42% of Arkansans during his tenure as governor.

“Sen. Harkin should check his facts,” she said.

The continuing contretemps demonstrated that with less than a month to go before this state’s first in the nation primary on Feb. 18, Harkin has decided that he needs to come out swinging. He is behind in the polls and behind in fund-raising.

But even as Harkin sought to fire up the afterburners in the wake of his combative debate performance, he unintentionally underscored some of his perceived weaknesses.

The stated purpose of Harkin’s visit to the abandoned storefront in downtown Manchester was to unveil a “Blueprint to Build a New America”--a move meant to counter criticisms that Harkin has failed to supply what voters here are demanding--specifics.

But the magazine-size booklet handed out turned out to be a recitation of previously released proposals.

Harkin did detail dollar amounts of cuts he would make in the nation’s defense budget, beginning with a $13.3-billion reduction in 1993 and escalating to $64.4-billion in 2002. Over 10 years, he said, he would cut $420.5 billion and direct $280 billion into domestic programs. He would use the rest to reduce the deficit.

As a stimulus for the economy, Harkin said that if elected he would “immediately” release $35 billion to create 1 million new jobs. But he did not say specifically where he would get the money.

Harkin sought during Sunday’s debate to distance himself from the other major Democratic candidates--Clinton, former Massachusetts Sen. Paul E. Tsongas, Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey and former California Gov. Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr.--by declaring himself “the real Democrat.”

He tried to reinforce that message after his press conference, when he toured a pizza parlor.

“Don’t read my lips. Read my program,” Harkin told diners, as a commercial for rival Kerrey filled the television screen in the corner.

But if Harkin was hoping for an immediate post-debate boost, he did not seem to get it. John Knieriem, a Manchester manufacturer of athletic equipment, greeted Harkin at the pizza parlor but was unimpressed by the debate.

“Sen. Harkin had a chance last night to really say something,” Knieriem said. “I don’t think he said anything.”

Knieriem said he was most distressed by Harkin’s reluctance to detail how he would finance his massive jobs programs.