Attack by Mail Traced to Harkin Campaign; Kerrey Assails Pollster

Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin attacked two rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination on the abortion issue Sunday, attempting to question their commitment to the right to legal abortion.

Harkin mailed a letter, in the name of a dummy women’s organization, containing inaccurate charges against Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton and Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey.

Asked about the letter on “This Week With David Brinkley,” Harkin described it as something done by “an organization of women and others that have gotten together.” In fact, the organization whose name appears on the mailing, the Women’s Campaign Coalition, has no telephone listing and its address is identical to that of Harkin’s New Hampshire campaign headquarters. Sunday evening, Harkin spokesman Barry Toiv described the group as being “affiliated with the campaign.”

At a press conference, Kerrey assailed his own pollster, who was caught anonymously faxing criticism of Clinton’s draft record to several news organizations last week. Kerrey referred to the pollster, Harrison Hickman, as “Harrison Hitman” and angrily told reporters: “I feel he has betrayed me.” Kerrey said that Hickman had been put on probation.