N.Y. Backers Urge Tsongas to Rejoin Race

Supporters hoping to draft Paul Tsongas back into the presidential race hit the New York airwaves with TV and radio ads Friday, just four days before the state’s crucial Democratic primary.

Meanwhile, state Democratic Party Chairman John Marino said Tsongas is likely to win some delegates in Tuesday’s primary.

The advertisements, which began airing Tuesday on cable television systems and radio across the state, are to remind New Yorkers that Tsongas’ name remains on the primary ballot, said Lee Gounardes, state chairman of the suspended Tsongas campaign.

Narrated by actor E.G. Marshal, the ad says: “As we all know, Paul Tsongas suspended his campaign due to lack of funds. But he’s still on the ballot here in New York. We need to bring Paul Tsongas back into this race and keep his message alive.”

The candidacies of Bill Clinton and Jerry Brown, according to the ad, “leave us with a troubling choice” and will “guarantee the reelection of George Bush.”

James Armenakis, another former Tsongas campaign official working on the draft effort, said the ad campaign cost about $100,000 and will run through primary day.

Tsongas is “not discouraging the effort,” said Gounardes, who said he spent part of Thursday with the former Massachusetts senator.

Tsongas said Wednesday he might consider renewing his presidential bid if enough Democrats wanted him and if the party was “ready to walk down the path I’ve chosen.”

Meanwhile, Marino said Tsongas would be a factor in the New York primary.

“I think (Clinton) came in with a big lead and I think he still has it,” the New York party chairman said. “But Tsongas is a factor. It’s a name I keep hearing.”

Marino predicted that in some of the state’s 34 congressional districts, the former Massachusetts senator would break the 15% vote threshold for gaining delegates.

Also Friday, U.S. Sen. David L. Boren (D-Okla.) asked Tsongas to consider rejoining the presidential race.

“Since your decision to stop campaigning, millions of Americans have had the chance to reflect upon the loss to our country which your absence from the campaign represents,” Boren wrote in a letter released by his office.