Clinton Will Be Reelected, Mitchell Says
Retiring Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell (D-Me.) predicted Sunday that President Clinton will be reelected.
“I know I’m a minority, but I believe President Clinton will be reelected,” Mitchell said on NBC-TV’s “Meet the Press,” which was recorded Wednesday because of the Christmas holiday. Public opinion polls show the President’s popularity lagging.
Mitchell will be replaced by Sen. Bob Dole (R-Kan.), whose Republicans won a majority on Nov. 8.
Mitchell said he believes that Texas billionaire Ross Perot will make another bid for the presidency in 1996, ultimately aiding Clinton. Perot captured 19% of the vote in 1992, and Clinton won the election with 43% to incumbent President George Bush’s 38%.
Mitchell said one of Clinton’s difficulties now is that he has no particular opponent and is being measured against voters’ abstract ideals of the presidency.
When an opponent is nominated by the Republicans, Mitchell said, “You’ll see a person against a person, and in that context I think Bill Clinton will win.”
Paul E. Tsongas, among Clinton’s 1992 primary opponents, is promoting the idea of a third party, led by the independent candidacy of Colin L. Powell, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Mitchell and departing House Speaker Thomas S. Foley (D-Wash.), also appearing on “Meet the Press,” said Powell could be a tough rival for Clinton.
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