Networks Are Asked to Delay Calling Race

Republican governors from nine Western states urged the television networks Friday to refrain from declaring a winner in the presidential race until after polls close in the West.

Network officials said they would stick to their plans for Tuesday night, giving no indication that they would abide by the request to wait until 8 p.m. PST to call the race.

Network representatives have said they won’t declare a winner in any state until that state’s polls have closed--or a presidential winner until there are votes from enough states to give a candidate the required 270 electoral votes.

But it’s considered likely that if President Clinton’s solid poll lead holds up, enough states will be decided quickly to declare a national winner before the polls close in the West.