Who's for President?
With the end of the political truce after Presi- dent Kennedy's murder, and the coming of an election year, the pollsters in the United States are going to town. On the Republican side the position is complicated by the fact that there are at least half a dozen runners and no one quite knows how many of them really want the nomination. Just like Blackpool. The Goldwater dream has faded a little: no doubt because President Lyndon Johnson would be expected to win the South, and the GOP must concentrate on the North-East and the big States. The polls show President Johnson lengths ahead of Gold- water, Romney, Rockefeller and Scranton. Only Mr. Nixon comes within hailing distance. After all, he did run President Kennedy to one-tenth of 1 per cent of the popular vote. As of. now he seems the best bet. But it is remarkable how the name of Mr. McNamara keeps cropping up in the conversation of those visitors from Washington who belong to what are called 'well- informed circles.' Both Democrats and Republi- cans are getting in on the aot, and hinting that Mr. McNamara might be found on their ticket. As once happened to General Eisenhower, both parties would like to claim Mr. McNamara for their own. My own forecast? At this stage, Presi- dent Johnson v. Mr. Nixon with President John- son to win. But I would be reasonably certain that I would wish to hedge my bets long before November, 1964.
QUOODLE
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