Pundits See Clinton Victory

Despite their history of feuding at the highest levels of party politics, two prominent political consultants joined together in predicting a landslide victory for Democratic presidental candidate Gov. Bill Clinton.

Democrat Bob Beckel, who managed Walter Mondale's campaign in 1984, and Republican Ed Rollins who directed Ronald Reagan's campaign that same year, agreed that President Bush's re-election effort has been poorly planned and ineffective.

"[Bush] is in the lowest common denominator style of politics," Rollins said. "It's a campaign that they didn't really have to lose."

The men spoke to a standingroom only crowd last night at the Kennedy School of Government in an event sponsored by the Institute of Politics.

Rollins and Beckel, who have traveled the country on a speaking tour, both expressed dissatisfaction with Bush's performance over the past four years.

"I believe it will be an electoral college landslide," said Beckel, who called Bush's campaign "lousy."

"[Clinton] is the center," Rollins said, who had a served a stormy 45 days at the helm of Ross Perot's campaign early this summer. "He is his own campaign manager. He understands the mood of the country."

Rollins said that, nevertheless, he would vote for Bush as "a good Republican."

Despite the attention paid last night to Bush's campaign style, Beckel maintained that Bush's bid to remain in the White House would be in jeopardy regardless of his campaign.

"I'm a firm believer in cyclical politics, and this cycle has been going on for 24 years," Beckel said. "The cycle has come to an end."

Beckel minced no words, comparing the incumbent to the rich men for whom he used to carry golf clubs.

"Cheap bastards never tip more than a buck," Beckel said.

The evening was light in tone, with the two friends ribbing each other over everything from Beckel's failed campaign for Mondale to Rollins' work with Perot.

"Between us we spent 215 million bucks" in the 1984 campaign, said Beckel, "minelegally."

Rollins shot back later, "If I had spent moneyillegally we would've got Minnesota." In 1984,Mondale carried only his home state of Minnesotaand the District of Columbia.

Both analysts criticized Perot, and Beckelprofessed a personal dislike for the Texasbillionaire, calling him "that jug-eared jerk fromDallas" and "the biggest fraud who ever lived."

Rollins did little to defend his formeremployer, saying Perot's allegations of furtherRepublican "dirty tricks" was politically inane.

"I think the guy just goes through periodswhere he's obsessed with things he can't control,"Rollins said.

Beckel praised Rollins for refusing a largepayment that Perot allegedly promised if Rollinswould remain silent until after the election.

"Dear Ross," Beckel said Rollins wrote on thecontract proposal, " `F' you. Best wishes, Ed."

"I'm quite proud of him that he did that,"Beckel said.

Both analysts also condemned Perot for choosingretired Vice Admiral James Stockdale as hisrunningmate, and in particular for subjecting himto the contentious vice-presidential debate.

Rollins described Stockdale as a brilliant manwhose age and health problems have simply caughtup with him. Rollins said he had seen Stockdalehave a seizure in a campaign meeting.

"He is a 67-year-old man in an 85-year-oldbody," Rollins said. "Ross Perot deserves a reallybad mark for putting that man through that."

Beckel agreed, adding that Stockdale hassuffered a number of strokes and was ill-preparedfor the grind of a campaign or debate.

"Subjecting him to that was sinful, to say theleast," Beckel said

Rollins shot back later, "If I had spent moneyillegally we would've got Minnesota." In 1984,Mondale carried only his home state of Minnesotaand the District of Columbia.

Both analysts criticized Perot, and Beckelprofessed a personal dislike for the Texasbillionaire, calling him "that jug-eared jerk fromDallas" and "the biggest fraud who ever lived."

Rollins did little to defend his formeremployer, saying Perot's allegations of furtherRepublican "dirty tricks" was politically inane.

"I think the guy just goes through periodswhere he's obsessed with things he can't control,"Rollins said.

Beckel praised Rollins for refusing a largepayment that Perot allegedly promised if Rollinswould remain silent until after the election.

"Dear Ross," Beckel said Rollins wrote on thecontract proposal, " `F' you. Best wishes, Ed."

"I'm quite proud of him that he did that,"Beckel said.

Both analysts also condemned Perot for choosingretired Vice Admiral James Stockdale as hisrunningmate, and in particular for subjecting himto the contentious vice-presidential debate.

Rollins described Stockdale as a brilliant manwhose age and health problems have simply caughtup with him. Rollins said he had seen Stockdalehave a seizure in a campaign meeting.

"He is a 67-year-old man in an 85-year-oldbody," Rollins said. "Ross Perot deserves a reallybad mark for putting that man through that."

Beckel agreed, adding that Stockdale hassuffered a number of strokes and was ill-preparedfor the grind of a campaign or debate.

"Subjecting him to that was sinful, to say theleast," Beckel said