By the end of March 1996, almost three quarters of delegates to the Republican national convention will have been picked in a string of primaries packed into seven weeks, covering almost every important state, including California, Texas, New York and Florida.No longer will a candidate have the luxury of putting up an unexpectedly good showing in Iowa or New Hampshire eight days later, enabling him to finance himself as he goes along. Just 20 days earlier, the former vice president, Dan Quayle, had to all intents and purposes declared his candidacy. Now he joins two other former Bush administration officials, Jack Kemp and Dick Cheney, fancied contenders both, who dropped out when faced with the daunting financial arithmetic of running for the White House in 1996.
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The first primary, or more properly caucuses, to be held in Iowa, takes place next February. The first presidential primary for the Republicans is already under way, not in Iowa or New Hampshire but on the rubber chicken circuit - a chase not for votes but for money Last week the money primary claimed another victim. A tacit agreement had emerged to keep the topic out of the coming campaign. But the Christian Coalition, standard-bearer of the religious right, served notice it would not back any Republican presidential candidate who did not oppose abortion.. But abortion is now centre stage in the run-up to the 1996 election, and threatens to reopen the rift between the conservative and moderate wings of the party.The Republicans' defeat in 1992 is partly ascribed to internal feuding on abortion and other social issues.
Since then views have changed, and Dr Foster's views have changed as well."For all the respect Dr Foster commands among his peers, even the administration's wellwishers are astounded that it did not foresee the controversy his involvement with abortion would arouse. The appointment of a not especially important official has become a gruesome spectacle, distracting attention from other issues and advertising the very White House shortcomings which Mr Panetta's arrival was supposed to correct.One consolation for Mr Clinton is that the affair could cause major problems for the Republicans For the moment they are united against Dr Foster. Mistakes had been made, "but Dr Foster too is in this to the end. He is a good man, he ought to be given a chance for this nomination."Mr Panetta insisted the fact that the 61-year old obstetrician-gynaecologist had carried out hysterectomies on a small number of mentally retarded patients had not affected Mr Clinton's support "This was accepted medical practice in the 1970s. "We will fight for this nomination," Leon Panetta, the White House Chief of Staff, declared yesterday. While Republicans quietly delighted in Mr Clinton's embarrassment, even normally loyal Democrats were publicly and savagely critical of how the White House had handled proceedings. Even so, there is no sign the nomination will be withdrawn, despite the nearly unanimous view across Washington's political spectrum that Dr Foster cannot be confirmed. The new disclosure capped a disastrous week for Mr Clinton and his advisers, summoning memories of the bungling and sloppy staff work of the early months of his administration.
Washington - The White House is braced for a further tide of opposition against Henry Foster, following the revelation that Bill Clinton's nominee for Surgeon-General, already criticised for having performed abortions, had sterilized a number of severely retarded women in the 1970s, writes Rupert Cornwell. "If he doesn't come on board, it's his fault."That's not as easy as it sounds. Wasn't it Bill Clinton who promised to make his administration "look more like America"?. And some are hoping that the sting will be drawn by the early passage of Republican-sponsored anti- affirmative laws through the state legislature.As Mr Woods and Mr Custred sit there, a stone's throw from the University of California at Berkeley - seeding-ground of 1960s radicalism - they seem pleased with the notion that they are at the cutting-edge of a movement that is sweeping America.They insist they are not driven by any partisan motive - Mr Custred says he is a conservative-leaning independent, while Mr Woods is a registered Republican - but they are not losing sleep over the possible damage they could inflict on President Clinton."It's a wrong policy and if the Democrats are stubborn enough to maintain it, then they will be swept away," said Mr Custred.
