THE HARRIS SURVEY SCHWEI KER CHOICE HURTS REAGAN *-r Release: Auguet 12, 1976 By Louis Earris b Ronald ~eagan'sspectacular choice of Sen. Richard Schweikar as his running mate has hurt Reagan's standing among his potential rank-and-file supporters, according to the latest Harris Survey..

A cross section of 611 Republicans and independents now gives a 63-311 preference lead over his challenger, the widest the President has enjoyed in the past year, and 12 points more than last month.

Obviously, this popular reaction to the Schweiker choice cannot be taken as an accurate indication of what will happen to the delegate count at the convention in Kansas City next week. But it does indicate the kinds of pressures the delegates are likely to feel from the folks back home when they make their final decisions in next Wednesday's roll call.

Significantly, Republicans alone now prefer the President by 63-331, up from 58-371 in July. Among con- servative Republicans and independents, the Ford lead has jumped from 54-421 in July to a much wider 56-35%. Looking at conservatives alone, one finds that many who previously supported Reagan are now "undecided", though they have not moved over to Ford. This is a sure sign that they were dismayed by the Reagan choice of Schweiker.

Indeed, Reagan can find little encouragement anywhere across the whole Republican spectrum. Though a 53% majority of Republicans say the Reagan move did not change their basic views about him, a substantial 33% think "les~"of Reagan for picking Schweiker, while only 5% think '"more" of him. Among GOP moderates and liberals, only 3% think "more" of him, while 25% think lese.

Damaging to Reagan was the reaction among his strongest supporters. By picking Schweiker, he made 22% of Republican conservatives feel that he is "less conservative."

He also did not compensate among liberal and moderate Republicans; only 12% now feel that the former California governor is "less conservative."

While the overall reaction to the Schweiker announcement was negative, it is apparent that it had its worst impact among Republicans in general and among conservative Republicans in particular. It is clear that many of than think ~eagihas seriously compromised his reputation for being a man of high principle as far as his ideological 9-4 political commitments are concerned.

L TABLES

Between and August 4, the Harris Survey aeked a croes section of 611 Republican and independent voters: "~onaldReagan has announced that if he is nominated to run as President by the Republicans, he will name U.S. Sen. Richard Schweiker of Pennsylvania as his running mate for vice president. Does Reagan picking Schweiker as his running mate make you think more of Reagan as a presidential candidate, lees, or doesn't it make much difference?" EFFECT OF SCIIWEIKER SELECTION ON REAGAN No Not Think pore Think less Difference Sure X X X X Total Republicans and independ=nts Republicans Conservatives tliddle of the road Liberal Independents

The Harris Survey then asked: "lJ.S.-Sen. Schweiker is a Republican liberal. ie kn0~as a conservative. Does Reagan picking Schweiker as his running mate make you feel Reagan is less conservative than you did, or doesn't it make much difference?" DOES PICKING SCHWEIKER MAKE REAGAN LESS CONSERVATIVE? --Less More No Difference . Not Sure X X X X Total Republicans and independents 15 2 75 8 Republicans 18 3 71 8 Conservative 22 2 68 8 Middle of the Road 13 1 78 8 Liberal 11 5 75 9 Independents 11 1 78 10 In the face-off question, the Harris Survey asked all Republican and independent voters: "AS you know, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan are running for the Republican nomination for President. If .you had to choose right now, would you prefer Ford or Reagan as the Republican nominee for President in 19761"

FORD VS. REAGAN TREND (Republicans and independents) -Ford Reagan Not sure 4: X X August 1976 July June &Y April Feb. /March January Nov./Dec. 1975 Aug.1 Sept. 1975

Copyright 1976 by the Chicago Tribune. World Rights Reserved. 16: 67