•• • • ••••••■ ...A.-- • • •••••••"0,1-- •VAL•••••"••••••-•.MMOPM.••••%•-•••• •• C4 THE PHILA What to watch for in the By Nathan Gorenstein INQUIRERSTAFT WRITER S. Sen. has Bush, Clinton, ads and the the money. He has the en- dorsements and he's been • on the attack. His cam- economy could all be important. paignU staff is the more experienced. And for months he, not opponent Lynn Yeakel, has controlled the terms of the campaign. pected. it is to him Americans look when the But other elements are also at play. • economy ails. If Bush offers no credi- They carry far more influence ble solution, he stands a good chance than the endorsement of any Demo- The economy. With of losing Pennsylvania, where the cratic politician who has switched suffering from a 8.2 percent unem- state Republican campaign has gotten sides, and they are more powerful ployment rate, the Specter camp is off to a slow and disorganized start. than any attack Specter, the Republi- worried. During Specter's victorious Yeakel has sought 's can, has yet made on Yeakel's credi- race against Democrat Pete Flaherty help for her campaign. She joined his in 1980 — in the midst of a recession bility. recent bus tour in Western Pennsylva- blamed on Jimmy Carter — the state Many are elements that should nia and will soon campaign with Hilla- unemployment rate was 8.5 percent. benefit Yeakel, the Democrat. ry Clinton. A Clinton victory could Yeakel is working hard reminding Consider that there is high unem- help propel Yeakel past any road- voters that Specter was in Washing- ployment in Pennsylvania, an unpop- blocks Specter throws up. If Clinton ton while tens of thousands of steel ular Republican president, anti-in- wins the state by a significant margin jobs disappeared in Western Penn- — say 300,000 or 400,000 votes out of cumbency fever throughout the sylvania and federal urban funding nation and a call for more women in four-and-a-half million cast — Yea- dried up. kel's chances are enhanced. Congress. And although Specter did Pennsylvania's voter registration control the public dialogue during is another factor. Democrats out- Women. The media have done story the summer, many voters probably number Republicans, and when were not paying attention. after story about this being the year times get tough, voters may turn to of the woman politician. It's been So good luck guessing who is going the party historically considered the to win. heralded before, only to disappear on economic lifesaver for regular folks. Election Day. Still, this year could be Here are the forces to watch for in The last reading on unemployment the weeks leading to the Nov. 3 elec- different. Anita Hill may prove a before the election will come on Oct. symbol of all the slights and aggrava- tion. Particular attention should be 2. If the jobless rate goes up, watch paid to television ads. Specter has tions women feel they have suffered for a reaction — maybe a new bar- at the hands of ignorant males. To been on the air since July 29, while rage of attack television commer- Yeakel has not aired a single com- put it more bluntly, Specter could cials — from Specter. become a lightning rod for anger mercial. . One caution. Politics is unpredict- over every unwanted dirty joke and The presidential race. This turns lewd remark. able, and something unimagined on the economy, too. There are 100 could skid the race into the unex- Last Thursday, Terese Tiboni. 55, a senators, but only one president, and substitute teacher in Wilkes-Barre •••••"'" "`"TM"'`4"e","","..0 "..r-f•••.•fr•rwfr--,er• • r-e*--- — - - DELPHIA INQUIRER Sunday, September 13, 1992 Senate race's final months

who was attending a rally where rael, a tactic that plays on Jewish membership, Paul Yeakel —,Pnot Yeakel appeared, wasn't sure fears and worries. Lynn — has club voting rights,.aid whether the candidate was a Demo- Although only 3 percent or less of Yeakel aides. crat or a Republican and was uncom- the state's population, Jews vote at a fortable about supporting a woman high rate and are major donors to the Television advertisements.:.*fihe just because she was a woman. "I Democratic Party. If Specter can per- question is whether Specter will go don't like to be prejudiced," she said. suade them to sit on their hands — or negative. Everyone thinks so, if only But, she went on, "There are a lot of even better, raise money for him — he because the ammunition is so irre- needs to be met, and men can't con- will deprive Yeakel of crucial support. sistible — taxes. The day before:Tea- ceive of them all." That attitude Yeakel, who is expected to be heavily kel announced her candidackr,, ishe could spell danger for Specter. outspent by Specter, needs all the cash paid $17,856 in back taxes, including she can get. $11,059 in Philadelphia wage .taxes Change. The word has already be- on the salary she earned at Women's come a cliche, what with Clinton African Americans. Specter hopes Way, the Philadelphia-based wom- promising it, Bush assuring voters he to get at least 25 percent of the black en's charity. knows they want it, and Yeakel offer- vote, maybe more. The question is, Yeakel says she never knew she ing the campaign slogan "Courage for how large will black turnout be this owed the wage taxes, which may a change." Do voters really care? Ask year? And will blacks be swayed by strain the credulity of city residents Lt. Gov. , whom Yeakel attacks intended to question Yeakel's who have paid the tax for decides beat in the April primary. commitment to racial equality? and the suburban commutervivho But not every incumbent is going Those attacks anger Yeakel, who says pay it and hate it. It is also an attack to be tossed out of office, and Specter she'll go to Washington to "represent ad Specter can run without Being is betting he can separate himself the underrepresented." charges of dirty politics. from Bush, Ronald Reagan and the The black community goes to the The power of advertising was stumbling economy. On television, polls recalling 12 years of Republi- proved last April by Yeakel, who won he has stressed that he has used the can presidents, Willie Horton ads the primary election with a three- system for Pennsylvania's benefit, and lost inner-city jobs, so don't ex- week television campaign. But this but some Democrats argue it's an pect Specter to let up. Last week his time she is running in a general error for Specter to remind voters staff released copies of a member- election against a well-known incum- that he is a Washington insider. Oth- ship list from the Waynesborough bent, and political professionals of ers ask what else a two-term incum- Country Club, where Yeakel and her both parties say she should not be bent can do. husband, Paul, have played golf and allowing his ads to go unchallenged. Specter could find himself repre- tennis since 1973, and which has no Specter started advertising in July. senting everything the voters sup- African American members. Yeakel aides won't say when she'll posedly don't want — older, white In interviews, Yeakel has typically start. She may be having trouble rais- guy, professional politicians. called it "Paul's membership," al- ing money. While last month Yeakel though conceding she used the club. was promising a campaign ' that Jews. Jews were part of Specter's The documents show Yeakel and her would cost $3.5 million to $4 million, base in the past. Specter is fighting to husband have a family membership last week she dropped that ':to a keep them there with an. attack that — at a higher price than the "single straight $3.5 million. Specter will'eas- questions Yeakel's commitment to Is- golf" membership. Under the family fly spend twice that.