Tuesday, August 31. 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A • Page 7
Nation/World
Gore camp gearing up for fall
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON—Al Gore and his retooled presidential campaign team are putting the finishing touches on a fall strategy designed to sharpen his muddled message and reassure jittery Democrats with displays of raw political force.
Advisers say the next two months are critical for the vice president, who stumbled out of the gates, struggled with overcoaching from his staff and now faces a stronger-than-expected challenge for the Democratic nomination.
"What we're trying to do now is show that AI has broad-based support and that he's ready for a general (election) campaign," campaign chairman Tony Coelho said.
To put it more simply, Gore and his advisers are trying to show that they've finally got their act together.
up into focus groups - to devise better language and tactics to get his
The Gore team spent the summer polling voters — and rounding them
message across.
message across.
They also laid out plans for a flurry of endorsements in September and October to highlight Gore's advantage in the battle for the party's core voters: blacks, Hispanics, labor and elected officials.
Coelho, hired in May to bring
Gore: Will narrow his campaign's focus.
discipline to the effort, made several staff changes and drew clear lines of authority all of which pass through his office. The former California lawmaker likes to tell the story about one of the first trips he took with Gore. Minutes before a
speech, Coelho noticed an aide scribbling a long list of VIPs that Gore would acknowledge in his remarks.
Recognizing a recipe for another dull speech, Coelho ripped the paper out of the started aide's hands and tore it into shreds. He pulled the vice president aside and told him to forget about the notes.
"Just tell the people thank you," Coelho told Gore. "Then tell them a few stories. And tell them what you believe."
He has ordered staff to put Gore in cozier settings with fewer people. No note cards. Fewer lecterns.
"At times he needs a podium, obviously. At times he needs to be — Whoop! — vice president." Coelho said, holding himself ramrod straight to imitate his boss. "But most of the time he doesn't need to be. And I think to a great extent the system hurt him and his ability to project what he really feels."
A summer's worth of polling has
helped the campaign narrow its focus from a laundry list of proposals to a select few that impact voters' lives.
About 70 Democrats in Congress already have announced their support for Gore, but campaign aides are rounding up more for a big wave of fall endorsements.
A senior Democrat on Capitol Hill said Gore could expect up to 120 House members to endorse him in time for a fall announcement, though there are still pockets of lawmakers anxious about Gore's campaign.
Separate endorsement events are scheduled for black and Hispanic leaders. Campaign aides speaking on condition of anonymity said they were confident Jesse Jackson would endorse Gore this fall. They also expected to secure the support of entertainer Bill Cosby. An AFL-CIO endorsement in October would cement Gore's sometimes shaky standing with labor. Aides say they will get it.
East Timorese vote on independence
The Associated Press
DILI, Indonesia—After four centuries of neglectful Portuguese colonial rule and 24 years of military repression under Indonesia, East Timorese voters overcame fears of violence and intimidation to cast ballots yesterday on possible independence.
The historic U.N.-supervised referendum began soon after dawn at 200 polling centers across the territory, which takes up half an island in Southeast Asia.
Half of the more than 451,000 people who registered to vote went to the polling centers in the first 30 minutes, said U.N. spokesman David Wimhurst. Many had sat outside polling places for hours beforehand.
"The turnout has been strong and early," he said. "There have been no reports of trouble. People want to exercise their democratic rights."
But that doesn't mean the vote was without trouble.
Ian Martin, head of the U.N.
Assistance Mission in East Timor,
sald many people were too afraid to
leave their homes in the western district of Maliana, which was rocked by deadly attacks by anti-independence militias last week.
As a result, Martin said, strict precautions were being taken to ensure voting was conducted in secrecy, lessening the chances of intimidation.
Among those who registered to vote were 13,000 East Timorese living abroad.
They are being asked if they want their impoverished homeland to remain part of Indonesia as an autonomous region or to break away completely.
Tensions continued between pro- and anti-independence gangs in the territory, located 1,250 miles from Jakarta. Violence between the two sides has marred the referendum campaign for weeks.
A last-minute U.N. brokered peace deal was broken just hours after it was struck on Sunday. A separatist mob stabbed to death two members of an anti-independence militia gang, militia leaders said. Their bodies have not been found.
Early Monday, two houses were
burned and militiamen fired shots in west Dili, witnesses said. There were no reports of injuries.
Dozens of people have been killed in violence this year and some 60,000 have fled their homes in fear, amid attacks on civilians and U.N. staff by anti-independence gangs. Many independent activists were too scared to actively promote their cause after their offices were trashed.
Jailed separatist leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao called for a big turnout, amid fears that many pro-independence voters might stay away from the polls because of the violence.
"Let us not be afraid. East Timor depends on the courage and conviction we demonstrate today," Gusmao said.
Long and orderly lines formed outside of polling centers in Dili, the territory's capital. Indonesian police officers, who are tasked with keeping the peace, carried automatic weapons and stood guard at most centers.
Unarmed U.N. police advisers and independent observers also kept watch.
Independence activists say most
East Timorese want independence. They accuse sections of Indonesia's army of supporting the anti-independence militias in a campaign to scare people away from the polls.
Belo and U.N. Assistance Mission in East Timor chief Iian Martin were hopeful most registered voters would come to the polls.
In their deal struck Sunday night, pro- and anti-independence militia leaders had agreed that their supporters would not carry weapons in public and would eventually disarm. They promised to abide by the result, which is expected to be announced by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan before or on Sept. 7.
President B.J. Habibie went on nationwide television Sunday to urge voters to reject independence.
"To our brothers and sisters in East Timor, I ask (you) to remain united in building a brighter future with the brothers and sisters from other regions," Habibie said. Habibie has pledged to respect whatever the outcome.
Habibie said he would allow East Timor independence if it rejects an Indonesian plan for autonomy.
Rock Chalk Revue Advisory Board is now taking applications for:
Ad Layout Coordinator
Program Coordinator
Members at Large
Applications available in the O&L office. Due Friday, Sept. 3 at 5pm.
STUDENT THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS SENATE
Attention Students!!!
You Are Invited to the 1st Meeting of the Year! Committee Orientation September 8.1999
6:00 p.m.
Kansas Union Ballroom
Reminder: You can pick up applications in the Student Senate Office. Applications are due September 3,1999.
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