nelaan One hundred four years of editorial freedom Uti Showdown '94 at the ballot box Republicans favored in tight races The Baltimore Sun WASHINGTON - An election that could profoundly change the bal- ance of U.S. politics reaches polling booths today after the most expensive - and one of the meanest- midterm campaigns on record. Odds favor a Republican takeovr 4 the Senate, according to politicians both parties, and a Republican take- over of the House appears within reach too. Republicans have a good chance, as well, to gain a majority of state governorships for the first time since 1970. The GOP controlled the Senate in the 1980s but there has not been a Republican majority in the House during the lifetime of most Ameri- *ns. The last was in 1954, in Presi- dent Eisenhower's first term. At least 130 House races could still go either way, analysts say, but recent national polls show a strong tide of Republican support. When voters are asked which party they favor in their congressional district, more answer Republican than Demo- crat, the first time that has happened 40 years. Democratic control of the House "is gone, or near gone," predicts poll- ster Alan Secrest, who has advised Democratic candidates in more than 30 congressional districts this year. He said he would be surprised if Re- publicans gain fewer than 35 seats; a 40-seat pickup would give Republi- cans the majority in the House. Odds that Republicans will take *er the House are improving and are now at least 40 percent, says Charles Cook, a former Democratic campaign official who publishes an indepen- dent political newsletter. "My gut tells me that they're prob- ably going to get there," said Cook, who rates 59 contests fo Democratic- held seats as toss-ups, vs. 14 for Re- publican-held seats. Another independent analyst, fuart Rothenberg, predicts a Repub- lican gain of between 35 and 40 seats and says that control of the House is now "too close to call." Both men predict that Republi- cans will win the seven Senate seats they need to gain control of that body. Yesterday, Democrats from Presi- dent Clinton on down were waging a f nal desperate effort to hold back the publican wave. Their itineraries, and those of lead- ing Republicans such as Senate Mi- nority Leader Bob Dole, provided the best clues to the states that hold the keys to the election results: Michi- See GOP, Page 2 Clinton stumps on Flint campus By MICHELLE LEE THOMPSON Daily Staff Reporter FLINT - Working to sway the outcome of a race that may hold the key to the balance of power in Con- gress, President Clinton stopped at the University's Flint campus yester- day to campaign for U.S. Senate can- didate Bob Carr and other Demo- cratic candidates. Clinton, who spoke for about five minutes, emphasized the importance of the open seat, vacated by 18-year veteran Democrat Donald Riegle. With many tight races nationwide, the Michigan election could deter- mine the Senate's majority. Carr said that a majority leader must be elected by Democrats to carry out the party's promises. "Mr. President, you're doing what you said you'd do," Carr said before Clinton took the podium. "While (Republicans) have talked, we have acted," Clinton said. Clinton heralded the actions of congressional and local Democrats over the last two years, asserting they have voted to improve education and family values while cutting taxes and the unemployment rate. "We still have a lot of problems in this country, but we're a lot better off than 21 months ago," Clinton said. Clinton's get-out-the-vote visit - on the day before the election - might prove significant for Carr's campaign. Owen Bieber, national UAW president, said, "It's down to the wire and there are three things that will determine who wins and who loses - turnout, turnout, turnout." Gubernatorial candidate Howard Wolpe said he thought Clinton's ap- pearance would increase turnout and See CLINTON, Page 7 'U' students appalled by mudslinging, By SCOT WOODS Daily Staff Reporter After casting their votes today, University students will go home and shower off the mud, An unscientific survey con- ducted by the Daily showed that regardless of candidate prefer- ences or interest in the election, students are appalled by the level of negative campaigning this year. Also, University students would elect virtually every Demo- cratic candidate on the ballot. Eighty-two people responded to the Daily's survey, which was con- ducted yesterday afternoon in and around the Fishbowl: The survey asked respondents four questions. If our poll were the official election, Howard Wolpe would unseat Gov. John Engler in a shocker, 55 percent to 26 percent. The U.S. Senate race would be closer, but U.S. Rep. Bob Carr (D- East Lansing) would win with 46 percent of the vote, to Republican Spence Abraham's 27 percent. A third-party dark horse, Libertar- ian Jon Coon, would ride in with 10 percent of the vote. In the 13th Congressional Dis- trict, Democrat Lynn Rivers would walk all over Republican John Schall, Democrat Alma Wheeler Smith would trounce Republican Joe Mikulec, and Democrats would also win the state House See VOTERS, Page 7 President Clinton waves on Democratic supporters while campaigning for Bob Carr yesterday in Flint. ~'Ustudents ignord at visit By MICHELLE LEE THOMPSON Daily Staff Reporter FLINT - It was only six days ago that President Clinton last came to Michigan to stump for state Demo- cratic candidates. Last week, it was the University's Dearborn campus where he campaigned and met with University President James J. Duder- stadt. Yesterday, with Hillary Rodham Clinton at his side, the president ral- lied on the University's Flint campus on the eve of Election Day._ The president did not visit the University's main campus in Ann Arbor, as his stops had little to do with rallying for the student vote so much as getting out the votes of union mem- bers and other special-interest groups. Although about 500 students at- tended yesterday's rally at Flint's Recreation Center, many were left standing out in the cold, as the gym quickly filled with UAW members, longtime Democrat supporters and teen-aged guests. . Students were not notified of Clinton's visit until Sunday night so many were unable to rearrange class schedules. "It's a double-edged sword," said Chris Gordon, a sophomore at the University's Flint campus. "It is a good thing for our community, but I know a lot of students being hindered from coming because they had exams or couldn't find a place to park. It could have been more planned out." Gordon and fraternity members volunteered at the event, helping Se- cret Service agents manage the crowd. See STUDENTS, Page 7 NewsAnalysis 104th Congress will be gnlocked, more partisan By DAVID SHEPARDSON Daily News Editor As one of the bitterest and most negative midterm campaigns in re- cent memory gives way to Election Day, voters are disillusioned by can- didates preaching legerdemain invec- tives and issueless electronic clap- trap. Heading to the voting booth to- day, voters expect little from all the king's horses and all the king's men. Some are running to put Congress back together again, while others look to smash it to pieces. While Republicans are trying to make the election a referendum on President Clinton and Democrats seek to scare voters into believing the GOP will return to Reaganomics and cut their Social Security checks, one thing is clear hours before the polls close - the next Congress will be deadlocked. Set against a poisoned environ- ment filled with the weight of unde- liverable promises, action on major policies - like health care, welfare, lobbying and campaign reform - will stammer while interest-group politics may prove the death-knell of reform. With Republicans looking to take control of the U.S. Senate and effec- tive - if not numerical - control of the U.S. House, the fractious political polemics of the 103rd Congress will likely pale in comparison to the can- tankerous caterwauling and outright gridlock in the 104th Congress. "What this adds up to is a highly polarized Congress that engages in a great deal of posturing and trench raids and unconventional warfare," said Ross K. Baker, a Rutgers Uni- versity political scientist who spe- cializes in the relationship between the White House and Congress. A cynical electorate, fed up by entrenched congressional incumbents and Democrats in general, are look- ing to throw 'da bums - the political class - out. In its place, a cacophony of inexperienced vacuous empty suits is spending money hand over fist to convince voters of the very incompe- tence of the body they seek to serve in. In Tennessee, Bill Frist, a heart and lung surgeon who has never held political office and did not register to vote until 1988, seeks to replace Sen. Jim Sasser, who is vying to lead the Senate Democrats. In California, U.S. Rep. Michael Huffington, who essen- tially purchased a House seat in 1992, has spent more than $30 million on a barrage of negative ads. And in Vir- ginia, convicted liar Oliver North is running in a tug-of-mud war with See ANALYSIS, Page 7 Rev. Jackson urges on Black voters in Detroit DETROIT (AP) - Failing to vote is like entering into a form of voluntary slavery, the Rev. Jesse Jackson told an tction-eve rally at a church yesterday. Later, President Clinton joined Democrats Bob Carr and Howard Wolpe for a rally at the University's Flint campus, while Gov. John Engler joined fellow Republi- can Spence Abraham on a sweep from west to east. The last-minute campaigning came amid poll results showing Engler far ahead of Wolpe in the governor's race and Abraham leading Carr in the Senate race. Many people are turned off by mean-spirited negative campaigning this year, Jackson told about 100 people at a breakfast meeting at Christ Cornerstone Missionary aptist Church on Detroit's east side. "The response should not be get drunk and hide. It should be get sober and fight," he said. The 1994 election is the nation's most important since Lyndon Johnson and Barry Goldwater fought for the presidency in 1964, Jackson said. "Thirty years of progress is being weighed in the Many Americans disgruntled with Dems, GOP; turn to Libertarians By MAUREEN SIRHAL Daily Staff Reporter Land of the free, and freedom they want. The Libertarian Party has gained momen- tum during the last year as voters have grown disenchanted with the two major political par- ties. "People are tired of government encroach- ing on their personal lives. They're tired of both major parties increasing," said Joann Karpinski, chair of the Wayne County Libertarian Party. The United States has traditionally main- tained a two-party system. Although it has seen the birth of many third and fourth parties, the power to these parties often fades or loses its membership. However, with the current disillusionment of constituents, the Libertarian Party has found an increase in its membership. "It's a whole new grass-roots image," Karpinski said. "There really is a strong support base." Karpinski is working for U.S. Senate candi- date Jon Coon. If Coon receives 5 percent of the vote, cast in the secretary of state's race, the Libertarian party will be eligible to hold pri- mary elections, thus attaining major-party sta- tus. Polls going into today's election show Coon should be able to do that. They indicate him getting 5 to 7 percent of the vote in that five-way See LIBERTARIANS, Page 2 LSA committee to draft integrity pledge By LISA DINES Daily Staff Reporter Altnn ih th-. I NA f>,rt ii ift j n tedto h y. ih. a it a.. T9