Page 14-Wednesddy, July 30, 1980-The Michigan Daily Carter camp appeals to Dems for confab help From UPland AP WASHINGTON - President Carter's campaign lieutenants made an im- passioned appeal to congressional Democrats yesterday to support the president in the face of threatened defections at the party's national con- vention next month. As rebellious Democrats in Congress pursued their drive to enlist backers for an open convention that might produce an alternative to Carter as the Democratic presidential nominee, Republicans said the biggest beneficiary of the "dump Carter" movement was clearly their candidate, Ronald Reagan. BUT PAUL KIRK, national political director for Sen. Edward Kennedy, told reporters it was unrealistic to expect the Democratic nominee would be anyone other than Kennedy or Carter. He predicted there would be an open convention, and that Kennedy would benefit. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Ed- mund Muskie, mentioned as a possible alternative to Carter, said yesterday he supports his boss "all the way." Muskie, a former senator from Maine who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1972, issued a statement in response to reports that some party members would like to see him instead of Carter at the head of the presidential ticket this year. "I ACCEPTED the appointment as secretary of state to serve the country and to serve the president," he said. "I iMICH IGAN Thee I Sing Kaufman and Gershwin's Piliter Prize winning musi- cal is perfect for this elec- tion year It follows an us conventional candidate and his lively presidential cam- gn with the slogan "Put Lve in the White House" July 30, August 1,7, 9 OPENS TONIGHT AT 8 PM POWER CENTER PTP Ticket Office-MI League, Noon- 5 pm, M-F. Master Charge & VISA by phone: 763-0450. Power Center box office opens at16 pm (763-3333) OPENSTOMORROW: LA RONDE continue to serve the president and I will supporthim all the way." The last five words of the statement were underlined. But Muskie, who became secretary of state in May when Cyrus Vance resigned, said nothing about what he would do if there was a move to nominate him. Vice President Walter Mondale issued a statement on thesubject Mon- day, disavowing outright any interest in becoming the Democratic nominee. BUT A GROUP of Democratic congressmen who want Carter to free his delegtes from the obligation to vote for him on the first convention ballot met again yesterday to map strategy and count their latest converts. Muskie and Mondale are two of the men most prominently mentioned by the rebel Democrats as alternatives to Carter or Sen. Edward Kennedy. Two others are Rep. Morris Udall of Arizona and Sen. Henry Jackson of Washington. Jackson talked with Connecticut Gov. Ella Grasso yesterday morning and she later told a news conference in Har- tford, Conn., she favors an open con- vention. Grasso, who has long been a Carter supporter, said she remains confident the president would win renominationogt even if he freed the more than 1,900 delegates pledged to him, and that such Republican presidential candidate P a move would forestall "great questions as he walks in Los Angeles. acrimony, bitterness and difficulty" at leaders of the "Committee on the PreE the convention s a major buildup of U.S. defense forces, Openconvention Continued from Page 3) really have time to do what they want to the convention. He cited the depar- do." tures of anti-Carter lobbyists by stating All three University sources cited the the ageless poker axiom, "The winner lack of a strong alternative to Carter as asks what time it is and the losers say another problem with an open conven- 'deal."' tion. Besides, they concurred, Carter is Grassmuok expressed fears that con- not out of the November race yet - all tinued "tinkering" with the nominating see him narrowing the gap between process of the Democratic Party would himself and Reagan from now until be dangerous. "More of this would be election day. an added shock to the institution," he said. He said that such "tinkering" While Cover, Grassmuck, and may affect the fund-raising ability of Traugott managed to express their the party, especially after such groups, views in a relatively detached, objec- including many labor unions, have tive manner, Democratic Represen- already "geared up for the Carter tative Robert Carr of Michigan's Sixth presidency. They're pretty well locked District (between Ann Arbor, Jackson, in," he said. and Lansing) was far less reserved in Mike Traugott, the study director for his opinion of the open convention the University's Center for Political movement. Studies since 1973, calls the open- "IT'S A FLASHY, noisy, limited convention proponents' fears that a group of people," he said. "Their Carter defeat would mean Democratic motivation is temporary and self- losses in Congress "genuine, but serving." Carr calls the whole thing a misguided." He said in some cases, "media event," and is convinced it is "where the media is most important," doomed. there might be some effects of a Carter "I talked to the President last Thur- drubbing. But overall, he sees little ef- sday, and Monday," Carr said. "He feet. said he had thought it over, and his an- IN Aswer is 'No.' Period. All the high- IN ADDITION, Traugott sees the minded arguments you're hearing are a timing hbunch of baloney. The winners will be reason for its futility. "The movement those who stick to the rules." is starting very late," he said. "They ! } . , But what- about the argument that (open convention supporters) don't . Carterwills emerge a stronger can- a I 4 4 ating APrht Ronald Reagan considers reporters' Monday. Reagan met yesterday with sent Danger," a group that advocates .i assailed didate if given a chance to re-establish his support? "Bogus," Carr replied. "That's nothing but a bogus tease. Why should he have to act against his self- interest to prove his purity? I don't think he should leave anything up to chance now." While the Democratic represen- itatives were busy on Capitol Hill yesterday arranging the strategy for gaining an open convention, their aides spent the day on the phone defending the effort. Spokesmen for Represen- tatives James Oberstar (D-Minn.), Michael Barnes (D-Md.), and Jerome Ambro (D-N.Y.), all agreed it is the prospect of a Reagan White House, above all else, that sparks the drive for 'an open convention. "The Reagan platform is the motivating fear," said Barnes' press secretary Bill Bronrott. "The good of the nation is what is at stake, not congressional political fortunes." According to Dan Driscoll, a spokesman for Ambro, there is no direct link between the president's suc- cess and the congressman's. "We can't run behind anybody else," he said. "We can't tug on any coattails. The fact is that many congressmen are extremely appalled by the prospect of a Reagan presidency - that has precipitated this eleventh-hour effort." I