05-16-1994

UPCOMING 1994 RACES - MA SEN: ROMNEY ENDORSED; JEGHELIAN FAILS TO QUALIFY

           At the GOP convention, businessman Mitt Romney (R) "romped
      to a first-ballot convention victory" with 68% of the delegates
      5/14 and immediately vowed to undo Kennedy's legacy of "failed
      big brother liberalism."  Pro-choice businessman John Lakian (R)
      followed Romney with 16% of the vote, just over the 15% needed to
      participate in the 9/20 primary.  Pro-choice radio talkster Janet
      Jeghelian received about 10% and failed to qualify for the
      primary ballot, along with ex-USDA official James Darwin Carter
      and pro-life businessman Gary Todd.  Romney's "strong showing
      came after a bloc of anti-abortion delegates moved to back" him
      (Phillips/Howe, BOSTON GLOBE, 5/15).  BOSTON GLOBE's Lehigh
      writes Romney's "stunning" endorsement "validates the unofficial
      insiders' consensus: He is the Republican with the best shot"
      against Kennedy" (5/15).
           POLL SHOWS KENNEDY RE-ELECT LOW:  A BOSTON GLOBE/WBZ-TV
      Poll, conducted 5/11-12 by KRC  Communications Research, surveyed
      400 RVs; MoE +/- 5% (5/14):

      KENNEDY RE-ELECT           NOW     2/94    KENNEDY FAVORABILITY
      Someone else a chance      52%     44%        NOW        2/94
      Deserves re-election       38      47      FAV/UNFAV   FAV/UNFAV
      DK/other                   10       8      55%/ 35%    67% /26%

      GOP         FAV/UNFAV  ID     DOES KENNEDY HAVE ENOUGH CLOUT
      Romney      15%/11%    53%    THAT MA WOULD BE BEST SERVED BY
      Jeghelian   16 /11     52     RE-ELECTING HIM?      NOW     2/94
      Lakian       8 /11     50     Agree                 65%     68%
      Todd         8 / 5     41     Disagree              30      27

                   HYPOTHETICAL GENERAL ELECTION MATCH-UPS
      Kennedy   50%       Kennedy   51%       Kennedy        50%
      Romney    32        Lakian    29        Jeghelian      31

The Abortion Report