Thinking & Worrying

On landing in California, President Eisenhower found himself in a state where Republicans are likely to win this fall--but not impressively. Republican Governor Goodwin Knight was running well ahead of ex-Republican Richard Graves (now a Democrat), while Warrenite Senator Thomas Kuchel had a smaller lead over Democrat Sam Yorty. But the real danger for the G.O.P. lay in the House races. Republicans now hold 19 of the state's 30 seats; they might easily lose two or three.

What was wrong with California Republicanism? For one thing, there was a voter tendency to distinguish between Dwight Eisenhower (still tremendously popular) and his Administration (slipping in California esteem). Throughout the state there was praise for Ike but muttering about "those guys he has around him." In such a situation, Ike's popularity might not be transferable to California Republican candidates.

A more important source of the state G.O.P.'s weakness, however, lay in a surplus of strength. Vice President Richard Nixon. Senator William Knowland and Governor Knight all are powerful--and ambitious. All three seek control of California's Republican organization and its key delegation to the 1956 national convention. The hard feelings aroused by this rivalry may well cut into the vote for Goodie Knight and other faction-attached candidates.

On the Democratic side, Candidate Graves has conducted a lackluster campaign, only recently enlivened it by trying to connect Goodie Knight with a state liquor scandal. Knight denied all, accused Graves of the lowest sort of political chicanery. Taking the cue from Graves, Democrat Yorty charged Senator Kuchel with "using political influence during World War II to evade combat duty." Tom Kuchel, stung, pointed out that he waived both his poor eyesight and his immunity as a state senator to enter the Navy. Cried Kuchel: "Only a despicable mind would call in question honorable military service."

The newfound Democratic aggressiveness probably was winning votes--but not enough to defeat Knight or Kuchel. Even so, there were still those precious House seats for Republicans to worry about.

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