Mills Comes Out

Of the proliferating group of Democrats who would like to win their party's presidential nomination, conservative Congressman Wilbur Mills of Arkansas has probably been the most coy. While keen for a crack at the nomination, he has consistently feigned indifference. Last week for the first time Mills came right out and admitted that he is indeed a candidate. In letters to Wisconsin and Nebraska election officials, Mills said that he could not "in good conscience" ask that his name be left off primary ballots in those states. He added, however, that he does not plan to campaign.

Mills, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, has also refused to go on the stump in the New Hampshire campaign, although he does not deny that his supporters there are trying to get him at least 5% of the total vote in the state's March 7 primary, and will spend $200,000 doing it. Mills calmly calls the whole thing "a draft movement." His obvious strategy is to stay in the nomination race without getting into open electioneering. Then, if all goes well enough, he could make more trouble in later primaries while reminding Democrats that he is indeed available, even for the vice presidency.

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