Monday, Aug. 17, 1992

P.J.'s Pep Talk

By SOPHFRONIA SCOTT GREGORY

Political humorist P.J. O'ROURKE was called into service last week to shore up sagging morale among young volunteers at Bush-Quayle campaign headquarters in Washington. Amid his usual acerbic patter, O'Rourke described his recent interview with Democrat Bill Clinton. He learned that Clinton voted for the young-Elvis stamp, that his favorite Beatle is Paul and that he planned to put more policemen on the streets. O'Rourke's bottom-line analysis: "He's not as smart as he thinks he is." Though he succeeded in cheering the group, O'Rourke, an acknowledged G.O.P. sympathizer, could not help being struck by the predominance of prosperous-looking young Wasp males among the volunteers. "It was like a rally for the master race," he was heard to mutter afterward.