The Nation: Where Are the Liberals?

With the intellectual force of their ideas and their skill in publicizing them, Democratic liberals have in the past dominated the party. But they have often been overzealous and self-destructive. The liberals tore Hubert Humphrey apart in 1968 because of his prolonged support of the Viet Nam War and largely caused his defeat. Their single-minded ferocity inspired George McGovern's disastrous 1972 campaign and split the party. Who are the liberals today? Which candidate do they support in 1976? What is their influence? TIME National Political Correspondent Robert Ajemian surveyed the field and...