Stumbling in the primaries
No major surprises. No verdict on President Reagan or his economic program. No national issues overwhelming local candidates. As far as political professionals were concerned, the primary elections last week could not have been better. Said Democratic National Chairman Charles Manatt: "We produced our strongest set of nominees, and so did the Republicans."
In California, earnestly competent San Diego Mayor Pete Wilson, 48, won the Republican Senate nomination over three Congressmen—Barry Goldwater Jr. (a Senator's son), Pete McCloskey and Robert Dornan—and Maureen Reagan (a presidential daughter). Far ahead in...