Straws Blowing in the Wind

With a year to go, the Democratic hopefuls are out and hustling

The results in San Antonio were interesting, but the procedure was highly unorthodox. Ohio Senator John Glenn trounced former Vice President Walter Mondale in a straw poll 452 votes to 108, with the rest of the field far behind. In contrast to other symbolic showdowns among Democratic presidential contenders, the one held by party regulars at the Villita assembly hall was followed by Breathalyzer tests to make sure the voters were sober enough to drive home. Their "votes" consisted of buying $5...