Democrats: Tsongas' Surprising Surge

The ex-Senator is neither pretty nor witty, but his candor is catching on

Paul Tsongas, Campaign '92's underdog of choice, passed a symbolic milestone last week. An aide to the Democratic front runner, Bill Clinton, suggested a reporter check out Tsongas' occasional lobbying activities on behalf of legal clients. Until recently the ex-Senator from Massachusetts was considered such a weak competitor that his rivals didn't bother to attack him. Now that his candidacy shows strong signs of surviving beyond the New Hampshire primary next Tuesday, Tsongas must take his turn as target. He regards that as a compliment.

"At the beginning," he quipped in an interview, "I was sort of irritated that no one...

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