Politics Sweet Smell of Success

With two big Rust Belt victories and Tsongas out of the race, the nomination is Clinton's to lose. Now he faces a tougher challenge: proving he can beat Bush.

Bill Clinton is the first Democratic presidential contender since Jimmy Carter to attract black voters without alienating blue-collar whites. He is popular among women, union members, veterans and the unemployed, both North - and South. He talks tough on welfare without criticizing the poor and supports the death penalty without turning off liberals. He has a strong organization, loads of powerful friends, a lightning mind and a damage-control system that could have kept the Titanic afloat. He trounced his remaining two rivals so badly during crucial primaries in Illinois and Michigan last week that Paul Tsongas suspended his campaign, leaving only...

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