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Percy had been labeled a long-odds underdog last winter when he resigned as board chairman of Bell & Howell to devote all his energies to the Senate race. His dynamic, articulate campaign since then had steadily propelled him ahead of aging Paul Douglas. The liberal Democrat's dignified but tired electioneering stirred little enthusiasm. His immovable stand in favor of open-housing legislation—a particularly explosive issue in Chicago—and his consistently pro-civil rights votes on Capitol Hill cost Douglas the support of many fearful whites. Against the advice of campaign aides, Percy has also come out in favor of modified open-housing laws, but he has not been so outspoken on the issue as Douglas. Beyond that, the Democrat's prospects have been dimmed by an inchoate sense of dissatisfaction with the Administration.
At week's end Chuck Percy had said nothing publicly about resuming his campaign, but advisers predicted that he would restrict his activities to a few television appearances and issuance of position papers on major issues. No matter which man wins in November, his victory will inevitably be clouded by Valerie's death, a tragedy that made political issues seem almost irrelevant.