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Yet another question clouds the former Vice President's future: Can he generate a wider excitement over his candidacy? While he can rouse a hallful of supporters, Mondale is diminished by television, appearing too stiff and shrill. Reagan's presence, on the other hand, is magnified by a TV screen. Still, no other Democrat has inspired much voter emotion. "This is the most passionless campaign I've ever seen," says David Nagle, chairman of Iowa's Democratic Committee. "Nobody seems to care deeply about any of the candidates." New Hampshire Democrats seem equally bored, despite the quadrennial invasion of the candidates. Ironically, Mondale's big lead keeps enthusiasm down for him and for his rivals. Admits a downcast Glenn organizer in New Hampshire: "It's tough to get anyone excited if everyone has conceded first place."
For the other candidates, the time to generate some excitement of their own may be running out. Gerald Vento, Glenn's campaign manager, concedes that Mondale will win easily in Iowa but says Glenn could finish a strong second in New Hampshire. His man, Vento says, must do "extremely well" on Super Tuesday, March 13, when ten primaries and caucuses take place. Glenn will win in Alabama, he predicts, and must run "neck and neck" with Mondale in Georgia. Vento implies that a failure by Glenn to do so might just end his chances.
Hart and Cranston need third-place finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire to give them jumping-off points for the later primaries. Jackson hopes to run well in New Hampshire and then score an upset win in Alabama. McGovern is trying to hang on until the Super Tuesday primary in Massachusetts, where he thinks he can finish second. Askew is counting on a turnout of an ti abort ion voters to give him a respectable showing in Iowa, followed by a strong home-state vote in Florida three weeks later. As for Rollings, it will take a miracle to keep him in contention.
The Mondale planners are eager for a quick knockout. Says Fund Raiser Timothy Finchem: "Our concern is how soon we can put this thing away. It means a helluva lot in defeating Reagan." But not every Democrat is likely to simply bow out and join the Fritz blitz.
More than half of the delegates, moreover, would still have to be selected after mid-March, some in the larger states: California, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Some voters might resent a process in which the outcome has been determined before they have a chance to participate. Feeling disenfranchised, they might lose interest, stay home, or turn out to register protest votes that would only hurt their party's eventual nominee. An apathetic or divided party would not be in competitive trim for the race against a popular President. Walter Mondale may be riding high, but hurdles and hazards are ahead. —ByEd Magnuson. Reported by Sam Allis with Mondale, with other bureaus