OCR Text |
Show THE DAILY HERALD, Wednesday, October 16, 19 Suburban moms are political force By JOHN KING AP Political Writer ST. PETERS. Mo. working mother of a son and 2 year-old daughter. Sue Horton doesn't have much time for politics. But she is intrigued when President Clinton talks about making college more affordable. And when Bob Dole warns about rising teen-ag- e drug use. In the for the votes of suburban moms, put Horton squarely in the middle. "Dole won't bend when it comes to crime and drugs and that is important," Horton says. ' But Clinton is more tuned in to education." Who will get her vote? "I really don't know." Clinton and Dole have a lot riding on her decision. While Horton may have just one vote, she is representative of a growing force in American politics suburban parents" and, more specifically, suburban mothers. In the 1980 presidential election, 40 percent of the votes were cast in the suburbs, according to the Census Bureau. By 1992, with the number of people living in rural areas declining, the share of presidential votes cast by suburbanites had risen to 49 percent. This year probably will be the first national election in which a majority of votes come from the suburbs, home to millions of voters who voice little faith in politicians, have little if any party loyalty and juggle conflicting priorities when deciding how to cast their ballots. "The targets are fairly young married couples with small children," said Republican pollster Neil Newhouse. "Their concerns are most likely to be education, crime and taxes and almost always in that order." Horton is a case in point, describing herself as a "very Gulf War nut" and "white 1 1 -- i Percent of the vote cast in urban, rural and suburban areas in presidential elections. D Urban B Rural 1992 972 tug-of-w- ar II How one county changed George Bush carried the state of Missouri w ith 52 percent of the vote in 9X8. But in 1992. Bill Clinton carried the stale ith 44 percent. Bush had 34 percent and Ross Perot got 22 percent. In St. Charles County, outside St. Louis. Republicans suffered badly. f3 RepuhlUan Dl)emnrral y B Independent AP Photo 1992 1988 1 Sue Horton stands inside the Mid Rivers Mall in St. Peters, Mo., where she works as an information desk attendant. Horton doesn't have much time for politics, but her vote is very important to both the Clinton and Dole campaigns. . Independent: nla Source: U S Census Bureau AP collar conservative" who voted for George Bush in 1992 but is worried about Republican positions on education this year. For Dole to win Missouri, an important state in national elections, he would need to win convincingly here in St. Charles County outside St. Louis. Republicans average 57 percent of the conservative county's vote in presidential elections, but Bush got just 36 percent four years ago, barely beating Clinton and losing the votes of many disgruntled suburbanites to Ross Perot, who got 28 percent. This year, one of the major factors in Clinton's consistent lead is that he is more than holding his own here and in suburbs in other battleground states. A survey in Michigan, for example, found Clinton running eight points ahead of Dole in suburban Detroit's Oakland County, where Republicans average 54 percent in presidential elections. "More and more male Republicans are coming back to Dole but Clinton is still strong among soccer moms." said independent pollster Ed Sarpolus. Dole is just barely ahead in g Cincinnati suburbs that Republicans need to win big if they are to take competitive statewide races, according to a recent GOP poll. "In some ways, Bob Dole is a candidate," said Democratic pollster Geoffrey Garin. "Bill Clinton is from the age of soccer moms and sort of understands what their lives are about. Bob Dole predates the soc GOP-Ieanin- cer moms and his reference points are much more rural." Paula Mosher, another suburban St. Louis mom, certainly sees it that way. "Clinton promises tx much, hut I think he is trying to help," said Mosher. who juggles running a small retail store with raising a son. "I identify Dole more with the rich. Does he understand the middle class?" Mosher says she could use Dole's tax cut. yet worries he would have to cut education to pay for it. "I was for Clinton but I am wavering," she said. Dole's efforts to win the votes of working mothers such as Horton and Mosher include an ad featuring his wife. Elizabeth, talking about economic concerns such as pension equity and how tax cuts would mean more for the family budget. Court to review religious freedom law itself. A decision is expected by July. In other action, the court: WASHINGTON Taking on Agreed to use a New York case what could become an epic constito decide whether states may tax tutional battle, the Supreme Court the income of hospitals run by Tuesday agreed to judge the validwelfare benefit plans. employee ity of a 1993 federal law aimed at Said it will decide whether a Americans' enhancing religious Florida state Senate district in the freedom. t. Petersburg area unlawThe court will use a zoning dis- Tampa-Sblack voters. favors pute between a Roman Catholic fully Let stand a d church and Boerne, Texas, to 1991 Michigan court order that decide whether Congress exceeded bars Dr. Jack Kevorkian from its authority in passing the Relihelping people commit suicide. Act. Freedom Restoration gious Ordered a federal appeals The law gives far more weight court to reconsider a ruling that to claims . that governmental barred California's use of poison actions violate religious freedom. The Texas church invoked the gas in executions. The 1993 law on religious freefederal law after it was blocked by dom was enacted in response to a landmark-preservatio- n a local 1990 Supreme Court decision that ordinance from building an addition. Church officials said the said laws that are otherwise neutral toward religion are not unconstitucity's action violated their relitional just because they may freedom. gious But then the city attacked the infringe on the religious beliefs of constitutionality of the federal law. some people. The court in 1990 ruled in an A federal appeals court upheld the 1993 law in siding with the Oregon "ase involving Native church. The justices now are being American rituals that there is no urged to rule that Congress in constitutional right to take the halenacting the law wrongly usurped lucinogenic drug peyote as a relipower from state and local governgious practice. A broad coalition of religious ments and from the Supreme Court By RICHARD CARELLI Associated Press Writer never-enforce- and civil rights groups contended that the court had turned its back on a long tradition of providing greater protection for religious rights and sought help from Congress. Congress sought in 1993 to overcome the 1990 decision. The legislation required that any law imposing a "substantial burden" on someone's religious beliefs serve a "compelling" government interest in the least intrusive way. The law has been particularly unpopular with prison officials in many states. They say it caused a flood of lawsuits in which inmates diets worked extremely welf. They dropped an average of 66 pounds. And they had kept it off an average of 5 12 years. Most of the volunteers had been fat since childhood, which makes their success even more' remarkable. By DANIEL Q. HANEY AP Medical Editor President Clinton and Bob Dole are courting Miburban voten, g clear reflection of a chan gmf political climate. Hu the voting divtnbuUon hat changed: El Suburban challenge regulation of apparel, diet and other aspects of life behind bars as violations of their religious beliefs. Sixteen states joined in a brief supporting Boerne's appeal, saying the federal law has allowed "gangs and groups to shroud illicit the cover of 'reliunder activity gious' belief." The states are Delaware, Florida. Hawaii. Idaho. Illinois. Iowa. Minnesota. Mississippi. Nevada, New Hampshire. North Carolina. Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Vermont. friend-of-the-co- like-mind- BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. The secret to keeping off weight is no real secret at all: The rare few who stay slimmer don't ever stop dieting and exercising, researchers found. A team of researchers gathered information on 786 people who dropped an average of 66 pounds and kept it off for five years and counting. They then pored over the data to see what these men and women have in common. The conclusion? The dieters never returned to their old eating habits or more sedentary lifestyles. One sad reality of dieting is that most people put back everything they lose, usually within a year or two. Some even end up fatter than when they started. To see what the successful dieters were doing right. Dr. Mary Klem of the University of Pittsburgh and researchers from the University of Colorado started the National Weight Control Registry of long-terweight losers. She reported the results this week at a meeting of the North American Association for the Study of Obesity. Almost all the dieters said they had tried and failed to keep weight off in the past. This time they simply put themselves on stricter diets and exercised more vigorously. About half did it on their own. while the rest joined weight-contrprograms or got professional help. For these people, the initial Eighty-eig- percent saitt ht they continued to diet and exercise. All but 7 percent restricted their food intake in some way, and many said they watched their portion sizes, counted calo ries and avoided fat. They admitted eating fast food less than once a weelc Average daily calories was 1,297 for women and 1,725 for men.''' Exercise was an important way of burning up calories. For women, it consumed an average 2.667 calories a week; for men it was 3,489. Walking was by far the most common exercise, followed by aerobic exercising and ' competitive sports. that believe Many getting and to people to exercise is one of the keep exercising toughest challenges in weight control. Half of those who start exercise programs give them up1 within three to six months. "People would rather have their jaws wired or their stomachs stapled than exercise," said-RoDishman, an exercise physiologist. The dieters' successful seemed to be motivated by said they many things. One-thir- d lost weight for their healthy while another third said they were triggered by some emo tional setback, such as a cutting remark about their size. m ol why Pay Fall Retail When Yob Can "i Deepest Discounts on Top Grain Leather Executive Accessories Save $140 on Expandable Attache Roomy 13" x 18" case features multiple tile holders and accessory pockets that expand the leather interior from 2"" to i'AD to maximize capacity. Pen holders, combination locks, brass fittings and more add to its executive amenities. Durable leather exterior in tan or burgundy. RETAIL $199.99 CLOSEOIT $CQ99 Save $49.96 on 8" x 10" 1997 Time Management Organizer Seagull tEr Book & Tape8 Zippered leather cover opens to reveal a wealth of calendars, directories, assorted note files and much, much more. Pockets, card holder, pen holder and expense envelopes also included. Natural or black. Five-yemanufacturer's warranty. RETAIL $79.95 $7Q99 CLOSEOIT on Portfolio Note Pad Save $29. you may pick up your copy anytime. pre-pai- d, 1 ifji 1 fcjn Durable top grain leather outside with leather lining. Features include multiple pockets, two pen loops, flap comprtment and standard size note pad. In tan or black. Five-yea- r manufacturer's warranty. RETAIL $49.95 CLOSEOIT $1999 Save $7 on 2"x3" Photo Frames tf Our largest clnseout collection of select 2" x i" frames! Styles range from Victorian to contemporary in a selection 01 suverpiaie, onus, pewier. copper or satin finishes. Glass fronts, velvet easel backs. ft i Pag A7 Secret to weight loss is continual diet, exercise. The growing suburban vote As the Pro. I'tah RETAIL $10 , CLOSEOIT . $99 L Many man frame stiles and sivs available at similar savings. Save $50 Back To School - Fall Special crui to $80 on 14K Gold Ball Earrings : 1. l: orv . i .: ,.T a uiimcu i umc save ovrt 10 o)( oiiiv oj uii icpuuu wic jcwcirjr retail prices on your choice of 7, 8 or 9mm sizes of classic ball callings ui itiv guiu. niuic ifuimiiio mm; SALE Like anything else, :tg loans are better when they are affordable. That's why until December 3 1st, 1996, all loan fees associated with any new agricultural real estate loan made through the Federal Land Bank Association of Utah 7mm 8mm 9mm arc beinir waived! So whether you're looking e loan, or refinancing an existing for a loan, visit with one of our Loan Officers today and sec why Farm Credit is the only credit you need. i RETAIL CLOSEOIT $Q99 $60 $75 $100 $16.99 $24.99 $33.99 $14.99 $19.99 Visit first-tim- M If S our new ham pfR: hllp:'www.tuedaymoming.carn !" 8 Gifts. 50 Farm Credit Services ofUtah Utah Production Credit AmociMiun Off Everything. i it'l Orem Plaza State St. Shopping Center At Mrnl Und Kank Anociation of Utah, H .CA Agric ulture Is Our Business! 149 N. State St., Stc. 1 007, 221-5- 1 52 II- t COPY to 80 - |