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Show _The Salt Lake Tribune Chelsea Is Seen More Now But Still Not Heard GA ‘TT NEWS SERVICE WASHINGTON Forthefirst two years of herlife in the White House, she wasall but invisible, per her parents’ wishes, and newshounds’ unusualrestraint. Now, at 16, Chelsea Clinton is creeping into the limelight. ~ But the president's only child is hardly relinquishing her privacy. “She enjoys meeting people and shaking hands and seeing the public very much,” White House spokesman Mike McCurry told inquiring reporters recently. “But Chelsea's not that interested in politics.” Although she accompanied her mother in a photogenic tour of Southeast Asian capitals in 1995, hoo-ha'ed with U.S. troops in Bos- nia earlier this year and madere- peated appearancesat the Demo- cratic National Convention in August, Clinton aides insist Chelsea’s coming out is limited. “These decisions are made by the family,"’ said Ann Lewis, deputy manager of the Clinton-Gore campaign. “The campaign didn’t generate” Chelsea's new visibility Nor, said Lewis, did consultants,staff and aides have any say about Chelsea's globetrots with her mother. Or about her accom- panying PresidentClinton on his pre-convention train trip through the Midwest. Or about her post as the centerpiece of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s convention speech on family values. Even the suggestion that Chelseais raising her profile and may take a role in herfather’s re-election effort is enough to prompt a clipped and impatient “no” from the normally affable Lewis A Breath of Fresh Air: For her parents — besetby controver- BY HOWARD KURTZ THE WASH IN POST sees Dole’s hopesasslim, but says that relentlessly negative com- anything Bob Dole can do to win this election?” “Pray,” Rollins said. Rollins is a political consultant, of course, but his terse assessment has been echoed to varying degrees in newspaper accounts, network reports andontelevision chat shows. Nearly two months before Election Day, many journalists are describing the Repub- lican presidential nominee as on the ropes. The prospects for Dole, whois downby15 to 20 points in the all-important polls, are rou- tinely downgraded, minimized or ridiculed by much of the media. Margaret Carlson: “I don’t think there's anything he can do.” Sam Donaldson: “I think the jig is up.” Judy Woodruff: “The campaign insists it is not yet ready to panic.” Jack Germond: “He's dead meat.” R.W. Apple in the New York Times: “People are talking land- slide.” The question is not whether these are reasonable judgments, but whether the margin has becomethe message. A constant me- dia drumbeatthat the election is all but over could drown out Dole’s attempts to dramatize the differences between himself and President Clinton. “It creates a climate of opinion against a candidatethat he has to swim against,” says Andrew Ko- hut, director of the Pew Research Center. “It reinforces the notion that he’s not a very good candidate or potentially a very good leader.” At the same time, Kohut concedes, ‘‘a realistic assessment of Dole’s chances would they're pretty small.” say The public apparently agrees: Kohut's latest poll shows that 76 and challenge — percent expect Clinton to win a second term. Larry Sabato, a University of Clinton was able to make repeated r to her 2 without having to answer press Virginia political scientist, also scandal, questions about Chelsea. The news media, apprised of thefirst lady's “hands off" policy from the outset, have complied, with minor exception. Even critics have applauded the president and his wife for their child-rearing. For Chelsea, it may be the best of both worlds. She has enjoyed the perksof first daughterhood — worldwide travel, White House slumberparties, and hobnobbing ropes. White is merely second nature to a girl born to one of the mostpolitically energized coupleson the planet. Sheis, by all accounts, poised, intelligent, and —like her parents — comfortable in public. But not drawntoit, “T've never heard her talk campaign, Bob Dole today Come on! Everyone knows he’s losing.” John Buckley, Dole’s communications director, says the media have forgotten that Clinton’s 20- point lead has twice plummeted to single digits, once after Dole’s resignation from the Senate and again after the GOP convention. “For any news organization to look at an incumbent . . and pronouncethatheis invulnerable is anti-historical, illogical and sums up much of why people think media coverageis shallow,” he says. Gloomy comments about Dole permeate the media landscape. strategists and other professional experts. Others appear in newspaper and magazine assessments of the race. “It is hard to recall any presi- dential campaign in such distress atso critical a time,” writes David Shribman, the Boston Globe's Washington bureau chief. “‘Once again lagging badly in the polls, Bob Dole and his campaign are trying to shake themselves awake,” writes Howard Fineman in Newsweek. ment, qualifies as optimistic. Some were preparing Dole’s obituary after helost the New Hampshire primary to Pat Buchanan. But time is running short for ground glass.”’ LARRY SABATO University of Virginia has seemed to conspire against him. Dole was blown off the net- ring some catastrophe,” E.J. Dionneof The Post said on “Meet the Press.”” Over on David Brinkley’s show, George Will said that for Doie to win would take “earthquakes or floods” or “felony indictments of senior people in the White House. work news last week by Hurricane fran, and before that by Clinton’s air strikes against Iraq. the squalor accumulating around this White House, something like that. But right now the country is Asked about their bleak assessments, journalists point to histo- ry, saying that no incumbentpresident has lost when leading by double digits after Labor Day. But they are also conscious about crawling out on a shaky limb.“Weneedto be cautious because the beautyofpolitics is that anything can happen,”says Carlson, the Time columnist. “Maybe someone can uncover a grounds- well for Bob Dole, but week to week you don’t seeit.” Not that reporters wouldn't Furnace Or Central Air Conditioner Until You Read A Copy Of This FREE Report First! ifyou are buying or thinking ofbuying a newfurnace or cooling system get a copyofthis FREE Reporttoday. Find out howto save hundreds ofdollars. This Report highlights an eight-step program 10 help you selectthe right Heating, Cooling or Gas Fireplace system for your home. forthe lowestprice possible! Salt Lake, UT- A Free Report hasbeen reieased that shares the little knownsecrets onselecting the right heating,cooling, ‘or GasFireplace system for your home. Don’t make mistakes that will cost you hundreds ofdollars and an unsatisfactory system. Just call 1-800-775-7801 24 Hrs, for a FREE Recorded Message to get a copy of this Report. Call NOW to find out what others hope you neverread about! Compliments of Tropical Heating & Air Conditioning. Copyright Tropical 1996 523-0606 like to cover a Dole surge: “Any time Bob Dole does dotiething well, you'll see the press swarming all over him because we want a competitive race,” Carlson says. The relentless focus on polls also has worked to Dole’s detriment. “Clinton lead up to 21 points,” said a front-page USA Today headline last week. The Washington Post gave Page 1 billing to a poll showing the president with a 14-pointlead. A third venue for Dole denigration are talk shows where journalists serve up opinions. Clinton will probably win “‘bar- Thelast time the race seemed virtually over in early September wasin 1984, when Ronald Reagan was on his way to a 49-state sweep over Walter Mondale. The New York Times quoted a Di strategist as saying that lawmakers were worried about “a 20point loss,” while The Post described Reaganaidesas seeing “a potential landslide.” Still, the conventional wisdom UNFINISHED OR FINISHED PmtCOBIANVaeal:]93 Amana. A Bear tone aaaof nie AS A RESULT OF ALLERGIES TO 38°W x 17"D x 41"H *10 Standard Colors to Choose From (=) SB SE Mon-Sat. 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM ¢ SALT LAKE CITY 2892 S. HIGHLAND 487-2595 * SANDY 9436 S. 650 E. UNION SQ. 576-2595 ae: A research medication to alleviate symptomswithout removing your pet is being studied. If you are 18-40 years, currently experiencing both ALLERGY and ASTHMA symptoms, andallergic to a cator dog in your home, you could receive up to | $185 Unnnines $235 Rant YOUR CAT OR DOG? -» ¢ WE CARRY CONTEMPORARY, TRADITIONAL, SOLID PINE BEDROOM FURNITURE $236 irnnnec rinithear $290 rinisneat “It’s unlikely that Doleis going to win,” Sabato says. “But we should all remember that he who lives by the crystal ball ends up eating groundgl a Warning- Do Not Buy A It would take maybethe critical mass ofpublic disgust for some of (Ends Sept. 28th) == sensus wrong. Even the weather wiped out in the 1994 elections. ball ends up eating MISSION, AND COUNTRY STYLES THIS WEEK'S SPECIALS: 5 Drawer Chest have learned the House reporters going io win. But we should all remember that he who lives by the crystal commentary about how heis lagging badlyin the polls: Desperately trying to jump-start his lagging Dole to prove the journalistic con- The biggest news he made involved the departure of his two top media advisers. Fred Barnes, executive editor of the Weekly Standard,says the negative coverage could become a self-fulfilling prophecy. “I think it does overshadow the campaign,” he says, “and Dole is going to get less coverage as a result.” Barnes gives Dole a 10 percent chance of winning — which, in the current environ- sometimes misses the mark. Some political prognosticators declared Bush unbeatable when his approval rating hit 91 percentafter the Persian Gulf War. Some called Clinton a one-term president after the Democrats were “v's unlikely that Dole is every story begins and ends with ¢ SOLID WOOD FURNITURE ¢ NO PARTICLE BOARD about press inquiries and public accountability. Politically charged or not, she wonder whether Chelsea's talent for ground-level politicking bespeaks a fondness for the game or depressed and simply turn off polities,” he says. “Why bother to vote if there’s no chance he'll win?” Sabato adds: “The mostirritating part of the coverage is that ee Ceee)i4- with celebrities at Planet Hollywood — without having to worry appears to mentary can diminish partisan turnout. “Republicans may get Some are uttered by politicians, Chelsea has been an undoubtable plus. At the convention, Hillary sy, 15, 1996 Media Writing Off Dole’s Chances WASHINGTON — Morning man Don Imus put the question bluntly to Ed Rollins: “Is there BY DEBORAH MATHIS NATION Sunday,S $720 for participatingIn an investigational research study. sow m7"sit‘4 532-4526 euertured 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Mondaythru Friday Intermountain Allergy & Asthma Clinic Intermountain Clinical Research Since 1971 Utah's Largest lection of 150 S, 1000 E., SLC, UT 84102 about political involvement and certainlyit's not been my impression that she has any particular interest in it,” said Carol Rasco, the president’s domestic policy adviser and an Arkansas native. A Budding Scientist? Rather, Rasco explains that Chelsea's vocationalinterests lean toward the naturalsciences, in which she reportedly excels. And even though November loomsto seal her father’s fate in the last race of a long career, driving a car, choos- ing a college andthe usual preoccupations of high school appear to be Chelsea’s priorities for fall 1996. People who come in contact with Chelsea truthfully see her as Chelsea, not as the president's daughter,” Rasco allowed. “To the extent you can do that.” Informed sources aside, all is speculation. Chelsea, whiie more visible than before, has not spo- kenfor herself. Rumors that she would address the Democratic convention had observersexcited, but turned out to be false. She has been seen, but is not heard Observers believe Hillary Clinton will necessarily withdraw her protective shield when Chelsea goes off to college nextfall Eventhen, she will be cloaked in Secret Service security, provided her father winsre-election. Ere | Have workers comp oF structured | settlement? We purchoe annuities ond pay fast. | Dependable. Oicéest in the business. 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