Forbes Pulls Off Upset In Delaware

WILMINGTON, Delaware (Feb. 24) -- Millionaire publisher Steve Forbes' hard work in Delaware paid off Saturday as he shot from third place in local polls to win 12 delegates in the state's first presidential primary. Forbes was the only Republican candidate to actively campaign in the state.

With 100 percent of the votes counted, Forbes had 10,732 votes, or 33 percent, and Dole had 8,896 votes, or 27 percent. Pat Buchanan had captured 6,100, or 19 percent, and Lamar Alexander 4,374, or 13 percent. President Clinton was unopposed on the Democratic ballot.

Delaware ruffled New Hampshire's feathers when it decided to hold its first primary Saturday, just four day's after the New England state had posted its first-in-the-nation results.

Steve Forbes was the only major GOP suitor, which might have been the reason for his win. A CNN poll indicated that 52 percent of Delaware voters said it was important that candidates campaigned in their state.

Dole, Buchanan, and Alexander agreed to stay away from the primary in order not to offend New Hampshire and concentrated instead on Arizona and its Tuesday primary. The Delaware legislature passed a law to put the candidates on the ballot nonetheless.

Forbes, who has sunk $23 million of his own money into the campaign, was in dire need of a win.

In survey conducted by Voter News Service, a partnership of The Associated Press and four television networks, Delaware cast votes from their wallets, citing taxes as their primary concern. A third reported family income over $75,000 a year and third described themselves as moderate. More than half liked Forbes' flat tax proposal.

Forbes' main issue is a single tax rate, or flat tax, that would replace the current revenue system and tax the wealthy more heavily.

The survey indicated that Dole's voters tended to be older, with annual incomes under $50,000. They favor Dole's experience in Washington and believe that he could beat Clinton.

While they voted back East, the political war raged on the West earlier Saturday. Dole and Buchanan were joined by Forbes in Arizona Saturday, and all were setting their sights on the Tuesday primary.

Buchanan moseyed his way through the Grand Canyon state decked out in a bolo tie and 10-gallon hat and squeezing off a few rounds of criticism.

He blasted Dole for failing to show up at Thursday's GOP debate in Tempe. "We got 'Beltway Bob' a map of the great state of Arizona. (He) has not been here since October," Buchanan said.

But now Buchanan might need to train his sights upon the millionaire publishing heir, who has said he's not about to bow out of the race.

Forbes Pulls Off Upset In Delaware

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