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MORNING ADVOCATE, Baton Rouge, La., Fri., Sept. 14, 1979 19-A
3enjamin C.
n State
Irogram,
luled for
ie Arts
By DAN EVEN
Associated Press Writer
A pair of groups championing the presidential candidacy of Ted Kennedy are trying to stir interest in the Massachusetts senator in Louisiana, including one headed by a long-time political supporter of the Kennedy clan.
A draft Kennedy committee was formed two months ago. Last week, Judge Edmund Reggie of Crowley formed a Louisianians for Kennedy Committee.
"We're just trying to let him know there is a great deal of support for him in Louisiana — a reservoir of strength," said Reggie, who is expected to be named Gov. Edwards' top aide Friday.
Reggie was chairman of Louisiana campaign committees for John Kennedy in 1960 and Bobby Kennedy in 1968. He said last week he mailed the group's charter to the Federal Elections Commission.
The Louisiana Draft Committee also is an authorized committee and is registered with the Federal Elections Commission.
Speculation about a Kennedy candidacy has been rampant since he said last week that his family had no objections to his entering the race.
Kennedy indicated earlier this week he will decide by Thanksgiving whether or not
to challenge President Carter for the 1980 Democratic nomination.
"We are holding the fort until Mr. Kennedy says he is definitely going to run and then the Kennedy people will come in an set up their organization," said Russell Henderson of New Orleans, co-chairperson of the draft committee.
Henderson admitted his group is being advised by Kennedy staffers.
A candidate for the Legislature who has been involved in 22 political campaigns, Henderson said formation of the group by Reggie is significant.
"I don't think that Reggie is going to be going out on a limb," he said. "I think Reggie has information that we don't have access to."
But Reggie sidestepped that assessment but added that recent polls show that Kennedy would beat President Carter in Louisiana by nearly a 2-to-1 margin.
Both groups up are pointing to the April Louisiana primary.
"It's possible that we can elect a complete Kennedy slate in the primary," said Henderson.
Reggie is less certain, noting that complex party rules require alloting delegates to any candidate who wins 12 percent of the vote in any of the state's eight congressional districts.
Louisiana will have 51 delegates to the national convention — 35 selected from the eight congressional districts and 16 appointed by state party officials.
The draft Kennedy movement in the state is "purely pragmatic politics," Henderson said.
"I just think that he is the only hope for the Democratic Party," he said. "He is the only candidate that is going to win against a Republican.
"Carter absolutely can't be re-elected.
And it's not that I have something personal against him because I don't. It's just that the party needs thegodership tha Cdr. Kennedy can provide'"
DIVORCE STATISTIC
The Census Bureau estimates tWif recent trends continue, one in every tWp, married persons between 25 and 35 years of age in 1975 maylnd his or her first marriage in divorce.
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