Dukakis Chooses Texas Sen. Bentsen as Running Mate

Dukakis squeezed two campaign issues into one sentence when he observed, "If Edwin Meese can give himself 30 days notice, then the least we can do is give honest, hard-working American workers 60 days notice before we lay them off." Attorney General Meese, whose ethics have been under fire, announced last week that he plans to resign this summer.

Neither Democrat made any mention today of their policy differences. On matters such as defense spending, an oil import fee, aid to the Nicaraguan contras and the propriety of political action committee contributions, Dukakis and Bentsen have taken opposite positions.

Instead, Dukakis praised Bentsen both on policy and on personal grounds. "One of the things that caught my eye when I was doing my homework [on the vice-presidential choice]," Dukakis said, "is that when he was asked if there's anything he regrets, he said, 'Yeah, I wish I had met my wife and married her a couple of years earlier.' "

Bentsen, for his part, said the combination of a governor from economically booming Massachusetts and a senator from ailing Texas will exemplify the nation's economic status. "This economy we have has been like Swiss cheese," he said. "There are prosperous places, but there are big holes in this economy."

Despite that Massachusetts tie, the tall, graying, deep-voiced Bentsen is close to the central casting ideal of a southern senator. After beating Bush in 1970, he has been reelected twice, by a big margin each time.

While Bentsen brings geographical balance to the ticket, he does not fit the "new generation" image Dukakis has evoked as part of his call for change. And Bentsen may have a weak spot on ethical questions. Last year he received stiff criticism when he set up -- and then quickly canceled -- breakfasts in which lobbyists were asked to pay $ 10,000 to talk to him about Finance Committee business.

Democrats generally cheered the choice of Bentsen. House Majority Whip Tony Coelho (D-Calif.) called it "a brilliant political move," while Rep. Richard A. Gephardt (D-Mo.) who lost to Dukakis in the primaries and was considered for the vice-presidential spot, said, "The Boston-Austin axis is reborn, and that is good for the Democratic Party and the country."

Sen. Albert Gore Jr. (D-Tenn.), another loser in the nomination fight who was on Dukakis' list of potential running mates, predicted that Bentsen "will give George Bush absolute fits in Texas." Glenn, who made no secret of his interest in the job, said he had "some regret" about not being picked but called Bentsen "an excellent choice . . . a great campaigner."

Ohio Democratic Chairman James Ruvulo said, "In 48 hours, things will be fine, but right now there's a sense of disappointment. We were the front-runner for too long."

Florida Democratic Chairman Charles Whitehead, who was pulling for Sen. Bob Graham (D-Fla.), said the Democratic ticket means that "this is the first time since 1976 that county chairmen and sheriffs and state reps aren't going to want to run and hide when the Democratic ticket comes to town."

Suellen Albrecht, Wisconsin state chairman, said Dukakis has put together "a dream ticket . . . too good to be true."

Among Republicans, Senate Minority Leader Robert J. Dole (Kan.) said, "In my opinion, he [Dukakis] couldn't have picked a better man." Sen. William L. Armstrong (R-Colo.), who serves with Bentsen on the Finance Committee, said, "Dukakis has made the best decision he could have made."

Charles Black, who ran the presidential campaign of Rep. Jack Kemp (R-N.Y.), called the choice "a big gamble. If the first wave of the general election is going to be to slug it out in Texas, that suits us fine. We can win Texas." He added that Bentsen "doesn't help you in California and the Midwest."

The civil rights community spent part of yesterday looking into Bentsen's voting record to see whether blacks, Hispanics or women would have problems with him. Ralph Neas, executive director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, said Bentsen "comes across as a fiscal conservative who does have a commitment to civil rights." On the basis of an examination of 10 years of votes, Neas said he concluded that "Sen. Bentsen has a good civil rights record."

Ralph Nader sharply criticized Dukakis for picking Bentsen, whom he described as a champion of "the privileges and avarice of big business interests." He said the prospective Democratic nominee "has given the back of his hand to the progressive wing of the Democratic Party."

Bentsen is also a candidate for reelection this year. Since state law prevents any other Democrat from running now, he will stay on the state ballot. That provides a further throwback to 1960, when Johnson ran for both jobs.

It may also give the Democrats a media boost, since Bentsen will be free to advertise in Texas without regard to the spending limits imposed on a presidential ticket. If the Democrats win the White House, Gov. Bill Clements (R) would be able to appoint a Republican to the Senate, but election law experts said yesterday a special election to fill the unexpired term would be held in 1989, probably in May.