On the Road

The rain fell in chill, drenching drops. Yet more than half of the 648 citizens of Mariposa, a tiny town in central California, turned up on the county fairgrounds for breakfast with the Republican candidate for Governor. And Richard Nixon, in a soggy grey suit, explained the purpose of his visit in the simplest possible terms: "I need your votes." Thus, last week, Nixon began his formal campaign for Governor with a four-day, 1,900-mile swing through eleven of California's 58 counties. Six times before, he had presented himself to California's voters--for the U.S. House of Representatives, the Senate, Vice Presidency and Presidency. Six times they had endorsed him. In 1962 Nixon is very well aware of the fact that his whole political future depends on a winning campaign for Governor--and that he will need every single vote he can find to defeat Incumbent Democratic Governor Edmund G. ("Pat") Brown.

Only four months ago, California polls showed Nixon comfortably ahead of Brown. But since then Brown has been campaigning as a "Mr. California," the nonpartisan presiding officer of a progressive, prosperous state. Only occasionally has he struck out at Nixon as a "prospector from the Potomac, trying to acquire a grubstake to get him and his family back to the East Coast." And the polls now indicate that Brown has drawn nearly even with Nixon.

It was in the face of that situation that Nixon hit the campaign trail last week--and no town was too small for his attention. He spoke in a bar in Mokelumne Hill (pop. 502), in a hotel lobby in Jackson (pop. 2,500). He strolled the board sidewalks of Columbia (pop. 300), where High Noon was filmed. He pumped hands along the main street in Sonora (pop. 4,000). "Howdy," he said to everyone he met. "Thank you for coming out to say hello." In Yuba City (pop. 13,000), a man told him: "I'm a Democrat, but I feel like voting for you." Replied Nixon: "Thank you. I would never carry this state if it weren't for Democrats like you." At Coulterville (pop. 115), a voter said: "I'm a Democrat, but I saw you on the Jack Paar show and I'm going to vote for you." Later TV Star Nixon chuckled to reporters: "See, it was worth it. I picked up one vote." At Live Oak (pop. 3,000), townspeople gathered around Nixon, and the ensuing conversation was typical of his entire campaign week: Lady: I was sick for three months when you lost to Kennedy.

Nixon: Well, go out and work a little harder this time.

Second Lady: You're a great man, and you're going to save us.

Nixon: Thank you. I need your help.

Man: I'm for you, Dick.

Nixon: Keep slugging. Very good to see you.

Third Lady (introducing her grown daughter to the candidate): My whole family is for you.

Nixon: It's great to have a family and look so young.

So it went. Perhaps they were all Republicans anyhow, but at least they weren't being lulled by a Democrat campaigning as "Mr. California."

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