IN HECTIC QUEST OF DELEGATES

Democratic Party reforms have altered the pitch of politics in most states. Florida serves as a prime example, In past years, a candidate's campaign coordinator had only to cultivate the chief party figures who, as a reward for seniority and service, would automatically constitute the state's delegation at the national convention. This year each of Florida's twelve congressional districts will in effect hold a local primary election to choose its delegates to the main event in July. The campaign has brought a young, hustling breed of political organizer to the race. A portrait of one in action:

KEN HOWELL, 24, was footloose after an eight-month tour as a lieutenant in Viet Nam when he heard that Muskie was recruiting. A red-haired native of Ohio who graduated from the University of Florida in 1969, Howell signed on in January (at $200 per week plus expenses) to be Muskie's campaign coordinator in Florida's 18 northeastern counties.

As the youngest Muskie coordinator in Florida (the oldest of the six is only 27), Howell works his territory at a frenetic and heady pace. Up every morning at 7, he wolfs down a doughnut and coffee in his Datsun as he sets out to proselytize for Muskie. "My job," Howell says, "is to put together the organization."

One of Howell's first steps was to set up five Muskie campaign headquarters in his region and appoint a campaign chairman in each of his counties. Then, working with road maps, a pocketful of dimes for pay-phone calls, and tips from an ever-widening circle of political contacts, Howell began rounding up troops and votes. On a weekend stop at the University of Florida, he persuaded three students to run for delegate on a Muskie slate. One recent morning, he kept an appointment with a Jacksonville attorney who was interested in Muskie, then asked to use the phone in an adjoining office; soon three of the lawyer's lines were tied up with incoming calls from prospective volunteers.

Thank You Notes. From a gas station on the highway between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, Howell called a locally influential Democrat in Bunnell, Fla., and tried to enlist her. She demurred, but eventually consented to give Howell her list of the most important Democrats in Flagler County.

Much of the job is what Howell calls "massaging egos." He quickly learned the old political device of winning supporters by dispensing titles. He helped arrange for Jacksonville Mayor Hans Tanzler Jr. to be the national co-chairman of Mayors for Muskie; an important Jacksonville banker was put on the National Finance Committee. One night Howell stayed up until 2:30 a.m. writing four effusive thank you letters to a man who had demanded them as payment for previous support before he would make a $2,000 campaign contribution.

Occasionally, the amateur runs up against tough, entrenched professionals who balk at taking orders from a fledgling. Some, still thinking in terms of the old system, ask what they must do to become firm delegates. Howell tells them to get out and campaign like everyone else who is running for a spot. "I tell these folks the name of the game this year is votes," he says. "We gotta have the votes or not have the delegates, period."

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