Campaign Notes the House

"We have lost to the white racist press and to the racist reactionary Jewish misleaders." That concession speech alone might be enough to convince southside Chicago voters that they had done the right thing by ousting Gus Savage after six terms in the House of Representatives. Savage, 66, was beaten by fellow Democrat Melvin Reynolds, a 40-year-old black educator and Rhodes scholar, who won 63% of the vote. Unsuccessful in two previous challenges, Reynolds benefited this time from suburban additions to the remapped district and growing voter disgust with Savage's incendiary provocations. The race turned sinister as Election Day neared when drive-by shooters fired at Reynolds' leased car. The candidate was slightly injured by flying glass. Some in Reynolds' camp suspected Savage supporters of instigating the attack. Appearing at his victory celebration with his head still bandaged and wearing the bulletproof vest that he has been using for more than a month, Reynolds hailed the outcome as a "repudiation of racial politics."