But at every rally, he eventually looks out over his audience and placing his thumb outstretched on top of a closed hand, he jabs it at his listeners and says, "I believe we can do better. I believe this election is important."

And he's off into his campaign speech, which lists education, unemployment, and housing as the main problems confronting American society. He repeats again and again his belief in the obligation the more fortunate have to the less fortunate in American society. He constantly quotes numbers and percentages of various minority groups who are ill-housed, ill-fed, and ill-educated, always concluding, "I believe we can do better."

Kennedy has by now developed a fair amount of stage presence and knows how to handle his crowds. He knows he must quiet down his yelling younger enthusiasts and then put down the small number of Goldwater hecklers who inevitably turn up.

For the children he will use one of two techniques. Either he will look at them suddenly and demand, "What did I just say? I'm trying to talk about some of the most important problems we face and you're not even listening." If this doesn't settle them down, he will continue, "You know what my opponent wants? He's for school on Saturday. Do you want that?" As the youngsters settle down, Kennedy launches into his speech anew.

When the booing or jeering from the Goldwaterites threatens to get out of hand, Kennedy raises his hand to stop his partisans from answering in kind. "I think its very nice Barry's supporters are here today. When I started campaigning, there were eighteen of them in the state. Now there are nine of them and they're holding a state convention here today." Amidst the general laughter Kennedy slides back into his routine.

Humor is an important element in Kennedy's speeches, particularly if he senses the crowd becoming bored. In introducing local candidates at the beginning of a rally, Kennedy will quietly observe, "If you cheer loudly, it makes us feel better up here." He ends each list of introductions with: "And for U.S. Senator," and then raises his hand over his head and points down at himself.

One trick which always pleases his audience begins with a typical rhetorical question: "In 1961, President Kennedy offered a bill to aid teachers' salaries and school construction. Do you think Senator Keating was on the floor of the U.S. Senate, voting on that bill?" "No!" the crowd roars back enthusiastically. Kennedy pauses, and then says, "Well, he was. [Another pause to allow the laughter to die away.] But he voted against the bill. If I had been in the United States Senate, I would have been leading the fight for that bill."

Kennedy rarely refers to his opponent except in discussing Keating's position on various pieces of legislation. He does not engage in the dirt throwing Keating has occasionally sunk to, and Kennedy replies to these charges only under the direct questioning of newsmen.

Many of Keating's charges--the mishandling of the sale of General Aniline and of the Valachi hearings--involve Kennedy's conduct as Attorney General. And Kennedy has been personally hurt by these accusations. He is, with at least some justification, fairly proud of his term at the Justice Department, and Keating's charges, most of which are underhanded political trash, have deeply offended him.

Most of the reporters who have followed both candidates are convinced Kennedy will have the satisfaction of defeating his Republican opponent, which ought to soothe the wounds considerably. The outlook was not always so bright for the former Attorney General, however. The turning point of the campaign came about three weeks ago when Keating announced that his polls showed him significantly out in front. While Kennedy's aides feel this may have been true three weeks ago, Keating lost his most valuable asset: the image of the old, experienced community servant fighting a losing battle against a young upstart. Kennedy readily embraces the role of underdog and always rates the campaign a "close, tough contest" when questioned by newsmen. He pooh-poohs the Daily News poll which shows him in front three to two.

Kennedy has run a far more respectable campaign than his brother Edward ran in Massachusetts two years ago to swamp George Cabot Lodge. Robert Kennedy won't overwhelm Kenneth Keating, but he will probably join his younger brother's club this January