A covey of Harvard students held a pre-debate rally for vice-presidential candidate Dan Quayle on the steps of Widener Library yesterday afternoon.

"Quayle is like a potato," an ardent supporter blared to about 150 students at the lunchtime rally, waving "Quayle for V.I.P." signs to the swelling roll of drums.

"He has a tough leathery exterior, but inside he's warm and mushy--you put a pat of butter on top, and you're in business," he said.

Rumors that the Harvard Lampoon had staged the event were quickly put to rest by rally participants, who said they belonged to a year-old campus organization, Harvard Students for Quayle.

A speaker also said Democratic candidate Michael S. Dukakis would drive Soviet tanks through Harvard Yard if elected, and that Quayle would have the courage to cut student loans.

The students urged onlookers to select Quayle from the "menu of choices" in this election year, and closed by belting out the Pledge of Allegiance.

A knot of Students for Dukakis began heckling the rally, then took advantage of the occasion to do a brisk business in T-shirts advertising the Democratic ticket.

Not one to beat about the bush, a rally organizer conceded that the Quayle-potato analogy was somewhat unusual. But he said organization members found it an effective symbol of Quayle's unique blend of tough stances on issues and personal warmth.

"I think he's the greatest man ever to run for vice president of the United States," said Students for Quayle supporter Justin Graham '92. Quayle represents an entirely new viewpoint in American politics, Graham added.

Andy Robin '90, who also said he was a member, agreed. "There's a lot of good things about him. He's likable, 100 percent American, served honorably in the National Guard, interested in America, personable, good-looking, and not old."

Harvard's Quayle supporters are making a sincere effort to bring their candidate's positive qualities to light, Robin said. And Graham was at pains to draw distinctions between Students for Quayle and the Harvard Republican Club, which he said is devoted chiefly to defending Bush positions.

According to Robin, a second political rally is scheduled for October 18, the candidate's birthday.