Hart chose to skip Iowa because his late returnto the race allowed him too little preparationtime, and he could not afford to spend much of hislimited campaign money there.

Cacciatore said Hart's big television push lastweek produced little more support because hiscampaign workers were not active enough in thestate to reinforce the advertisements' message. Healso said Gore was not wise to ignore Iowa. TheTenessee senator has called Iowa voters"unrepresentative of the nation" and criticized"low participation" in the caucuses.

"Iowa is...an important first step that istaker: very seriously" Cacciatore said. "Iowavoters pay attention to what he has said, and theydon't appreciate it," he added.

Gore has made limited efforts in New Hampshire,while concentrating on his own part of the countryin hopes of a victory on "Super Tuesday," March 8,when most Southern states, as well asMassachusetts, will hold their primaries.

On the Republican side, Vice President GeorgeBush and Kansas Sen. Bob Dole have the mosteffective grassroots organizations and the mostpervasive media campaigns, said Gwen Bocke, amember of the Iowa Republican National Commitee.She rated Robertson only slightly lower and saidNew York Rep. Jack Kemp, and former Delaware Gov.Pete duPont had made adequate efforts.

Bocke said Dole did well in the polls becausehis home state is close to lowa, while she saidBush had revived support he developed in 1980,when he was first in the caucuses. Robertson, shesaid, has benefited from a large evangelicalfollowing in lowa, while Kemp's campaign is not aswell organized because his effort had a latestart.

Of the 13 Democratic and Republican candidates,11 are expected to appear in Iowa today. Most willtravel to New Hampshire this evening to preparefor the presidential primary there on February 16,campaign aides said yesterday