Sen. Albert Gore Jr. '69 (D.-Tenn.) ran adistant third in Wisconsin. But even so, hepronounced himself "extremely pleased."
The Tennessee senator spent heavily intelevision advertising in hopes of sneaking up onhis rivals or at least winning 20 percent of thepopular vote--the percentage necessary tore-qualify his campaign for federal matchingfunds.
While Gore predicted "a hard-fought battle allthe way to the convention," Sen. Paul Simon(D.-Ill.), a poor fourth, seemed likely to suspendactive campaigning later in the week.
Wisconsin had 81 Democratic delegates at stake,with Dukakis receiving 43, Jackson 26 and Gore 12.Going into the evening, Dukakis led Jackson, 692to 683, and Gore had 382 delegates. Simon had 171and 517 were uncommitted. The Democratic nomineemust receive 2081.
Bush easily defeated former televisionevangelist Pat Robertson in the Republican raceand the addition of 47 Wisconsin delegates broughthis total to 888. He needs 1039 for the nominationand ought to have enough some time this month.
The Wisconsin primary overshadowed Colorado'scaucuses in terms of delegates as well asimportance in the competition for momentum in theweeks to come.
Returns from 73 percent of Colorado's 2784precincts showed Dukakis with 3974 delegates, or45.4 percent, to Jackson's 3453 delegates or 39.5percent. Uncommitted delegates totaled 1069, or12.2 percent, and Gore received 236 delegates, or2.7 percent.
Dukakis stood to gain some 21 nationalconvention delegates from Colorado if hemaintained his lead. Jackson would win 17delegates and another seven would be uncommitted.
The Democratic caucuses were held acrossColorado on Monday night, but significant returnswere not reported until yesterday by the stateDemocratic Party. The slow count brought sharpcriticism from Jackson, who accused State ChairmanBuie Seawell of "deliberately controlling theprocess" by remaining as party chairman afterpublicly supporting Dukakis.
Under Wisconsin state rules, Republicans werepermitted to "cross over" and vote in theDemocratic contest. When GOP Gov. Tommy Thompsonpraised Jackson last week, some Democrats fearedthat Republicans might vote for the former civilrights leader in the belief that he would make aneasy mark for Bush in November.