NEW YORK--Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton easily won yesterday's Democratic primary here, and former Massachusetts Sen. Paul E. Tsongas took second, despite dropping out of the race two weeks ago and not campaigning in the state.
Clinton also won primaries in Wisconsin and Kansas, and a nonbonding "beauty contest" in Minnesota.
With 99 percent of precincts reporting in New York, Clinton won 41 percent of the vote, while Tsongas won 29 percent. Former California Gop. Edmund G. Brown Jr. won 26 percent.
Tsongas' showing, which was far stronger than anticipated, coupled with Clinton's failure to amass a majority guarantees that Tsongas will think seriously about re-entering the race. He said last night that he would announce a decision by the end of the week.
President George Bush comfortably defeated challenger Patrick J. Buchanan in Republican primaries in Wisconsin, Kansas and Minnesota. There was no GOP primary in New York because Buchanan failed to qualify for the ballot. Clinton said the Democratic results showed acall for unity in the party behind the idea ofchange. "When the vote is in tonight, it will show thatAmericans want to be together again," Clintonsaid. Brown, who had told voters to vote for Tsongasif they were not going to vote for him, concededdefeat to both his opponents and down-played thecompetition between Democrats. "It's not about one person, one candidatetrying to reach the brass ring," Brown said. "It'sabout the people." Brown promised he would stay in the race,despite his disappointing showing. With 84 percent of precincts reporting inWisconsin, Clinton won 38 percent of the vote toBrown's 35 percent and Tsongas' 22 percent. InKansas, Clinton had 51 percent of vote, with theothers bunched far behind. Bush won 100 percent of the vote in Kansas, 68percent in Minnesota and 77 percent in Wisconsin.The president is 142 delegates short of a lock onthe nomination. Tsongas told reporters last night that he wouldcarefully consider the results with his advisersbefore deciding whether to jump back into thecampaign. He emphasized that he did not want toplay the role of "spoiler" because it might hurtthe party. Earlier in the week, Tsongas aides said that ifClinton did not garner a majority and if Tsongaswon over 15 percent of the vote--both of whichhappened--then Tsongas would reopen his campaign. Clinton spoke like a candidate well on his wayto the nomination, down-playing differencesbetween him and his opponents and saying that avote for one of his rivals was still "a vote forchange." "Tonight, I ask you to reach out to those whodid not vote for me but voted for change." Clintonsaid. "We want to be their campaign, too." Read more in News