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A Political Asset?

"Although Americans say they want average guys, they really don't," Will said. "Voters want superior people with the common touch. No one really wants to be governed by his next-door neighbor."

Will cited the example of former President Jimmy Carter, who appealed to citizens as a down-home, peanut farmer. But while Carter certainly emphasized his agrarian roots, he was also known as a nuclear engineer and graduate of the elite Naval Academy.

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Vice President Al Gore Jr. '69 appears to be employing a modified version of Carter's approach. Eager to reminisce about his days as a farmer in Tennessee, Gore has been noticeably reticent about his prep school and Harvard education.

Brains and Bucks

Whether a candidate flaunts or hides his Harvard credentials in public, the Harvard connection can provide a major boost to a campaign operation behind the scenes.

Rep. James H. Maloney III '70 (D-Conn.), who was elected in 1996, confirmed that a University network exists, at least in national politics.

Once a year, Maloney said, Harvard graduates serving in Congress are invited to a cocktail reception in Washington.

David Broder, a political analyst and senior Washington Post correspondent, suggested that the network extends beyond Washington and includes not only office-holders but also advisers and strategists.

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