Road Show: In America, Anyone Can Become President It's One of the Risks We Take

Baltimore Sun syndicated columnist Simon covered the 1988 presidential campaign, and his detailed report is both informative and wickedly funny. Fairly easy on Jesse Jackson and tolerant of Dan Quayle, he wipes the floor with Gary Hart, Pat Robertson and Al Haig, adding a scalding sketch of Al Gore's staged visit to a ward of babies hospitalized with AIDS. Simon chronicles the main bout between Mr. Ice and Mr. Nice with gleeful venom. Dukakis, ``the man who can eat one potato chip,'' is pictured as an inept and obtuse campaigner. Bush, struggling to overcome the Wimp Factor, is shown crushing his opponent with base tactics which included the exploitation of racial fear; no other issue was more important, argues Simon. Particularly revealing is his I-was-there analysis of how Bush's ``media handler,'' Roger Ailes, generaled his client to victory. This comprehensive account of the campaign is a treat for anyone who needs reminding of how revolting a ``road show'' it was. (Oct.)