The New Season

Since there will be no incumbent running and both major party nominations for the 1988 presidential election will be up for grabs, it promises to be an unusually unpredictable and entertaining ball game, in the view of national political columnist and TV commentator Will. With discernment and wit directed at both major parties, and in the light of historical perspective, he reviews how a wide range of economic, demographic, regional and generational factors, along with recent political patterns, are likely to help determine issues and themes of candidates' campaigns and affect the election. In 1988, Republicans must retain Reagan loyalists and Democrats must recapture lost constituencies. The winner, Will notes, will inherit Reagan's bloated deficit and a swollen government, both of which he had vowed to reduce. Among other recommendations, the author urgently advocates that the U.S. remain in a strong defensive position vs. the Soviets despite pressures to achieve an arms-control agreement. Major ad/promo; author tour. (November 16)