Agnew was uie iaoi oi me state’s conservatives and

Agnew was uie iaoi oi me state’s conservatives and was then untouched by the scandal which later brought him down. The Watergate break-in had occurred, but its darker implications were still only a glint in the eyes of two then unknown Washington Post reporters. Several factors help cloud an accurate assessment of the impact of the Carter visit. In the first place, it was much earlier relative to election day than those by Nixon and Agnew. A visit by the President of the United States is, after all, a tough act to follow.. Some Democratic strategists are concerned about what the campaign can do to avoid the appearance of having “peaked” too early. One Howell staffer said that the emphasis from now until election day will be on issues and on Howell’s record of public service.

“We’re going to accentuate the positive,” he said, “and try to get Henry to stay off Dalton’s back for a while.”

Another factor will be how well the President’s popularity fares in the weeks immediately ahead.

How Mach Help, Really

Mr. Carter has unburdened himself of the person of Bert Lance, but his impassioned defense of his friend in accepting his resignation may return to haunt him if Lance’s personal troubles continue to deepen.

The fact that Carter failed to carry Virginia in the 1976 Presidential balloting would a not seem to bear on the question. Carter received 813,8% to President Ford’s 836,554 with a scattering going to minor candidates. Carter’s deficit was a relatively miniscule 22,658 votes.

The turnout of many thousands on the President’s most recent visit to the Old Dominion shows there is a vast difference between a visit to the Commonwealth by Jimmy Carter, the doubtful candidate, and Jimmy Carter, President of the United States.

Another issue that seems destined to be around for some time is that of the ratification of the Panama Canal treaty.

The question has been seized upon by the denizens of the Republican right wing and is ready-made for their exploitation. The case against ratification can be simply stated and easily wrapped in the flag of patriotic appeal.

The case for ratification, however, requires a study of the treaty’s terms and a more thoughtfiil appraisal of the canal’s future value and defensibility in its relationship to the nation’s long-term best interests.

Panama Question

Complicated

There is not much question which case can be more easily argued, and the President is on the side that is complicated.

If Mr. Carter’s popularity should erode markedly in the weeks ahead because of these or other issues, the value of his support of the Howell candidacy may be tarnished accordingly.

The Howell strategists, however, do not regard this as likely. Indeed, as this is written, speculation is stirring that other members of the Carter family will be visiting the Commonwealth in behalf of the Rainbow