Clinton Seeks to Foil GOP Attacks

BELLE MEAD, N.J. The GOP will open a television ad campaigntomorrow to help turn around George Bush's slipping fortunes in thepresidential campaign, but Democratic nominee Bill Clinton movedSaturday to pre-empt Republican attacks.

Democrats are expecting Republicans to step up criticism ofClinton as a "failed governor from a small state," and Clinton lashedout at Bush as a "failed president of a big country."

Flanked by 14 fellow Democratic governors meeting in NewJersey, Clinton cited his record of job creation and income growth inArkansas and said, "I come from a state that has always been one ofthe poorest states in America. But the difference between my stateand the country is since I've been governor we've been going in theright direction and the country's going in the wrong direction."

The Democratic nominee flew to New Jersey to meet with membersof the Democratic Governors Association and with Democratic NationalChairman Ron Brown.

Clinton was joined by some of the Democrats' most powerfulspeakers, including Texas Gov. Ann Richards and New York Gov. MarioCuomo, who were upbeat about his fighting spirit and prospects forwinning the White House in November.

Richards, who said she hoped Republicans "enjoy themselves andspend a lot of money" at their nominating convention in her statethis month, said she was thrilled to have a scrappy Democrat.

Cuomo, saying he wondered whether Republicans go to Europe andmake fun of small countries, noted that Clinton had been re-electedsix time in Arkansas and said, "I'm working very hard in New York tofail the way Bill Clinton has" in Arkansas.