McCarthy Runs--Sort Of

"A formal announcement is when you do it in the Senate caucus room with your family at your side. I don't know what to call this one." With this characteristic bit of mock diffidence, Minnesota's Eugene J. McCarthy revealed at a Boston news conference late last week that he was--"de facto, de jure"--again a candidate for the presidency. The poet, professor and paladin of politics also confirmed that he had assented to the establishment of a McCarthy-for-President committee in Massachusetts.

The ex-Senator, however, said that he had not yet decided whether to enter the Massachusetts primary in April. Vague as ever, McCarthy added: "This is the beginning of an effort to get delegates. I don't know if you could call it a drive or not." The McCarthy faithful have long awaited his political renascence--but other Democrats are hardly likely to welcome another divisive figure into the ranks of candidates.

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