American Notes CAMPAIGNS

When Senator Paul Simon of Illinois declared his candidacy for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination last week, he became, at 58, the oldest of his party's seven contenders. As the author of eleven books, he is probably one of the most literate candidates. And as a fancier of bow ties, horn-rimmed glasses and what he calls the Democratic tradition of caring and daring and dreaming, he may be among the most unfashionable.

If so, Simon plans to stay that way. "Harry Truman wore a bow tie and horn- rimmed glasses," he told followers at Southern Illinois University, "and he didn't knuckle under to pressure to change his views as he fought for working and retired Americans." In one recent poll, Simon, first choice of 6% of Democrats, ranked third among the contenders.