Wofford's victory has many in GOP worried

George Bush probably did not sleep well last night. At Wofford's headquarters election night, several politicians and pundits said that Wofford's 40-point comeback based on traditional Democratic issues of jobs and national health care is sending a strong signal to Bush and the Republicans. "The issues he's [Wofford] talked about -- healthcare, jobs, and education -- are Democratic issues," said Rep. Peter Kostmayer (D-Pa.) in Wofford's suite Tuesday night. "I think when you fight these battles on a Democratic battleground, the Democrats would win, and I think this a wake-up call to George Bush." Wofford's ability to tap into middle class resentment of Washington's response to their problems was the key to Wofford's victory and offers hope to Democratic presidential hopefuls. But this change of attitude among the middle class does not bode well for Bush and the incumbent Republicans, who may find themselves swimming against the tide. "I just think it's the winds of the times," said another one of Wofford's Capitol Hill colleagues, Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.). "I just think he tapped into this feeling people have that things have got to change." While watching the promising election returns on television, Wofford credited this domestic message and the opportunity for Pennsylvanians to send a shock to the White House for his victory. "We want action against a recession such as this," Wofford said. "We want national health insurance. The people want us to bring the Peace Corps spirit home to America and take care of our own problems and our own people with the sources and will we apply so readily to challenges overseas." The Wofford victory is a breath of fresh air for the stagnant Democratic Party that hasn't been able to put a dent in the Reagan-Bush armor for over a decade. But perhaps the Democrat with the biggest grin on his face was Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Mark Singel who is exploring a run against the state's senior senator, Arlen Specter. "I'm very encouraged by these results," Singel said election night. "There's no question in my mind that Harris Wofford has given us a foundation on which to build a strong message for moderates to run in Pennsylvania." "I think it is going to be a competitive race in 1992," he added. "I feel very strongly about it, and stay tuned because we're going to continue. We're going to make it two for two." "If the fates would have it . . . I would be delighted to serve with Harris Wofford as the junior senator from Pennsylvania." Singel is not only helped by Wofford's win, but also by Specter's tough stance in the Clarence Thomas hearings and the state's history of having at least one senator from outside Philadelphia. As Democrats are gearing up to pour salt in the Republicans' Pennsylvania wound, Republican leaders are assessing the damage Wofford's victory did to the party. "It's a blow to the party," Specter admitted at Philadelphia mayoral candidate Joseph Egan's headquarters election night. National Republican leaders are not as candid as they scurry for an explanation for Thornburgh's sound thumping. "We view Pennsylvania as an aberration," Republican National Committee Chairman Clayton Yeutter said on NBC's "Today" show. Assessing the Wofford victory at a morning news conference yesterday, President Bush said there was a message sent from Pennsylvania. "There's a message here for the administration and a message here for the United States Congress," Bush said. "When the economy is slow, people are concerned. They're hurting out there. They're concerned about their livelihood." But Bush's noticing that many Americans are suffering economically is a realization that went over his former Attorney General's head and that a victorious Wofford made months ago. The question now is: Is it too late for Bush? The Associated Press contributed to this story

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