Robertson Courts South, Sees Victories Despite N.H. Setback

MIAMI —  Republican presidential candidate Pat Robertson flew south Wednesday, playing down the significance of his poor showing in New Hampshire and predicting a string of Southern victories.

Robertson stuck to his hotly disputed claim that Soviet missiles are based in Cuba, believing that this assertion has struck a chord with voters--particularly Cuban-Americans.

“Frankly, in Florida, I think it has turned out to be an enormous plus,” Robertson said of his missile claim.

Underscoring the strategy, the former religious broadcaster addressed a Miami rally of Cuban-Americans on Wednesday night.

Promises Latinos in Cabinet

To chants of “Go, Pat, Go,” Robertson delivered a rousing speech at a hotel here, declaring himself a “fighter for freedom,” in the Caribbean, Nicaragua, and especially in Cuba. He called for a $5-billion aid program for Central America and promised to appoint Latinos to his Cabinet and the Supreme Court. He also vowed not to allow individual deportations of Cuban immigrants back to their homeland unless he personally approved.

In earlier stops in Greenville, S.C., and Orlando, Fla., Robertson, the only native Southerner on the GOP side, proclaimed the region “Robertson country” and said the race for the presidency has moved to his “back yard.”

“It’s wonderful to be back home in the South,” Robertson told a midday rally of about 100 supporters in Greenville.

Touching on familiar themes, Robertson vowed to “stand up to the Soviet Communists,” to improve education and to “strengthen families.”

End to Abortion Backed

And, to loud cheers, he promised that supporters would “absolutely . . . see a time when we stop the slaughter of unborn babies.”

South Carolina holds a GOP primary March 5, three days before 20 other states--most of them Southern--vote on Super Tuesday. The region has always been important to Robertson’s candidacy because it contains large numbers of conservative, religious voters.

“This is the big one,” Robertson said of the South Carolina primary. “There’s no sense in playing games. If I lose this one, I’m in trouble.” He also said, however, that he would not drop out if he lost.

Robertson said that since his claim Sunday that Soviet missiles are in Cuba, large numbers of people have contacted him with information about the missiles. At an Orlando news conference, he cited a Cable News Network poll saying 85% of viewers believe Soviet missiles are based in that island nation.

“In my opinion, they’re there,” he said.

Richard Quinn, a Robertson media consultant in South Carolina, said that there is a “three-way race” in the state among Robertson, Vice President George Bush and Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, and that the campaign’s preference polls show Robertson moving from 7% to the “high teens” during the last month.

Quinn said the campaign has begun a “switches and converts” effort that will lure well-known supporters from rival campaigns.

“The invisible army is recruiting,” he said.