Ten O'Clock News

[Beeping] [Dukakis] Well I always wanted to be an Olympic champion and thanks to you, we've made it. [Reporter] Saying he went for the gold and got it in New Hampshire last night, Governor Dukakis savored the thrill of victory. [Dukakis] You've given us our start on the road to the White House. [Reporter] Senator Simon got the bronze but he still suffered the agonies of defeat. [Simon] You come in third instead of second, you have a tougher time raising money. [Reporter] The silver went to Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt. The spin on his second place finish is that it confirms he's a serious national candidate. [Gephardt] We will wind up on the steps of the west front of the Capitol January the 20th, 1989. [applause] [Reporter] As governor of the neighboring state, Dukakis was always expected to win New Hampshire so it was important that he win and win big. But the question was always what would be Dukakis' southern strategy? Could a governor who is perceived as a northeastern liberal do

as well in the South? [Dukakis] I don't have a Southern strategy. I don't have a Northern strategy or a Western strategy. I have an American strategy. That's the strategy we have. [Reporter] Coordinator of Dukakis' Southern Strategy is son John Dukakis. [John Dukakis] There are hurdles to go over, but we've gone over them I think, we've been talking about good jobs at good wages for people, we've been talking about the economic future and believe me, if there's one issue that unites people in the north and people in the south, it's the economic future of this country. [Reporter] Early polls put Gephardt ahead in the south, but the polls predicted Simon would play second in New Hampshire and the polls proved wrong. [Speaker 1] This early in the process in 20 states, when you talk Mega Tuesday, what your recognition is what you're talking about. [Reporter] Dukakis will get a bounce from New Hampshire just as Gephardt got one from Iowa. But Gephardt is hurt. Simon's ads charging him with flip-flopping seem destined to follow him south. [Simon] I think it was the right decision and I think that's what campaigns are about.

[Reporter] But the ads may have hurt Simon too. Eight hundred thousand dollars in debt, Simon has dropped out of the debate in Texas so that he can raise funds. With no wins under his belt, Simon is focusing on states with contests before Super Tuesday. Pundits predict his liberal platform will give him trouble in the south. In New Hampshire it literally gave way. [crowd yelping] [Simon] Believe it or not the platform I stand on is a good solid platform. [Reporter] Will the punching bag campaign continue? Dukakis today decried it as poor sportsmanship. [Dukakis] We have a lesson to learn from the Republicans here about how not to campaign. [Reporter] But he got in a few digs of his own last night. On Gephardt: [Dukakis] The enemy isn't Asia, it's defeatism. [Reporter] On Simon: [Dukakis] Our enemy isn't change, it's nostalgia. [Reporter] Even Gary Hart: [Dukakis] Our enemy isn't the media, it's mediocrity. [applause] [Reporter] Round three began with the roar of jet planes today. Ahead in delegates, Dukakis campaigned in Atlanta and Florida. Gephardt and Simon also headed south

where Jesse Jackson and Al Gore promised to pull no punches. Rounding out the Democratic roster, Bruce Babbitt is on the ropes. Gary Hart can be considered a TKO. So with only three weeks to go and more than 1200 delegates at stake, Super Tuesday is shaping up to be a championship bout. For the 10 O'Clock News, I'm Meg Vaillancourt.