Political Seers Discuss Voting And the Future of the Parties

Two political analysts at a post-election forum sponsored by the Institute of Politics last night characterized Tuesday's election as the start of four bad years for the Republicans and a return of the traditional Democratic coalition.

Describing the two-party system as "deteriorated," Christopher Arterton, assistant professor of political science at Yale, said the election results will make it hard for the Republican party to effectively voice alternatives to Democratic policy "for a bleak four years," until a leader emerges in the next convention.

Arterton said individual candidate organizations will become more important in future elections than regular party backing.

William Schneider, assistant professor of Government and an adviser to NBC Polls, likened the reemergence of the old-line Democratic coalition to the return of an aging vaudeville performer and the convention and election to acts on the old-time stage.

Peanut Power

Schneider attributed Carter's victory to "almost unanimous" black support and the widespread feeling that Carter would perform better in handling domestic problems, especially unemployment.

Voters were also discouraged by "the Nixon-Ford administration's bad economic and police record," Schneider said.

Carter's election and the weakness of the Republicans do not indicate a trouble-free Democratic administration, Arterton said, adding that Carter will have "some rude shocks" when he attempts to reorganize the federal bureaucracy.

Schneider characterized Carter's reorganization hopes as "fruitless... but it's his thing."

Both analysts agreed that Carter stands a good chance of being reelected in 1980.

Asked about the possibility of another Ronald Reagan campaign, Arterton did not rule it out, but added, "He'll go back to his radio show and be listened to in all the states that were red [pro-Ford] on the network maps.