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POLITICAL MEDIA ANALYSIS October 18, 1972THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN 20 Days A Mexican stand-off yesterday, and this morning. News is dominated this morning by Kissinger to Saigon, revived hopes of a peaceful settlement ("important movement" NBC) and focus on whether or not package can be sold to Thieu. Led two nets last night. This morning and today the defeat of the spending ceiling is a rising story -- played higher than politics, as is the search for Boggs. POLITICS McGovern major wireestory of yesterday, his focus and that of Shriver, which gets their news play this morning was on the "50 saboteurs" espionage, etc. The Story does not get a major ride this morning; in most papers, it is inside. Last night the McGovern allegations got no film though ABC had a five-minute piece on the Espionage-Sabotage bit. Where McGovern did score last night was on two nets ABC and NBC where McGovern surrogates Frank Reynolds and Douglas Kiker gave us, first, the "serene confident" underdog bit, and secondly, the "big crowds" showing-new-momentum thesis. Very favorable for McGovern on both. McGovern negatives of yesterday The Field poll showing him fourteen behind in California was a blow; as are other polls coming in such as the Minnesota one showing him 24 behind there. Also, Severeid and Brinkley seem greasing the skids for a McGovern defeat, pointing up the near impossibility of a McGovern reversal given his present situation in the polls. CBS incidentally gave McGovern nothing although they did give us a going- over to be noted later herein. Also, again, the spots are getting to McGovern as yesterday he denounced the one on welfare. Interesting Note: McGovern is getting somewhat defensive, saying he does not like the "attack" role and this morning, he seems shifting over to the economic issues as does Shriver. Appears co-ordinated, probably in preparation for Friday night. Incidentally, a poll of visitors to the swish boutiques at the Watergate found McGovern the favorite -- nd unexpectedly. FOR OUR TEAM RN yesterday morning got some additional good footage on his prisoners appearances, which was one of the best things we have done in ome days. Also, Jarriel had RN on ABC, in some of yesterday's meetings, but his focus was on the advantages of the incumbent. As stated, our "big" sotry was the Kissinger-to-Vietnam hard news, which dominated this morning and last night. However, some of our surrogates got some good wire copy in some fairly hard attacks on McGovern -- and JBC, though his statement about possibly leaving the Democrats was covered on no networks did make one (ABC) toughing on Espionage, etc.