SOMETIMES POLITICS CAN BE A REAL TRIP

The possiblity of past drug use turned into a subject of dinner party
debate and national headlines for Presidential candidate Governor
George W. Bush of Texas. But a recent poll shows Bush's support
varies little between those who have or have not used cocaine in the
past.

It's a different story, however, for hardline conservative Patrick
Buchanan, the prospective Reform Party candidate. His support nearly
doubles among some former drug users. In a survey of 600 Michigan
voters conducted between Sept. 30 and Oct. 7 by the independent
EPIC/MRA pollsters, Buchanan received 7% of the vote in a three-way
race with Vice-President Al Gore and Bush. But among former crack
cocaine users he got 14%, while among old pill poppers he garnered 11%
of the vote. "You definitely have to get high to vote for Pat
Buchanan," quipped Ed Sarpolus of EPIC/MRA, who conducted the poll.

Former cocaine users, it turns out, are not much different from other
voters in their support of Bush. The governor led Gore by 48% to 40%
among them, and by a nearly identical 51% to 39% among all voters.
All three campaigns declined to comment.