MCCARTHY MANG HIS ANNOUNCEMENT -REPORTERS PUSH HIM INTO MAKING CLEAR WHAT HE IS SAYING, THAT HE IS A CANDIDATE.




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Background: FORMER SENATOR EUGENE MCCARTHY OF MINNESOTA ANNOUNCED HIS CANDIDACY FRIDAY (DEC 17) FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION IN 1972 BUT SAID HE WOULD SKIP THE NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY ELECTION NEXT MARCH 7TH THE FIRST IN THE NATION. MCCARTHY TOLD A NEWS CONFERENCE IN BOSTON THAT PAPERS WOLD BE FILED WITHIN TWO WEEKS TO ENTER HIS NAME IN THE APRIL 25TH PRIMARY IN MASSACHUSETTS. HE BACKED INTO HIS ANNOUNCEMENT SAYING HE WAS IN BOSTON TO HELP WITH THE OPENING OF MCCARTHY FOR PRESIDENT HEADQUARTERS. ASKED IF THIS MEANT HE WAS A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR NEXT YEAR MCCARTHY GRINNED AND CONCEDED, IT'S KIND OF NA ANNOUNCEMENT, YES. HE SAID HE WOLD MOUNT AN INDEPENDENT DRIVE FOR THE PRESIDENCY IF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONTINUES IN HIS VIEW TO ALIGN ITSELF WITH THE NIXON ADMINISTRATION.