1.
SV Humphrey surrounded by supporters as he mounts platform
0.16

2.
SV Newsmen and others
0.19

3.
CU Humphrey speaks (SOUND)
0.40

4.
SV & CU Humphrey shakes hands with supporters (2 shots)
0.59

5.
CU & SV McGovern surrounded by supporters as he enters hall (2 shots)
1.09

6.
LV & INT McGovern sits next to Mrs. King.
1.15

7.
CU Mrs. Kings speaks (SOUND)
1.44

8.
LV PAN FROM McGovern next to Mrs. King to newsmen
1.55

9.
CU McGovern speaks (SOUND)
2.16


REPORTER: "Hubert Humphrey agrees with his advisors that he must start attacking, not McGovern, but McGovern's positions. He said today this would be the essence of his campaign in California. The best way to expose McGovern's positions, he figures, would be in debates. He talked about the slight lead which the polls have given him."



HUMPHREY: "I want you to know that I am prepared to put this lead right on the line so that the people of California can make a fully-informed decision on June 6th. It is in this spirit that I now invite Senator McGovern to debate our differences on these issues."



REPORTER: "Humprhey has proposed three debates with McGovern, televised state-wide. He would pay for half of it. Humphrey does not have the money or the manpower McGovern does for California. His must be a limited campaign, aimed chiefly at traditional Humphrey constituencies: blacks, Chicanos, senior citizens, the Jewish vote, labour. McGovern was in California for only a few hours before flying on to campaign in Oregon. But while he was here, he received the backing of Mrs. Coretta King, the window of martin Luther King. It was an important endorsement for McGovern who is trying (INDISTICT) Hubert Humphrey's strength among black voters."



MRS. KING: "I believe that Senator McGovern will bring an end to the error of division in our nation and will usher in a new era of reconciliation. I believe that Senator McGovern can provide the moral leadership that will coalesce the forces of goodwill in this nation and create the conditions that will lead to the transformation of my husband's dream."



REPORTER: "Then McGovern spoke about transforming a war-time economy back to a peace-time economy, a sensitive issue in California where so many jobs depend upon defence and aerospace contracts."



MCGOVERN: "For almost a decade now, I've been working on this problem, of conversion planning so that our defence workers, our aerospace workers and all others whose jobs are jeopardised can have the assurance that good jobs will be available doing the things we need to do to rebuild our country."




Initials BB/2200 JH/MR/BB/2230


TELERECORDING
This film, from the National Broadcasting Company, has a reporter's commentary, but we are providing an alternate commentary which editors may wish to use.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Democratic Senators Hubert Humphrey and George McGovern both began their campaigns for the California presidential primary on Thursday (18 May) in Los Angeles. The winner of the June 6th primary gets 271 delegate votes at the Democratic Party nominating convention, and as such, it's a major prize of more than three months of state-by-state campaigning.

In his opening speech, Mr. Humphrey challenged Mr. McGovern to fight at least part of the campaign battle with debates on state-wide television. And Senator McGovern accepted.

Senator Humphrey has said he disagrees not with McGovern personally, but with his proposals to cut defence spending and increase welfare payments.

Mr. McGovern was given an endorsement by Mrs. Coretta King, widow of Martin Luther King. The Senator considered this important because of his hopes of winning some of the traditional Humphrey support among black voters.

Senator McGovern referred to California's big defence and aerospace industries, saying it was important to assure workers in those fields that they'd have jobs after the conversion to a peace-time economy.