Democratic Candidates Sounding Common Themes on Education

By Julie A. Miller

All five major Democratic Presidential candidates have acknowledged the importance of education, particularly as an essential part of any strategy to bring the nation out of its economic doldrums. Most of them also have criticized President Bush at least once for what they see as his failure to live up to his promise to be the "education President."

But while each of the candidates has at least one education proposal in his platform, none has made it the centerpiece of his campaign. And only two of the five--Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas and Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa--have compiled significant records on education issues during their careers.

Mr. Clinton's national reputation rests substantially on his efforts in education, both in enacting a wide ranging reform agenda in Arkansas and in his leadership on education issues within the National Governors' Association. ('See Education...