CANDIDATES ARE ALL RICH IN RECESSION

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 5, 1992                   TAG: 9202050019
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium
CANDIDATES ARE ALL RICH IN RECESSION
President Bush and the five Democrats running to replace him, all fighting for votes among the nation's financially pinched, have built recession-proof lifestyles that surpass those of most Americans.
Their families all earn more than $100,000 a year, placing them among the nation's top 5 percent in family income. At least three are millionaires and the others have assets and investment portfolios worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to disclosure statements filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Gary Koops, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, said personal wealth doesn't necessarily distance a candidate from the voters.
"I think it's fair to say the American public wants to elect a president who has been successful, whether in running a business or government," Koops said.
Most of this year's candidates, with the exception of Bush and Jerry Brown, came from working or middle-class families, said Ginny Terzano, a spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee.
Tom Harkin, the Iowa senator, kicked off his presidential bid by commiserating with jobless workers in unemployment lines.
"He's made it and he's not ashamed of it," said spokeswoman Lorraine Voles. "Tom grew up working on construction sites to put himself through school."
Voles said candidates have to be careful to avoid hypocrisy.
"I think if he tried to portray himself as a poor senator or a person who is struggling now, then I think he would have problems," she said. "But he's not. He's climbed the ladder and he makes no bones about it."
Bush leads the field with a net worth of about $4 million. His assets include a vacation home in Kennebunkport, Maine, with a tax-assessed value of $2.2 million.
Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton reported his income as between $69,500 and $84,900, including his salary, money from a discretionary gubernatorial expense fund, speech fees and investment earnings. He valued his assets at between $82,000 and $230,000. He also benefits from the income and assets of his wife, Hillary, a lawyer.
Former Massachusetts Sen. Paul Tsongas estimated his salary with a Boston law firm to be $350,000 a year. He reported assets of $1.4 million to $3 million.
Sen. Bob Kerrey of Nebraska, who founded restaurant and health-club chains, reported holdings worth at least between $1.6 million and $2.46 million.
Harkin's income is estimated at between $141,000 and $168,000, and his family assets at between $212,000 and $771,000.
Brown, the former California governor, reported assets and various investments worth between $432,000 and $1 million and law firm and real estate income of at least $130,000.
Pat Buchanan and David Duke had not yet filed disclosure forms.

by Bhavesh Jinadra by CNB