INSIDE REPORT
ROBERT NOVAK
HILLARY'S "MCGOVERN" PROBLEM

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Strategists for Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign believe it is imperative to identify her highflying opponent, Sen. Barack Obama, with the "McGovern wing" of the Democratic Party - but they want to keep their candidate's fingerprints off the attack.

During the two weeks remaining before the important Ohio and Texas primaries on March 4, Clinton insiders want to spread the message that Obama represents the radical left-wing politics of George McGovern's 1972 candidacy, which won only one state. But they don't know how to accomplish this. When Clinton herself has launched past attacks on Obama, it has hurt her with voters.

The Clinton campaign is confident of winning in Texas because of the state's Hispanic vote. But it sees the need in Ohio to identify Obama as a leftist in the eyes of lowerincome white voters, who often have supported Republican candidates against Democratic opponents they consider too liberal.

HISPANICS FOR HILLARY

Reps. Hilda Solis and Lucille Roybal- Allard, Hispanic-American Democrats from California, have been busy on the House floor lobbying uncommitted Democratic super-delegates to support Hillary Clinton against Barack Obama.

Hispanic voters have been the element in the Democratic coalition that has proved most resistant to Obama and faithful to Clinton. They were most responsible for Clinton's win in the Feb. 5 California primary, where non- Hispanic Caucasians broke evenly.

A footnote: The endorsement of Obama Wednesday by Puerto Rico Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila gives him a big edge in the island commonwealth's primary June 7, despite a predominant Hispanic population, with 63 delegates at stake. The governor will put the Popular Democratic Party, Puerto Rico's most powerful political force, at Obama's disposal.

ARNOLD'S APPROPRIATOR

Republican lobbyists and other campaign contributors were surprised this week to receive a $1,000-a-ticket invitation to join California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington Feb. 25 for a morning fund-raiser in behalf of Rep. C.W. (Bill) Young of Florida.

A California governor raising money in Washington for a Florida congressman is highly unusual. As a senior member and former chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Young influences spending important to California.

Young is a close ally of another Californian, Rep. Jerry Lewis, who succeeded Young as chairman and is now ranking minority member of the Appropriations Committee.