He said the largest bloc of undecided members in the House consisted of moderate Southerners and added, "The President is the least popular in the South."

The moderate Southerner in the race, Al Gore of Tennessee, did reasonably well, but Mr. Dukakis and Jesse Jackson did better.

For both purposes, and to refute the pervasive notion that the Democratic Party is becoming a black party, the candidate might best be a moderate Southerner - but much more.

His presence on the ballot could help reassure moderate and conservative Southerners.

But amid the denials he lost control of his message that as a moderate Southerner he would restore "the forgotten middle class" and lead an economic revival.

The one candidate running unabashedly as a moderate Southerner, Senator Gore, is having trouble getting started.

He called himself a Harry Truman Democrat and tried to establish a base as a moderate Southerner.

Goldwater had won several Southern states by opposing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 but had alienated more moderate Southerners.

His aura of electability - as a moderate Southerner, like Jimmy Carter, the nominee 16 years ago and the last successful Democratic Presidential contender - has dimmed.

He is a moderate Southerner with extensive foreign policy experience in the Senate and two terms as Florida governor.