Candidates Who Need to "Grab" Reagan's Mantle, Shouldn't Try

Declared Republican candidates meet tonight in the Reagan Library to gaggle in a debate of ten.

Conventional wisdom, including commentators who really should know better, are suggesting that each candidate breathe in deeply the atmosphere of the Library so as to be able to best represent himself as the true Reagan torchbearer, or if possible, the Great Man himself, reincarnate.

The Reagan mantle is not a cloak that can be grabbed.

Like Excalibur, it will award itself to the one true believer, not the one most flexible in his appeals.

The candidate most likely to fit the mantle will not be in the Library tonight.