Celebrations Match Candidates' Styles

NEW YORK--Image is a decisive vote-getting factor in the Empire State, and the "victory parties" thrown last night affirmed the perceived reputations of both "Slick Willie" Clinton and Edmund G. "Moonbeam" Brown Jr.

While Clinton is often associated with a show biz-like political style, Brown, all the way down to his turtlenecks and factory tours, likes to portray himself as the "ordinary citizen" candidate.

From a plastic Statue of Liberty with a yellow lightbulb torch at the Brown party to a massive wall of television monitors at Clinton's, the events reflected the candidates' public images.

Along with charges of womanizing, marijuana use and an alleged undisclosed Vietnam War draft notice, Clinton has suffered perhaps equally damaging criticisms about his polished campaign skills. It is his uncanny public rapport, some say, that causes voters to doubt the substance behind the frontrunner.

Clinton's victory party last night was yet another rehearsed stage performance. At the posh Ritz Club, a 100-screen video wall flashed red, white and blue until Clinton arrived on the scene.

As the Arkansas governor stepped on stage, the video wall was mechanically raised, replaced by the backdrop of a two-story American flag.

The high-tech show provided an appropriate introduction for Clinton's victory speech, which was lengthy and filled with references to liberal heroes Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.

Brown, known for his 1-800 number and grassroots campaign, chose a less formal site--the headquarters of Hospital Workers' Union Local 1199 on the outskirts of Times Square in the heart of the Big Apple.

An ordinary room and simple platform was enough for the former California governor. A bunch of balloons and a few posters scattered around the "auditorium" were the only ornaments--besides the plastic Lady Liberty.

Likening himself to John Paul Jones by saying that he has "just begun to fight," Brown declared that yesterday's primary was just the beginning of his race for the Democratic nomination. The crowd ate it up, carrying out a poster wishing the bachelor candidate a happy 54th birthday.

In his "victory" speech last night, Brown congratulated rivals Clinton and Paul E. Tsongas because "it is not a time for mean-spiritedness." He spoke briefly, but included praise for his competitors, a call for party unity and, of course, his infamous 1-800 number. The toll-free hotline was also prominently displayed on a banner behind him as well on T-shirts and buttons on sale in the lobby.

Clinton's celebration attracted an upscale, professional crowd, enjoying cocktails served uniformed waitresses.

Brown's party-goers were distinctively Budweiser and blue jeans. The crowd did not hesitate to ridicule Bush's sickness in Japan by making vomiting gestures en masse to a bank of television cameras when prompted by a campaign official.

Brian D. Ellison contributed to this report.