Clinton Receives Endorsement From Ex-Rival Harkin : Campaign: But the Democratic candidate winds up his day in New York in a shouting match with an AIDS protester.

By ROBERT W. STEWART

March 27, 1992 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

NEW YORK — Bill Clinton’s day began on a high note Thursday with an endorsement from a former rival, but later deteriorated into a shouting match when an AIDS protester accused him of “dying of ambition.”

Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin, who during his own campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination called Clinton a “warmed-over Republican,” endorsed the Arkansas governor. He said that his past criticism was “water under the bridge” and likened Clinton to former Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and John F. Kennedy.

Ironically, when Harkin was still in the race he said he himself was the only “true Democrat” and accused Clinton of supporting a variation on Ronald Reagan’s “trickle-down economics.”

Clinton’s blowup occurred at a $250-a-head fund-raiser in Manhattan, when activists from ACT-UP interrupted his speech and accused him of not doing enough to stem the AIDS epidemic in his home state.

“If I were dying of ambition, I wouldn’t have stood up and put up with all this crap I’ve put up with in the past six months,” an obviously angry Clinton shouted. “I’m sick and tired of people who don’t know me making those snotty nosed remarks. . . . There are other choices on the ballot; go get them.

“I’ve had about enough of this. All of this business about I’m articulate and I’m slick. That’s bull. . . . I don’t like it when Jerry Brown does it, and I don’t like it when ACT-UP does it. . . .

“We’ve got to go back to putting some values on the integrity of people’s lives. . . . Instead of attacking people, go out and ask what we can do in common to save people’s lives. I want you to live.”

As he has in the past, Clinton said he would support the recommendations of the President’s Commission on AIDS, and would appoint an official to oversee the government’s response to the epidemic.

Ironically, Harkin himself was indirectly the trigger for one of Clinton’s earlier outbursts of temper. Last month, after a reporter told him--erroneously--that the Rev. Jesse Jackson was about to endorse Harkin, Clinton angrily told an aide that Jackson had stabbed him in the back.

Harkin had briefly tried to make an issue of Clinton’s temper, telling South Carolina voters: “What we want in a President is someone who won’t fly off the handle at a rumor.” Despite Harkin’s efforts, Clinton won South Carolina, and Harkin lost so badly that he dropped out of the race.

On Thursday, however, Harkin had only compliments for his former rival. “The differences between Bill and me are minuscule compared to our differences with George Bush, and that’s what’s important,” he said.

Harkin dropped out of the presidential race on March 9, citing a lack of funds. He won three state caucuses--in Iowa, Idaho and Minnesota--but no primaries, thereby forfeiting his access to federal matching funds.

After Harkin made his endorsement in Rochester, he and Clinton traveled to Long Island and appeared together at Temple Beth El in Long Beach. There, Clinton sought to seize the character issue that has dogged his campaign and turn it against his remaining rival for the nomination, former California Gov. Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr.

Referring to Brown’s proposal for a 13% flat tax and a 13% value-added tax to replace the entire federal tax system, Clinton said: “You know, some of my critics say that I’m slick. . . . (But) we could grease the wheels of the Long Island Railroad from now to Kingdom Come with the slickness it would take to shove (Brown’s tax plan) down the throats of the American people.”

Clinton also read a statement made on the Senate floor earlier in the day by Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-N.Y.).

Moynihan attacked Brown’s plan because it would substitute the flat tax and value-added tax for the entire federal tax structure, including income, corporate, estate and Social Security taxes. This, Moynihan said, would endanger Social Security itself.

“If you eliminate the Social Security payroll tax and treat Social Security as part of general revenue, you pull out the cornerstone of the Social Security system,” Moynihan said. “Take away payroll contributions and Social Security becomes welfare.”

The April 7 New York primary, with 244 convention delegates at stake, is considered critical for both candidates. Clinton needs a victory to preserve his standing as the front-runner after finishing second behind Brown in Connecticut this week; the former California governor needs another victory to maintain his momentum.

Earlier, during an appearance with Clinton in Rochester, Harkin brushed aside suggestions that Clinton had promised him the vice presidential spot in exchange for his endorsement.

“No, that has not been discussed,” Harkin said. “It would be inappropriate. What I’ve talked about is my role in the Senate,” if Clinton should be elected President. Harkin noted that he chairs the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on education and health, which, he said, are “things Gov. Clinton is intensely interested in.”

He added: “I will help Bill as much as I can to get the nomination, to whip George Bush and to be a successful President.”

Harkin’s endorsement had been rumored for days, and some of his former supporters were stunned even before the official announcement.

“It seems incredible to me, but apparently Harkin struck a deal with Clinton” that may result in Harkin’s being offered the second spot on the ticket, said a Democratic Party insider who had worked in the Harkin campaign and who spoke on condition of anonymity. “He’s jockeying for the vice presidential nomination now that it seems Clinton will get the presidential nomination.”

And Kevin Gray, who served as political director for Harkin’s Southern campaign, said he was heartbroken because he had hoped the senator would endorse Brown. “Jerry Brown is making a move now and Jerry Brown is the only candidate carrying the progressive message,” Gray said. “I’m going with Brown. (Clinton) can’t use Harkin to suck me into his campaign.”

Harkin’s help apparently paid off immediately. With the aid of a satellite hookup from Rochester, Clinton addressed a meeting of Democratic Party leaders in Washington, D.C. During the session, Morton Bahr, president of the Communications Workers of America, accused Brown of embracing the labor movement only after Harkin left the race. Bahr then announced his union’s endorsement of Clinton.

Times staff writer Sam Fulwood contributed to this story.