Clinton Faces Voters on Own TV Talk Show : Media: He fields questions in a Pittsburgh studio. The campaign device uses a 30-minute program format.

By EDWIN CHEN

June 13, 1992 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The escalating battle of the airwaves dominating the most recent stage of the presidential campaign reached a new level Friday as Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton broadcast his own national television talk show.

The Clinton campaign called the 30-minute program, in which Clinton fielded questions from an audience of about 150 western Pennsylvania voters gathered in a Pittsburgh studio, “America Speaks.”

But the show, broadcast live on C-SPAN and shown later in prime-time on NBC, might more accurately have been called “Clinton Speaks.”

The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee managed to touch on many of the major tenets of his campaign in his response to the audience questions, thanks in part to the general nature of the queries.

The first questioner, for instance, asked Clinton what he would do to keep jobs in the United States. Clinton’s answer: Develop a national economic strategy, invest in the domestic economy every dollar saved from defense budget cuts and enact tax incentives to encourage businesses to invest in America rather than move jobs abroad.

In answers to other questions, Clinton was able to articulate his support for a national health care plan, his proposal to reform welfare by putting the unemployed to work, his program for rehabilitating government housing to shelter the homeless and his backing of congressional election reform.

When one person asked about the gridlock between the Bush Administration and Congress that has stymied, among other things, crime legislation, Clinton stressed that he is unequivocally for the Brady Bill, which requires a 7-day waiting period for handgun purchases. “No ifs ands or buts,” he said.

He also said being robbed twice 20 years ago gave him a victim’s understanding of crime and that his brother’s one-time drug problem made solving the drug crisis a personal crusade.

Virtually all of the questions dealt with domestic issues.

During most of the program, a toll-free number appeared on the screen, urging viewers to call if they want a copy of “the Clinton plan” or if “You want to help.”

The program was the first of what may be a series aired by the Clinton campaign in advance of next month’s Democratic convention. And it came on the heels of several recent Clinton appearances on national television, including the Arsenio Hall late-night talk show and the “Today” morning show, during which he took calls from viewers.

Clinton and his advisers believe such forums give him a chance to more effectively communicate with voters and bolster his efforts to unseat President Bush. Taking to the airwaves “is the best way to engage real issues and let voters speak their mind,” said George Stephanopolous, Clinton’s communications director.

It also is a strategy borrowed in part from Ross Perot, who has fueled much of the interest in his prospective independent presidential candidacy through appearances on national talk shows and news programs.

The audience for Friday’s program was composed of undecided voters, selected by an independent research group. After the program, Clinton mixed with audience members, continuing to answer questions and thanking them for being part of “a second chance to reintroduce myself to the American people.”

Clinton won praise from several of the voters.

“I thought he was good,” said Gary Mizle, 31. His answers “came from his heart, it seemed.”

Oscar Ratterborg, 42, agreed. “I think he answered the questions very well. He seems stronger in person.”

The show also pleased Clinton’s staffers. “Worth every penny!” said Stephanopolous.

The Democratic National Committee picked up the $373,000 cost of buying the air time on NBC. The committee decided to foot the bill because the Arkansas governor is the party’s apparent nominee, said Dee Dee Myers, Clinton’s campaign press secretary.

Clinton said Friday that his mail has tripled since his recent appearances on national television.

“What we’re finding is, the more I can directly communicate with the people, the better I do,” he said.