SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., Nov. 6, 1972 (UPI) - President Nixon, confident he will be returned to power and going easy to avoid disturbing his big lead in the polls, told voters Tuesday's election gives them a "clearcut and momentous" choice of principles, pol Nixon prepared today to wind up his last campaign for public office with a taped 30-minute television statement bolstered by film clips.
Nixon and his rival, Democrat George McGovern, were due to spend part of election eve within 60 miles of each other. McGovern, making his fifth visit to California, a crucially important state to his campaign, was flying into the Long Beach airport tonight for an hour-long rally before heading for his home state of South Dakota.
Nixon, making the 13th in his series of radio campaign speeches, said Sunday that "the choice of policies, of principles and of candidates in this election is clear cut and momentous.
"I think the people understand what is at stake. I have confidence in their ability to make a wise decision.
"And whatever that decision is on Tuesday, I intend to support our elected leaders as I have always done, I intend to stand up for national unity, as I have always done, because America is bigger than any one man or any one party," Nixon said in an apparent jab at McGovern's statement he would not necessarily abide by the tradition of the loser appealing for national unity behind the winner.
The President, buoyed by his wide lead over McGovern in the polls, was keeping a low profile for his last time around the political track. Seeking a landslide, he was determined not to rock the boat.
Nixon and his wife Pat will cast their ballots early Tuesday at a nearby elementary school, then fly back to the White House for a family reunion to await the returns. Their daughters, Tricia Cox, and Julie Eisenhower, Nixon's proud surrogate campaigners, will be voting on the East coast.
