Democratic Party leaders across the nation believe the party must broaden its base, stop catering to special interests and in some cases forget the New Deal to recover from the 1984 election disaster.
An informal survey of Democratic governors, senators and party leaders nationwide found party leaders generally optimistic despite Walter Mondale's landslide loss to Ronald Reagan. They believe the Democratic Party that elects members of Congress, governors and state legislators is a lot healthier than the party that tries to elect presidents.
While none singled Mondale out for blame, many mentioned special interests as one of the party's greatest problems.
''We are perceived as too interested in appealing to single-issue constituencies and special interest constituencies,'' said Illinois Senate President Phil Rock, who is also state party chairman.
''It just has to quit embracing every group that walks in with some cause,'' said Iowa party chairman Dave Nagle.
There was a difference of opinion whether the party should stop focusing on the poor and the belief that government is the answer to people's needs.
''The Democrats shouldn't abandon their basic message of compassion, but need to get it across more effectively,'' said Gov. Mario Cuomo of New York, whose electrifying keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention last summer put him on everyone's list of potential 1988 presidential candidates. ''What we have to do is convince the American people, or more of them, that compassion makes common sense.''
But Gov. George Wallace of Alabama, long a spokesman for the dwindling breed of Southern conservative Democrats said: ''The party is going to have to rethink some of its positions if it expects to represent the thinking of the average citizen who is tired of big government being involved in running virtually every aspect of our lives.''
Most of all there was talk about broadening the base of the party, what some called ''new constituencies.''
''I believe on the national ticket side, we're going to have to move more back to the center,'' said Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, whose home state of Texas was carried by Reagan by a landslide far bigger than the national average.
''Business owners, small entrepreneurs and young professionals must be brought back by a new Democratic Party committed to getting its message across that we do have ultimate faith in the free enterprise system, sound fiscal management and a strong partnership between the private and public sectors,'' said Gov. Mark White of Texas.
Rep. Tom Harkin of Iowa, who bucked the Republican tide to win a Senate seat by beating incumbent Republican Roger Jepsen, said the party structure is going to have to change.
''I really think the Democratic Party is going to have to make some major shifts in the people leading the Democratic Party and the message we're sending out,'' he said.
Another Democrat calling for a broader base of the party was Gov. John Carlin of Kansas, chairman of the National Governors Association, who said: ''We have to seize the middle to do something in 1988.
''We need to shift toward a more balanced view of the economy and economic growth, not just the concerns of working men and women,'' he said.
There was a difference over whether the party could still survive by putting together Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal coalition of minority interests, but there was no doubt that that coalition had to be expanded.
''The New Deal cannot be perpetuated to infinity,'' said Gov. Bruce Babbitt of Arizona, incoming leader of the Democratic governors association.
''The problem with the Democratic Party is that it's basically mentally still chasing Franklin Roosevelt's coalition, which is fine as long as that coalition is a majority,'' said Sen. Paul Tsongas of Massachusetts. But he said the Democratic Party has stopped appealing to middle-class voters who make that coalition a majority.
Sen. Daniel Moynihan of New York said the party will always represent minorities, but said ''we have to be a coalition of minorities that will express national ideas and not necessarily minority interests.''
