Mondale announces setup of presidential committee

Former Vice-President Walter Mondale announced that he had formed a Mondale for President Committee to start raising money for his campaign. Under campaign law, that step makes him a registered candidate even though he will not make his own personal declaration on the matter for another month or two. He is considered the front-runner in the Democratic field.

Federal election officials also disclosed that former Gov. Reubin Askew of Florida had registered a presidential committee and that Sen. Alan Cranston of California quietly took a similar legal step 6 weeks ago.