GOP chairman to talk to wavering Democrats

Republican national chairman Richard Richards says he will open negotiations with conservative Democratic House members who have expressed an interest in joining the GOP.

Mr. Richards said he and House Republican leader Robert Michel of iilinois will meet next week with a Republican state chairman who has been approached by a Democratic House member interested in exploring the possibility of switching parties.

Mr. Richards said conservative Democrats who had resisted considering converting to the GOP had taken soundings back home during the congressional August recess and found less opposition than expected to a party switch.