News In Brief

Illinois may be crucial for Hart, pollster says

Pollster Pat Caddell, now a top aide in Sen. Gary Hart's presidential campaign, said Friday the critical showdown with Walter Mondale could come March 20 in the Illinois primary.

''I think Illinois is the first place you're going to have a donnybrook, if we have to go that far,'' he said, but would not rule out a Super Tuesday knockout.

Mr. Caddell said Hart's rapid rise is unprecedented in recent American politics.