Edition: U.S. / Global  Politics In The Burbs; Soccer Mom 2000
By James Bennet Published: April 9, 2000  For months now, Peter
Hart, a Democratic pollster who studies Americans with the
discipline and delight of Darwin in the Gal1/3pagos, has been
conducting a focus group of just one. Every once in a while he
calls up Ruth Cullison, a homemaker and former art teacher in
the suburbs of Baltimore whom he has come to think of as the
quintessential swing voter. Like a lot of Americans, Cullison is
following the presidential campaign at a distance, with a keen
sense of anticipatory disappointment.  ''This is going to be
like a retro election,'' she says. ''Do I want an old Bush, or
do I want an old Clinton?'' Of George W. Bush, the potential
retread of his father, she says, ''If you're going to cast him
for president in some movie, he might have the look, but I'm not
sure he has anything else.'' Of Al Gore, the potential Bill
Clinton retread, she says, ''It looks like he gets lessons on
being sincere -- and it do