Fifteen novices from seven Russian political parties arrived in Washington, D. C. , this week to observe the final frantic days in the U. S. general election campaigns.


The trip is being sponsored by the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, said Josh Freeman, a representative of the institute's Moscow office, which opened this summer.


The Russians bring with them various levels of experience. Mikhail Schneider, who has been involved in two campaigns for the Democratic Russia party, said he does not anticipate many differences.


"I think Russians and Americans are very much alike", Schneider said. Schneider and Vladimir Zharikin of the People's Party of Free Russia were in the United States this summer to observe party conventions.


Now, Zharikin said he is eager to get a close look at the campaign process. "I want to know how it is possible for such a small group of about 1, 500 people to organize all the big projects before the election", he said.


Sergei Stupar, of the Russian Movement for Democratic Reforms, has not been to the United States, but has read a lot about


elections there. "I want to see what motivates volunteers", he said. "I want to learn about the multi-party process, because we have not had it in Russia since 1917".


Vladimir Chernetsky of the Social Democratic Party of Russia said, "I know absolutely nothing about elections". He views that as a positive attribute, "because I will be more objective". He said he expects he anticipates a presidential victory for Democrat Bill Clinton.


The other three were reluctant to predict the outcome. Stupar said he prefers a Bush victory, "because the whole world understands his policy. But Clinton would be more interesting concerning domestic policies. In my mind, a victory for Clinton would seem a victory for socialism".


The Russians will observe the Washington political scene and visit both partie's national headquarters. Then one group will head to Los Angeles, one to Minneapolis, and the third will remain in the capital.


"On election eve, they will be in the boiler-rooms of each city's Democratic headquarters to watch as the votes are counted", Freeman said.


When they return to Moscow, the Russians will write about their experiences. "We plan to use the results to design seminars on the democratic election process", Freeman said.