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By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Tuesday, February 2, 1999

Like 50 siblings clamoring for parental affections, states are trying to make their presidential primaries and causes the first and the biggest. But some of their schemes may be falling apart. It looks as though Arizona won't be part of a massive Western States Primary, and a battle between the Iowa and Louisiana Republican parties may draw some media attention away from Iowa next year.

"The American people's capacity to forgive is infinite for people who take responsibility for their actions. I think he showed a lot of honor." – Colorado House Minority Leader Ken Gordon (D), on GOP Speaker Russell George's surprise on-floor announcement that he was arrested for drunk driving last week. (The Denver Post, Feb. 2)

• Primary Date Move Unlikely (The Arizona Republic, Feb. 2)
• Changes Could Weaken Iowa Caucuses' Role (Des Moines Register, Feb. 2)

N.C. Governor Is Latest to Stress Education
In his final state of the state address, North Carolina Gov. James B. Hunt (D) on Monday set a goal of making his state's schools the best in the nation by 2010. Education was one of the top voter concerns last year and has been the focus of several new governors.
• Hunt Sets Education as His Top Priority (The News & Observer, Raleigh, Feb. 2)

Michigan's Fieger Gets Out to Early, Abrasive Start in Senate Race
Geoffrey Fieger, Michigan's Democratic gubernatorial nominee last year, is warming up for a 2000 bid to unseat Sen. Spencer Abraham (R), and already warned his party against "stabbing me in the back."
• Fieger Takes on Abraham (The Detroit News, Feb. 2)

Ryan Thornburg can be reached at ryan.thornburg@washingtonpost.com