A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Tuesday, Feb. 3, 1998

First, Californians anticipated a gubernatorial run by Democratic U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. When she bowed out, their attention focused on former White House chief of staff Leon Panetta. Now that he bowed out yesterday, all eyes are on Republican Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan. Money – a major reason both Feinstein and Panetta decided not to run – should be less of a problem for Riordan. The mayor has said he would be willing to reach into his own personal wealth to finance a bid.

"[M]y deep pockets are deeper than his deep pockets." – Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, considering a Republican bid for governor, on the intimidating personal wealth of Democratic candidate Al Checchi. (Los Angeles Times, Feb. 3)

Campaign '98: Wealth Tilting Political Playing Field (The Sacramento Bee, Feb. 2)
Panetta, Citing High Cost, Won't Run for Governor (San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 3)
Riordan Adds Fuel to Talk That He'll Run for Governor (Los Angeles Times, Feb. 3)
Riordan Rides High With Unlikely Alliance (Los Angeles Times, Feb. 3)

Announcements All Around
In the latest round of who's in and who's out: Colorado's Republican senate president, Tom Norton, officially announced his campaign for governor. Democratic U.S. Rep. Brian J. Donnelly will announce he's running for governor of Massachusetts. Arkansas Attorney General Winston Bryant announced he will be a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate for the second time. Former Charlotte, N.C., city council member Ella Scarborough became the seventh Democrat hoping to unseat Republican Sen. Lauch Faircloth. Massachusetts Acting Governor Paul Cellucci picked former state senator Jane M. Swift as his running mate. Bridgeport, Conn., Mayor Joseph P. Ganim (D) said he is seriously considering a gubernatorial challenge to party-favorite Barbara B. Kennelly.
Senate Chief Norton to Run for Governor (Rocky Mountain News, Feb. 3) Donnelly to Join Race, Say Advisers (The Boston Globe, Feb. 3)
Bryant to Make 2nd Senate Bid (The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Feb. 3)
Democrats Crowd Senate Race (The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., Feb. 3)
Cellucci's running mate: Swift (The Boston Globe, Feb. 3)
Lieutenant Governor Hopeful Called 'Tough as Nails' (The Boston Globe, Feb. 3)
Ganim Weighs Run For Governor (The Hartford Courant, Feb. 3)

Affirmative Action Foe Says He Was 'Beguiled' by White House
A week before President Clinton's race advisory board heads to the San Francisco area for hearings, California affirmative action foe Ward Connerly held a Washington, D.C., news conference to denounce administration efforts as one-sided. Six weeks ago, Connerly temporarily renounced his skepticism of the panel after he and other critics met with Clinton for 90 minutes.
Connerly Says Clinton 'Beguiled' Him (San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 3)

Kentucky Lawmakers Find Online Audience
Old and young alike, Kentuckians are using the Web site of the state legislature to practice "cybercivics." Site administrators said it gets 800,000 hits a month. Still, less than half of the Kentucky legislature has e-mail.
Connecting to State Government (Lexington Herald-Leader, Feb. 3)

Thanks to Texas Democrats, GOP Judicial Candidates Head to Court
In what is becoming a familiar tactic, the Harrison County, Tex., Democratic officials Friday twice sued the local Republican Party over its certification of candidates for county civil court. In hopes of removing Republicans from the ballot, Democrats are systematically challenging the legitimacy of petition signatures and other filing requirements.
GOP Candidates Challenged (Houston Chronicle, Feb. 3)

Former Arizona Governor Sentenced to 2 ½ Years
Republican Fife Symington, who stepped down as Arizona governor in September after being found guilty on six counts of fraud, was sentenced Monday to two and a half years in prison.
Symington Gets 30 Months (The Arizona Republic, Feb. 3)

Grand Jury Calls Miami Elections Tainted
A Florida grand jury urged a crackdown on absentee voting as it concluded concluded Monday that vote fraud tainted last November's election in Miami and Miami Beach. The grand jury was not expected to hand down any indictments.
Dade Grand Jury Urges Crackdown on Vote 'Thieves' (Miami Herald, Feb. 3)