A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Wednesday, February 17, 1999

The ins, outs, ups and downs of some key U.S. Senate and House races:

In? First lady Hillary Rodham ... oh, everyone's already heard all about that. In Missouri, conservative Democratic state Sen. Ted House kicked off his campaign Monday to replace Rep. Jim Talent (R), who is running for governor.
• State Sen. House Begins Drive for Seat in Congress (The Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, Feb. 16)

Washington state Democrats are recruiting state Attorney General Christine Gregoire to run against Republican Sen. Slade Gorton.
• Gregoire Being Wooed by Democrats to Run for U.S. Senate (The Seattle Times, Feb. 16)

"He's noncorruptible." – J. Terrence Lanni, chairman of MGM Grand Inc., on Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) after their Tuesday meeting. (Las Vegas Review-Journal, Feb. 16) .

Out? Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) is rethinking his plans to run for a fourth term, Democratic sources said.
• Lautenberg's Plans May Change (The Star-Ledger, Newark, N.J., Feb. 17)

House impeachment manager Charles Canady (R-Fla.) said he is keeping his word not to seek reelection.
• Canady Holds to His Pledge to Leave House (The Miami Herald, Feb. 16)

Up and Down: An early poll shows former Michigan governor James Blanchard (D) with a whopping lead in the race to challenge Republican Sen. Spencer Abraham. Blanchard's likely Democratic challengers include former Jack Kevorkian attorney and failed gubernatorial candidate Geoffrey Fieger.
• Blanchard Favored in Poll to Challenge Abraham Seat (Detroit News, Feb. 16)

N.C. Governor: Burr Declines; First Shots Fired
Rep. Richard Burr said last week he would not seek North Carolina's Republican gubernatorial nomination. On Tuesday, the Republican Party fired early shots in the battle, running radio ads attacking Lt. Gov. Dennis Wicker, a likely Democratic candidate who recently reversed his opposition to a state lottery.
• Burr Says He Won't Run for Governor (Winston-Salem Journal, Feb. 13)
• GOP Radio Ads Target Wicker on Lottery Issue (The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., Feb. 17)

White House 2000: Clinton in N.H., McCain in Las Vegas
President Clinton on Thursday will make his first campaign trip following his impeachment acquittal when he travels to New Hampshire to raise money for state Democrats. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), GOP presidential hopeful, was in Las Vegas on Tuesday to meet with gaming leaders and newspaper reporters.
• Clinton in Dover, Merrimack, Manchester Tomorrow (The Union-Leader, Manchester, N.H., Feb. 17)
• Arizona Senator Tests LV Waters (Las Vegas Review-Journal, Feb. 17)

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