A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Wednesday, February 24, 1999

Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) will return to Washington after his Tuesday loss in the Chicago mayoral primary to incumbent Mayor Richard M. Daley (D), and he will soon be joined by Georgia's new congressman, Johnny Isakson (R). Isakson, who won Tuesday's election to replace former House speaker Newt Gingrich in Georgia's 6th District, could be sworn in as early as Thursday.

"I have religious and moral convictions about it." – Gov. Mike Foster (R-La.), on why he won't denounce the congressional candidacy of former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. (The Advocate, Baton Rouge, Feb. 23) .

• Daley Triumphs in Landslide (The Chicago Tribune, Feb. 24)
• Marietta Republican Wins 6th Congressional District Seat (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Feb. 24)

This week is also Louisiana Republican Bob Livingston's last week in the House. While his congressional peers said goodbye to Livingston on Tuesday, Louisiana Gov. Mike Foster (R) refused to denounce the candidacy of former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, who is running in the Republican primary to replace Livingston.
• U.S. House Says Farewell to Livingston (The Advocate, Baton Rouge, Feb. 24)
• Foster May Face Duke Issue in Race (The Advocate, Baton Rouge, Feb. 23)

Kentucky Gubernatorial Hopeful Wants Ventura's Advice
Gatewood Galbraith, a Lexington, Ky., lawyer who is trying to get on the ballot as an independent candidate in this year's gubernatorial race, said he wants to talk with Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura (Reform) about running a successful campaign as an outsider.
• Galbraith Says He's Running, Will Take Tips From Ventura (Lexington Herald-Leader, Feb. 24)

Ventura was on David Letterman Tuesday night, upsetting some Irish-Americans in St. Paul, Minn., by saying, "Whoever designed the streets [in St. Paul] must have been drunk .... I think it was those Irish guys. You know what they like to do."
• Ventura Keeps the Comments Coming on Letterman (The Star-Tribune, Minneapolis, Feb. 24)

White House 2000: Thompson Is '50-50,' Davis Denies V.P. Aspirations
With several Republican governors offering an outright endorsement of Texas Gov. George W. Bush (R) even though he has not even announced his presidential candidacy, Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) said the odds that he will seek the Republican nomination are about even. Meanwhile, Ohio Gov. Bob Taft (R) said he is staying neutral in the endorsement game. Legendary baseball pitcher Bob Feller has endorsed Rep. John Kasich (R-Ohio).
• Thompson Gives Self a 50-50 Shot to Run (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Feb. 24)
• Taft Neutral Toward Candidates (The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Feb. 24)
• Kasich Scores With Bob Feller (The Des Moines Register, Feb. 24)
• Governors Guide (washingtonpost.com)

California Gov. Gray Davis (D) said he is not interested in using his victory in last year's election to propel him to the national stage as a possible vice presidential candidate on a ticket with Al Gore.
• Davis Denies Interest in Vice Presidency (San Francisco Examiner, Feb. 24)

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