A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

Having just endured a grueling mayoral election last year, Philadelphia voters may have little interest in today's state presidential primaries. But that's not stopping George W. Bush (R) or Vice President Gore (D) from making symbolic, election-day appearances in the largest city of a state many political observers expect will play a crucial role in determining the next president.

"I'm having a great time, but I'm also seeing how hard it is." First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, on the rigors of being a political candidate and not just advising her husband. (New York Newsday, Apr. 4)

• Low-Luster Race Ends
(Philadelphia Daily News, Apr. 4)
• Bush Now Has Narrow Lead Among Pennsylvania Voters
(Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Apr. 2)

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge (R), a favorite target for vice presidential speculation, said Monday he would not discuss details if and when he got a call from Bush saying he was on the Texas governor's short list.
• Ridge: Will Not Tell If Bush Calls
(The Philadelphia Inquirer, Apr. 4)

Overshadowing the mostly irrelevant presidential vote in Pennsylvania is the Democratic Senate primary, where the challenger to incumbent Sen. Rick Santorum (R) will finally be chosen from a competitive field of six hopefuls.
• Senate Primary, Others in Hands of Voters Today
(Philadelphia Daily News, Apr. 4)
• Santorum Camp Prefers Schwartz
(Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Apr. 3)

Wisconsin Also a Pivotal State for Candidates
With a tight race anticipated in Wisconsin, Bush and Gore both are expected to spend much more time in the state than candidates Bob Dole and Bill Clinton did in 1996, even though no Republican candidate has won Wisconsin since Ronald Reagan in 1984.
• Presidential Candidates Flex Muscles Here for Fall
(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Apr. 1)
• Gore, Bush Deadlocked in Wisconsin, Poll Says
(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Apr. 1)

Proposed Tax for New Stadium Strikes Out in Florida
The Florida Marlins baseball team won their opening day game against the San Francisco Giants, but they lost something larger – the possibility of a new stadium financed by a cruise-ship tax. Gov. Jeb Bush (R) said he would veto the heavily-lobbied proposal even as legislative support was building.
• Bush Knocks Stadium Plan out of Water
(Miami Herald, Apr. 4)
• Bush Vows to Veto Cruise Tax
(St. Petersburg Times, Apr. 4)

Bush's announcement upset Marlins players, fans and management not only because it came on the first day of the season, but because it could eventually force the team from Florida.
• Analysis: Governor's Vetoing Marlins' Future
(Miami Herald, Apr. 4)

Louisiana Governor Scores Legislative Wins
A special legislative session that looked like it might end disastrously for Gov. Mike Foster (R) is turning out to be just the opposite, as two of Foster's chief goals – a new sales tax and an overhaul of the state's Department of Economic Development – have won approval by lawmakers.
• Foster Scores Two Major Victories
(The Times-Picayune, New Orleans, La., Apr. 3)