A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

To gain support for a political policy issue, media exposure is essential – a fact that's becoming more evident to Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley. As he continues his march across South Carolina to protest the Confederate flag, national and even international press coverage is raising awareness of the debate far beyond the state line.

But in the capital, lawmakers continue to struggle with the politically-charged issue. A bipartisan Senate committee on Tuesday rejected efforts to move the issue to the top of the Senate agenda, decreasing likelihood of any floor debate this week. More pressing for lawmakers, however, is a May 1 legislative deadline that if missed, would make passage of a solution or compromise this year highly unlikely.

"He's bad wrong." Bubba Murdaugh, a South Carolina Confederate flag backer, saying Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley only thinks he has public support for bringing the flag down from atop the Statehouse. (The State, Columbia, S.C. Apr. 4)

• Nation Tunes in to March
(The Post & Courier, Charleston, S.C., Apr. 45)
• Flag Could Continue Flying
(The State, Columbia, S.C., Apr. 5)

Riley's march attracted about 30 people Tuesday, including a few high-profile faces in the state – University of South Carolina's head football coach Lou Holtz and his Clemson counterpart, Tommy Bowden.
• S.C. Coaches Join Flag March
(The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Apr. 5)

Meanwhile, South Carolina's attorney general said Monday the flag issue should be decided in a non binding referendum, giving "every single citizen ... a say."
• Voters Should Decide Flag Issue, Condon Says
(The State, Columbia, S.C., Apr. 4)

Another Problem in South Carolina – Approving MLK Holiday
South Carolina's House of Representatives will have another shot at passing a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday after the House Judiciary Committee approved the bill Tuesday.
• King Holiday Gets a Second Chance
(The Post & Courier, Charleston, S.C., Apr. 5)

McCain Campaigns for Giuliani
Laughing off concerns about temperament and making a pitch to independent voters, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) returned to the campaign trail Tuesday to give a boost to New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's Senate campaign.
• McCain Rides Again, This Time to Support Giuliani
(The New York Times, Apr. 5)
• McCain Helps a 'Soul Mate'
(New York Daily News, Apr. 5)

Clinton Praises Maine Computer Plan
Maine Gov. Angus King (I) joined a contingent of business leaders and lawmakers in Washington, D.C. Tuesday for a presentation by President Clinton on closing the "digital divide." And while Clinton didn't formally endorse King's idea of supplying Maine students with laptop computers, the president did praise it.
• King Takes Laptop Idea to White House
(Bangor Daily News, Apr. 5)

Also in Maine, King signed into law on Monday a bill that wipes out use of the word "squaw" for all public landmarks in the state.
• 'Squaw' Names Soon to Be History
(Portland Press Herald, Apr. 4)