A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

In the first television ad of her New York Senate campaign, first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) focuses on her 30 years of public service and not on her possible opponent, New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R). The ad, expected to hit New York airwaves today, arrives as Clinton visits the last of the state's 62 counties since unofficially beginning her campaign last summer. Giulani has been airing TV ads periodically for the last several months and has plans to unveil a new spot in the coming days.

"Hillary. Put her to work for us." The tag line to the new 30-second campaign commercial for first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton's New York Senate campaign. ( Associated Press, May 4)

• Hillary Ad Hits the Air Today
(New York Daily News, May 4)
• Hillary Unveils First Television Ad
(The New York Times, may 4; registration required)
• Profile: New York Senate Campaign

On Wednesday, Giuliani held a town hall meeting where he called for a broader, more tolerant Republican Party and gave strong signs that he will continue his Senate bid while fighting prostate cancer.
• Giuliani Calls on GOP to Be Broader
(Albany Times Union, May 4)

Meantime, undecided voters being studied by The New York Times say that Giuliani's reaction to being diagnosed with cancer has softened the mayor's hard edges.
• Voters See a Different Side of Giuliani
(The New York Times, May 4; registration required)

After Primary Wins, North Carolina Candidates Ready to Move On
North Carolina's two major gubernatorial candidates, Democrat Mike Easley and Republican Richard Vinroot, both won their respective primaries Tuesday based largely on their centrist stands. However, as the two men gear up for their fall face-off, much sharper policy differences will most likely emerge.
• Sharp Issue Disputes to Define Race for Governor
(The Charlotte Observer, May 4)
• The Race for Center Stage
(Raleigh News & Observer, May 4)

Blaming voter "hapathy" – a combination of being "happy" and "apathetic" – North Carolina election officials are assessing why Tuesday's primary was the lowest voter turnout ever recorded in the state.
• Statewide Voter Turnout Lowest Ever
(The Charlotte Observer, May 4)

November's ballots will have something that North Carolina voters haven't seen before – a surprising number of women running for statewide offices.
• Women Candidates Get Attention in State Races
(Raleigh News & Observer, May 4)

McCain Takes Dig at Massachusetts Road Project
Upset at project officials unable to keep escalating costs under control, U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) ripped Massachusetts' "Big Dig" highway construction and said he's ready to cut off any more federal funds for the project.
• McCain Rips Artery Spending, Eyes Shipyard Project
(Boston Herald, May 4)
• McCain Panel to Examine Big Dig Costs
(The Boston Globe, May 4)