A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

First lady Hillary Rodham Clinton's nomination may have provided good political theater at Tuesday night's New York Democratic convention, but the best political drama came from the two men jockeying for the party's 2002 gubernatorial nomination. Both State Comptroller H. Carl McCall and U.S. Secretary of Housing Andrew Cuomo are angling for the governor's office, and last night's gathering proved the perfect chance for each potential candidate to test their popularity among the party faithful.

"For me, it's hard you know, on a personal basis..." President Bill Clinton, on his plans to change his voter registration to New York rather than his home state of Arkansas so he can cast a ballot for his wife's Senate bid. (New York Daily News, May 17)

N.Y. Senate Race • Full Coverage | Opinion

• McCall, Cuomo Bide Time, Work the Crowd
(Albany Times Union, May 17)
• For State Democrats, a Time for Old Animosities and New Alliances
(The New York Times, May 17; registration required)

As Democrats coronated Clinton at their state convention, aides to New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R) went to Buffalo, N.Y., to help work out details of next week's Republican nominating convention, ignoring the uncertainties of Giuliani's campaign. Meantime, Clinton's staff is zeroing in on GOP Rep. Rick Lazio as the likeliest replacement candidate if the mayor drops outs.

• As Giuliani Retreats, Aides Plot His Run
(New York Daily News, May 17)
• Dems Set a Battle Plan Against Lazio
(New York Post, May 17)

Oregon Voters Reject Legislative Measures in Primary
In the state's first all-mail primary election, Oregon voters approved just one of six legislative measures crafted by state lawmakers last year, voting down plans to raise taxes and limit damage awards in civil cases.

A last-minute surge of returned ballots was expected to lift voter turnout near 50 percent. It is expected to be the highest primary turnout percentage since 1992.
• Oregon Voters Rebuff Measures in First Vote-by-Mail Primary
(Associated Press, May 17)
• Voters Reject Five of Six Measures
(Statesman Journal, Salem, Ore., May 17)
• First Mail Primary Goes Smoothly
(Statesman Journal, Salem, Ore., May 17)
• Oregon GOP Picks Conservative to Challenge Rep. Wu
(Congressional Quarterly, May 17)

S.C. Senators Reassess Flag Plan as NAACP Steps Up Boycott Threat
Saying the compromise to move the Confederate flag from atop the state capitol building to a nearby Confederate soldier's monument does not go far enough, NAACP President Kweisi Mfume said Tuesday that his organization is prepared to expand its tourism boycott of South Carolina if the bill passes. However, hesitant state Senators adjourned Tuesday without voting on the final measure, and instead spent the day in closed-door meetings, trying to find a plan that would win support from more black lawmakers.
• NAACP Will Expand Boycott if Plan Passes
(The State, Columbia, S.C., May 17)
• Senate May Attempt to Change Flag Bill
(Spartanburg Herald-Journal, May 17)

Ironically, recent figures from state tourism officials show that South Carolina actually set a record in tourism-generated revenue in 1999, despite the threat of the impending boycott, which did not officially start until January 1.
• Impact of Tourism Sets Record in S.C.
(The State, Columbia, S.C., May 17)

Lawmaker Leads Drive for Unicameral Legislature in Tennessee
A Tennessee lawmaker is proposing an overhaul of the state legislature by converting the General Assembly from a two-house to a one-house, or unicameral, body of government. Nebraska is the only state to operate with a unicameral legislature.
• One-House Legislature Proposed for Tennessee
(The Times & Free Press, Chattanooga, Tenn., May 15)

In Minnesota, Gov. Jesse Ventura's drive for a unicameral legislature appears to have stalled, at least for the time being, as lawmakers finished off the bulk of their legislative work last week without voting on the governor's proposal.
• Ventura Criticizes Legislature for Failing to Pass Unicameral
(Star Tribune, Minneapolis, Minn., May 11)
• Unicameral: Bill's Biggest Backer Calls It a Day
(St. Paul Pioneer Press, May 10)