A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Monday, July 19, 1999

Seven years ago, former California governor Jerry Brown was a long-shot presidential candidate and Jesse Ventura was a retired professional wrestler. Today, they are two of the most intriguing political personalities on the state and local level. Brown is catching his stride as mayor of Oakland and Ventura is breaking all sorts of traditions as governor of Minnesota.

"It's been a long gestation period and I hope it's not a difficult birth." – N.Y. state Assemblyman Charles Nesbitt (R), on the state budget that is 110 days late. (Times Union, Albany, N.Y., July 17))

• Jerry Brown Is Secure, Popular -- And Having Fun (San Francisco Chronicle, July 19)
• Ventura Portrait Possibility Anything But Traditional (The Star-Tribune, Minneapolis, July 19)

State Police Continues to Burden Whitman
New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman (R) continues her struggle to put the state's racial profiling debate to a rest as she gets closer to her Senate bid. After her top choice for a new superintendent of State Police withdrew his name partially because of concerns that Whitman would leave office early, she faces a public struggle with state Senate leaders over her hunt for a replacement.
• Whitman Won't Fight With Leader of Senate (The Star-Ledger, July 19)

Badgers Boost Gore Effort in Iowa
Vice President Gore may not be tapping home-grown talent to staff his Iowa presidential campaign, but at least he is keeping it in the Big 10. Young political activists from Wisconsin have become active in Iowa, mainly because their own state's primary in April may have little influence on who is selected as the Democratic nominee.
• Gore's Headquarters in Iowa Comes Complete With a Touch of Wisconsin (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, July 19)

Bush Schedules North Carolina Fund-Raiser
Texas Gov. George W. Bush has set his first fund-raising foray into Republican rival Elizabeth Dole's home state of North Carolina. Bush will host a $1,000-a-person dinner in Research Triangle Park on Aug. 26.
• George W. Bush Will Visit Triangle for Major Fund-Raiser (The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., July 19)

N.Y. Legislature Finally Ready to Move on Budget
New York state lawmakers may be sacrificing their shot at making history for delivering the latest state budget ever, but party leaders said they are ready to move on a $73.76 billion spending plan – just weeks before the Aug. 4 record date.
• Budget Outlook Rises at Capitol (Times Union, Albany, N.Y., July 17)

Nevada House Candidate Says Others Fear Him
Republican congressional candidate Jim Blockey said his plan to scare state Sen. Mark James out of the 1st District race worked perfectly. Other state Republicans doubt Blockey had much to do with James's decision. Blockey took 7 percent of the primary vote in his 1998 bid for the same seat.
• Blockey Insists He led James not to run (Las Vegas Journal-Review, July 19)

Colorado Voters Get Chance to Bust Budget
Colorado voters in various districts will have the chance to pass more than $3.4 billion worth of bond measures. But that spending may come into conflict with a state constitutional amendment that limits government spending.
• 'Sticker Shock' May Greet Voters at November Polls (Rocky Mountain News, Denver, July 19)

Highway Debate Splits Arkansas Efforts
When Reps. Asa Hutchinson and Jay Dickey, both Arkansas Republicans, took a tour of a proposed new highway route through their state earlier this month, they heard the voices of conflicting support for the federal highway project that could fester as an issue until Congress considers highway funding again in 2002.
• Arkansans Push 2 Congressmen to Get I-49 Built (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, July 19)

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