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By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Tuesday, July 20, 1999

Is the Senate really ready to hear a filibuster of Final Thoughts? Are members of Congress ready for partisan bickering to become choreographed chair-flinging? Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Leland has been bouncing around the idea of recruiting talk show host and former Cincinnati city council member Jerry Springer for a run against Sen. Mike DeWine (R).

"He looks at his staff as second-class citizens: 'These people will take what I give them.' I don't break up with my girlfriend via conference call or e-mail." – Todd Tolson, Rep. Michael Forbes's former systems analyst, on Forbes's method of telling his staff he was becoming a Democrat. (Newsday, July 20))

"This sounds like people sitting around with a list of candidates, then crossing off everybody who says 'no,'" said Democratic political consultant Gerald Austin. "Jerry Springer may be the only guy left on the list. Who knows, Godzilla may still be up there, too."

• Democrats Considering TV's Springer for Senate (The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, July 20)

Colo. Governor May Be Ready to End Opposition to Gun Restrictions
Colorado Gov. Bill Owens (R), who has been a prominent opponent of creating new gun restrictions after the Columbine High School shooting, indicated on Monday that he would no longer stand in the way of certain efforts.
• Owens May Approve New Gun Laws (Rocky Mountain News, July 20)
• Special Report: Gun Control (washingtonpost.com)

Giuliani Aide Says Mayor Means No Disrespect to Arkansans
An aide to New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R) said that Arkansas would not be the brunt of endless jokes should Giuliani end up running for Senate against Hillary Rodham Clinton. "I'm sure the campaign will be carried out on the highest level," said campaign manager Bruce Teitelbaum. He was in Arkansas on Monday to prepare for Giuliani's July 27 campaign fund-raiser in Little Rock.
• N.Y. Senate Race Wouldn't Trash State, Aide Says (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, July 20)
• Campaigns 2000: Key Races (washingtonpost.com)

A group from the University of Arkansas announced on Monday that it is launching a semiannual poll of the state's political attitudes.
• UA Researchers Set to Poll Arkansans on Political Views (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, July 20)

Davis Campaign Funds Raise Eyebrows
California Gov. Gray Davis (D) is facing growing criticism that his campaign fund-raisers are too closely tied to his policy decisions. Critics cite a lumber company fund-raiser that was thrown on the day that a state agency proposed clamping down on loggers and an HMO-sponsored fund-raiser held days before Davis called for a slower approach to health care reform.
• Critics Say Davis Kowtows to Donors (San Francisco Chronicle, July 20)

Ohio Governor Becomes 21st to Endorse Bush
With Ohio Gov. Bob Taft's endorsement of Texas Gov. George W. Bush's presidential campaign, there are nine remaining Republican governors who have not endorsed Bush.
• Taft Backs Bush for President, Agrees to Chair His Campaign (The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, July 20)
• White House 2000: George W. Bush (washingtonpost.com)

Candidates Offer Farm Fixes in Iowa
Amid the worst farm crisis since the mid-1980s, presidential candidates are beginning to talk about their solutions, but no substantial debate has arisen either on the campaign trail or in Congress.
• Columnist Ed Tibbetts: Caucus Campaign Brings Farm Crisis to Forefront (Iowa Pulse, July 19)

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