A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.
__ More Campaign Coverage __ • Howard Kurtz's Media Notes • CQ Races to Watch

The costliest primary race in Minnesota history comes to a conclusion today, when Democrats enter the final stretch of their fight to unseat Sen. Rod Grams (R).

Former state auditor Mark Dayton is the favorite to win the four-way nomination fight and take on one of the Senate's most targeted Republicans. Dayton has spent more than $5 million of his own money in a race in which defeating Grams became one of the few issues on which the four Democrats agreed.
• Democrats Can't Wait to Face Grams (Associated Press, 09/12/00)
• DFLers Make Final Push for Votes (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 09/12/00)
• DFLers Hammer Differences (St. Paul Pioneer Press, 09/11/00)
• More Coverage: Minn. Senate Race

Minnesota has not sent a woman to Congress since 1958, but with a number of potentially strong female candidates vying for primary nominations, that gender gap could close this fall.
• Primary Spotlights Women, Endorsing Process (St. Paul Pioneer Press, 09/12/00)
• More Coverage: Minn. State Races

Mo. Senate: Ashcroft, Carnahan Running Even

In Missouri, Sen. John Ashcroft (R) finished a tour of all of the state's 114 counties over the weekend, but the stumping has yet to give him an edge in his reelection bid. The first-term senator remains locked in a statistical dead heat with Gov. Mel Carnahan (D), according to recent polls.
• Ashcroft Finishes Tour of 114 Missouri Counties (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 09/11/00)
• Ashcroft-Carnahan Race Remains a Dead Heat (Kansas City Star, 09/06/00)
• Ashcroft, Carnahan Are In a Dead Heat (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 09/09/00)
• More Coverage: Mo. Senate Race

Ill.: Low Support Plagues Gov. Ryan

Less than midway through his first term in office, Illinois Gov. George Ryan (R) continues to suffer from low approval ratings and a perception of being untrustworthy. And though Ryan has not said whether he would seek reelection in 2002, a recent survey finds that he is currently not the preferred GOP gubernatorial candidate.
• Ryan, Durbin Lead Packs (Chicago Sun-Times, 09/12/00)
• Half of Voters Don't Trust Ryan (Chicago Sun-Times, 09/11/00)
• Profile: Gov. George Ryan

N.Y. Senate: Giuliani Questions Handshake

New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani (R) criticized Monday the White House-released photo of a smiling Rick Lazio shaking hands with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, saying the handshake "confounded" him and that Lazio may not have "the understanding of Arafat that I do."
• Giuliani Criticizes Lazio Over Arafat Handshake (The New York Times, 09/12/00)
• More Coverage: N.Y. Senate Race

"Some politicians have good timing, some don't." – White House spokesman Joe Lockhart, on a fundraising letter he received from the Lazio campaign Monday asking for $1,000.
• It's All Down Hil for Lazio Pitch
(New York Daily News, 09/12/00)

Jason Thompson can be reached at jason.thompson@washingtonpost.com. Early Returns runs Monday-Thursday.