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North Dakota gubernatorial candidate Heidi Heitkamp (D) returned to the campaign trail last week, intent on refocusing attention away from her cancer surgery and back on the issues.

Heitkamp said she's in the race for good and that the treatment from her Sept. 25 procedure will not adversely affect her campaign or her ability to govern if elected. A statewide poll last week showed North Dakota voters agree with her. Heitkamp held a 7-point lead over opponent John Hoeven, while 93 percent of likely voters said her illness would not affect their choice at all.
• Poll Shows Heitkamp in Lead for N.D. Governor Job (Fargo Forum, 10/08/00)
• Heitkamp Cancer Not a Factor to Voters (Fargo Forum, 10/08/00)
• Heitkamp Back on the Trail (Bismarck Tribune, 10/05/00)
• Candidates Focus on the Issues (Grand Forks Herald, 10/06/00)
• More Coverage: N.D. Governor's Race

N.Y. Senate: Lazio Criticizes Clinton on 'Trackers,' Mideast

On CNN's "Larry King Live" Monday night, Rep. Rick Lazio (R) accused the campaign of opponent Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) of "sort of harassing" his wife Patricia on the campaign trail by deploying video "trackers" to follow and tape her. Democrats replied that Lazio was making a "big to-do" over a common current practice in politics.
• Lazio Criticizes Clinton's 'Trackers' (Albany Times Union, 10/10/00)
• Lazio Blasts Hil's Trackers (New York Daily News, 10/10/00)
• Lazio: Clinton Campaign Harassing My Wife (New York Newsday, 10/10/00)

With the Mideast in turmoil—and New York's key Jewish vote potentially decisive—Lazio criticized Clinton Monday for not taking a public stand against a U.N. resolution condemning Israel for the violence in the region.
• Lazio Steps Up Criticism of Clinton Over Mideast (The New York Times, 10/10/00)
• A Day of Ethnic Politics for Rivals (Albany Times Union, 10/10/00)
• More Coverage: N.Y. Senate Race

Neb. Senate: Heated Race Very Much About Money

In Nebraska's increasingly bitter Senate race, former governor Ben Nelson (D) state Attorney General Don Stenberg (R) are spending as much time raising money as shaking hands. Though both candidates lament the nature of their race, they say statewide advertising is the only way to distribute their message in light of disinterested media outlets.
• Accusations Fly in Senate Race (Lincoln Journal Star, 10/09/00)
• Senate Race Embodies Nature of New Politics (Omaha World-Herald, 10/08/00)
• Soft Money Flows Into Senate Race (Lincoln Journal Star, 10/03/00)
• More Coverage: Neb. Senate Race

N.H. Governor: Humphrey Hopes History Is on His Side

In 1978, Republican Senate candidate Gordon Humphrey combined a broad-based moderate message with strong support from conservative activists to upend a popular Democratic incumbent. Now a gubernatorial hopeful, Humphrey appears to be drawing from the same playbook in his bid to unseat Democratic Gov. Jeanne Shaheen.
• Then as Now, Humphrey Seeks Coup (Concord Monitor, 10/09/00)
• Shaheen: Humphrey Lacks Decorum Needed to Lead (Foster's Online, 10/06/00)
• More Coverage: N.H. Senate Race

"If a majority of Tennesseans were millionaires, we’d do better."
– Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (D-Tenn.), on George W. Bush's competitive showing in Tennessee, Vice President Gore's home state. Bush is rallying there Tuesday, on the eve of his second debate with Gore.
• Bush Stopping in the Tri-Cities
(Nashville Tennessean, 10/10/00)

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