A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Wednesday, July 8, 1998

The Democratic political strategist who ran New York Senate candidate Geraldine Ferraro's campaign stepped down Tuesday. David Eichenbaum said he was not fired and denied that he quit because of disagreements with Ferraro.

"The idea that we should aspire to a 'colorblind' society is an impediment to reducing racial stereotyping" – John Hope Franklin, chairman of the White House race advisory board, in a letter to President Clinton. (The Salt Lake Tribune, July 9)

Ferraro, a former vice presidential candidate, is seeking the Democratic nomination to run against Republican Sen. Alfonse D'Amato – one of his party's most vulnerable incumbents. She faces Rep. Charles E. Schumer and New York City Public Advocate Mark Green in the Sept. 15 primary.

Ferraro's Manager Quits Her Senate Campaign (The New York Times, July 8, registration required)
Ferraro Campaign Chief Quits (New York Post, July 8)
Key Races: New York Senate (washingtonpost.com)

States Watch as Cincinnati Brings Campaign Spending Limits to High Court
Lawyers supporting Cincinnati's limit on campaign spending said they plan to take their case before the U.S. Supreme Court in September. The high court rejected federal spending limits in its 1976 decision, Buckley v. Valeo, but 33 states and Guam have filed briefs in support of Cincinnati's local ordinance.
Cincinnati Taking Fight to Cap Campaign Spending to High Court (The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, July 87)
Supreme Court Ruling, Buckley v. Valeo (FindLaw)

King of Pop Makes Michigan Gambling Fight a Thriller
Pop singer Michael Jackson announced Monday that he would be a partner in a $1-billion, 75-acre casino-theme park dubbed the "Majestic Kingdom" in Detroit. Jackson and his partner face an uphill political battle to obtain the necessary gambling permits. Betting in Michigan has been a hot topic since Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer awarded the city's first three casino licenses last year. Two dueling statewide ballot initiatives are slated for a November vote. One would expand Detroit gambling and the other would restrict it.
Pop Star Michael Jackson's Surprise Partnership Raises Stakes in Casino Battle (The Detroit News, July 8)

New Hampshire Candidate Leaving House Race, State
New Hampshire Democrats won the battle Tuesday to replace their 1st District House candidate, who first denied, then said last month she "just forgot," assaulting a state trooper in 1987. Cynthia McGovern, the only 1st District Democrat who met the June 12 filing deadline, told the state Ballot Law Commission that her party should be allowed to put Peter Flood's name on the ballot instead of hers because she is moving to Massachusetts.
McGovern Off Ballot; Flood On (The Union-Leader, Manchester, N.H., July 8)

Mauro May Be Only Texas Democrat Not Supporting Bush
Former Houston Mayor Bob Lanier on Tuesday became the latest prominent Democrat to endorse Texas Republican Gov. George W. Bush for reelection. Mauro's campaign noted that Democrats Ann Richards and Bill Clinton still support Mauro.
Houston Democrat Lanier Endorses Bush (The Dallas Morning News, July 8)

Initiatives to Limit Abortions Headed for Colo. Ballot
Two petitions to limit abortions appear to have collected enough signatures to qualify for the state's November ballot. One initiative would ban certain late term abortions. The other would require minors to notify their parents before getting abortions. Supporters of an unrelated petition to allow the medicinal use of marijuana also appear to have collected enough signatures. All three petitions await approval by the secretary of state.
Abortion Foe Files Vote Petitions (Rocky Mountain News, Denver, July 8)
Anti-Abortion Petitions Turned In (The Denver Post, July 8)

North Carolina's Edwards Goes Into the Lion's Den
Capping a week in which CNN, the New York Times, Time and U.S. News & World Report all profiled North Carolina attorney John Edwards's efforts at reigning in HMOs, the Democratic Senate candidate is scheduled to address a national convention of his fellow trial lawyers in Washington, D.C. Edwards's opponent, Republican Sen. Lauch Faircloth, is lauding a bill that would cap punitive damages in product-liability cases as a way to repeal the "trial lawyer tax."
Edwards to Speak at Lawyers Convention (Winston-Salem Journal, N.C., July 8)

Murray Defends Washington Businesses, Fund-Raising Lead
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) is making such a dogged effort to defend her state's top industries that her Republican challengers say they are having a tough time finding big-time political donors.
Murray's Pro-Business Votes Make Fund-Raising Hard for Opponents (The Seattle Times, July 7)

Candidates for Key House Seat Face Off in Kentucky
Candidates for the seat of retiring Sen. Wendell Ford (D-Ky.) spoke with leaders of the Kentucky Farm Bureau on Tuesday. U.S. Reps. Scotty Baesler (D) and Jim Bunning (D) agreed on most agricultural issues but differed over issues such as labor and health.
Candidates for Senate Talk to Farm Leadership (Lexington Herald-Leader, July 8)

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