A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Friday, July 10, 1998

On the first day of a month-long push to raise money for Democratic candidates, President Clinton had his limousine do a partial lap on the Daytona Speedway on Thursday and then appeared at Sylvester Stallone's Miami house for an $5,000-per-plate fund-raiser benefiting the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

"The real American heroes are not up in space fighting asteroids; they are in Florida fighting fires." – President Clinton in Daytona Beach. (The Miami Herald, July 10)

Before going to Florida, Clinton was in Georgia helping raise about $500,000 for Democratic Senate candidate Michael Coles, the millionaire founder of the Great American Cookie Company.

Clinton Helps Coles Raise Up to $500,000 (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, July 10)
Presidential Attention: Clinton Brings Praise and More Aid (The Daytona Beach News-Journal, July 10)
Clinton, Stallone Co-Star at Democratic Fund-Raiser (The Miami Herald, July 10)
Clinton Pledges Aid to Florida, Calls Fire Crews 'American Heroes' (The Miami Herald, July 10)

Sen. Faircloth: National Enquirer's 'Cyber Crusader'
Hardly any national publication lacked a story about the North Carolina Senate race this week. While CNN and two news magazines focused on Democrat John Edwards's fight against HMOs, GOP Sen. Lauch Faircloth did an interview with the National Enquirer to promote a bill aimed at keeping sex offenders off the Internet.
Faircloth Now 'Cyber Crusader' (The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., July 10)
Key Race: North Carolina Senate. (washingtonpost.com)

Campaign Managers Quit Three High-Profile Contests This Week
Three high-profile candidates replaced their campaign managers this week, all for no apparent reason. On Tuesday, New York Democrat Geraldine Ferraro replaced the head of her campaign for U.S. Senate. Iowa Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Ross Lightfoot named a new top strategist on Wednesday. Florida Lt. Gov. Buddy MacKay also replaced the chief adviser for his Democratic gubernatorial bid.
MacKay Picks New Campaign Boss (The Miami Herald, July 10)
Key Race: Florida Governor (washingtonpost.com)

Lightfoot Picks Campaign Managers (The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, July 9)

Ferraro's Manager Quits (Early Returns, July 8)
Key Races: New York Senate (washingtonpost.com)

Illinois, Michigan Candidates Begin Air War
Illinois Republican gubernatorial nominee George Ryan and candidates in the Aug. 4 Michigan gubernatorial primary began airing television ads this week. Ryan, who has $6 million in the bank, opened a two-week, $500,000 TV blitz. Democratic nominee Glenn Poshard trails Ryan in fund-raising, partially because Poshard imposed contribution limits on his campaign and refuses to take PAC money.
Ryan Unleashing TV Ad Blitz (The Chicago Sun-Times, July 9)
Key Race: Illinois Governor (washingtonpost.com)

Michigan Democrats Doug Ross, Larry Owen, and Geoffrey Fieger this week all launched the first TV ads of their gubernatorial campaigns. Republican Gov. John Engler on Wednesday unveiled the third TV spot of his reelection bid.
Candidates Open Battle of Airwaves (The Detroit News, July 10)

Michigan's Ross Targets Owen at Democratic Gubernatorial Debate
At the first debate among Michigan's Democratic gubernatorial candidates Thursday, the usually abrasive Geoffrey Fieger was relatively sedate, while Doug Ross claimed that Larry Owen is "in hock" to Las Vegas Casinos.
Ross Points Finger at Owen (The Detroit News, July 10)

Minn. Gubernatorial Bid May Not Be So Easy for Coleman
When Minnesota gubernatorial candidate Norm Coleman received his party's endorsement, the other Republican candidates agreed to drop out of the primary. Now, GOP state Sen. Martha Robertson on Thursday said for the first time that she may get into the race.
Republican State Senator Considers Running Against Coleman (The Minneapolis Star-Tribune, July 10)

Nevada Senator Has PAC to Help With Whip Bid
Nevada Sen. Harry Reid (D) formed a political action committee quietly in May 1997 to help his bid for minority whip, the second-ranking post among Senate Democrats. The current whip is retiring Sen. Wendell Ford (D-Ky.).
Reid's PAC Pays for Leadership Run (Las Vegas Review-Journal, July 10)
Congressional Guide: Office of the Minority Whip (washingtonpost.com)

Friday's Fund-Raising Roundup
In preparation for next week's campaign finance filings from federal candidates, here is a roundup of fund-raising news from state and federal office-seekers.

Sen. Ernest F. Hollings (D-S.C.) said on Wednesday that he would not agree to the campaign spending limits proposed by his Republican challenger, Rep. Bob Inglis. Inglis, whose campaign reported about $626,319 to Hollings's $2.1 million as of late March, proposed capping spending at $3.5 million.
Senator Says No to Limit on Cash (The State, Columbia, S.C., July 9)
Key Race: South Carolina Senate (washingtonpost.com)

Nevada gubernatorial candidate Joe Neal is hoping to raise $2 million for his Democratic bid – which would mean raising $50,000 a day every day until mid-August. The primary is Sept. 1.
Gubernatorial Hopeful Neal Sets a $2 Million Fund-Raising Goal (Las Vegas Review-Journal, July 10)

After bursting into the Washington Senate race by raising $700,000 in two months, Republican candidate Chris Bayley has raised only $300,000 since April 1.
Bayley Campaign Struggles to Raise Cash (The Seattle Times, July 10)
Key Race: Washington Senate (washingtonpost.com)

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