A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Friday, June 26, 1998

In an age of soundbites, one 10-second colorful turn of phrase can offer telling insight into a politician's mind – or mischaracterize him or her for life.

"I am going to try to keep my foot on the floor and out of my mouth." – Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), about his public telling of an off-color joke about Chelsea Clinton. (The Arizona Republic, June 26)

Given that political quotes should be taken with a grain of salt, get out your shakers ladies and gentlemen because the last few days have seen some ripe ones.

"I would match his prostate against Jeb Bush's." – Tallahassee physician Roy Forman, talking about the health of Democratic Lt. Gov. Buddy MacKay who is challenging Bush for governor of Florida.
Candidates in Fine Shape, Physically (The Miami Herald, June 26)

"I'm going to sing that song – Stand By Your Man – loud and clear." – Lucy Blount, wife of Alabama gubernatorial candidate Winton Blount III, on what she'll do if her husband wins Tuesday's GOP runoff against Gov. Fob James.
Lucy Blount Stands by Her Man (Mobile Register, June 26)

"When I get scared, I sing 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic' as loud as I can." – Alabama First Lady Bobbie James, who will not likely be doing any duets with Lucy Blount.
Fob's Wife Answers Critics (Mobile Register, June 26)

"It might be race baiting, but it is for the betterment of the small kids in K-12." – Black newspaper publisher Joe Dickson, of Birmingham, Ala., on his distribution of fliers criticizing Blount.
Flier by Black James Backer Called Race-Baiting Politics (The Birmingham News, June 26)

House Leaders Deny Aide to Dornan
The House GOP leadership will not reimburse Southern California Republican Robert Dornan for the cost of his challenge to Democratic Rep. Loretta Sanchez's 1996 victory over him. The decision is a blow to Dornan's current bid to unseat Sanchez because Dornan's campaign is nearly out of money. The refusal to repay Dornan comes as he has recently been sharply critical of House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Reimbursement Denial Hurts Dornan Campaign (Los Angeles Times, June 25)

Texas Democrats Try to Resolve Splits at Convention
With Vice President Al Gore spreading his endorsements of state candidates, Texas Democrats are in San Antonio this weekend for their party convention. A group of women from an upscale Houston neighborhood are trying to pull their Republican neighbors into the Democratic camp – an example of the party's efforts to heal statewide divisions.

With their gubernatorial candidate, Garry Mauro, trailing GOP Gov. George W. Bush by 53 percentage points in the latest poll, some Democratic candidates are trying to distance themselves from Mauro. The party is also dealing with a potential fight for the chairmanship between a lifelong Democrat and a recent Republican convert.
Gore's Fund-Raiser Puts Focus on Youth (The Dallas Morning News, June 26)
ROADWomen Look to Shift Democratic Image (The Austin American-Statesman, June 26)
Democrats Deserting Mauro (The Dallas Morning News, June 26)
Democrats Could Face Fight for Leadership (The Dallas Morning News, June 26)

Consumers Target Electricity Costs in Calif., Ohio
A citizen initiative aimed at reducing the cost of electricity qualified Wednesday for California's November ballot. In Ohio, lawmakers are considering ending electricity monopolies. As in California, some citizens in Ohio are concerned about the state paying for losses incurred by utility companies' multibillion-dollar nuclear power plant investments.
Electricity Rate Cut Set for Fall Vote (The Sacramento Bee, June 25)
Consumer Groups Oppose Bill to Deregulate Electric Power (The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, June 26)

Mass. Governor's Race: AFL-CIO Supports Harshbarger
The Massachusetts AFL-CIO has thrown its support to Attorney General Scott Harshbarger in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, despite his past rifts with organized labor.
AFL-CIO Gives Its Support to Harshbarger (The Boston Globe, June 26)

Ill. Governor's Race: Poshard Failed To Report Labor Donations
Illinois Democratic gubernatorial candidate Glenn Poshard said Thursday that he failed to report $108,000 in campaign contributions he got from a labor organization during his primary campaign. He amended his spending report on Wednesday.
Poshard Fails to Report AFL-CIO Funds in Primary Race (The Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, Mo., June 26)

California Initiative Seeks Tobacco Tax Increase
A California initiative which qualified Wednesday for the November ballot would raise the state's cigarette tax by 50 cents per pack to fund early childhood development and anti-smoking programs.
Cigarette Tax Hike OK'd for Fall Ballot (The Sacramento Bee, June 25)

Boston TV Executives Come Under Fire for Political Contributions
The general managers at Boston's top two television stations are coming under fire for donating money to candidates running for statewide office. Critics say the donations undermine the objectivity of stations' news reporting.
TV Executives Contributed to Campaigns (The Boston Globe, June 26)

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