A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Monday, March 23, 1998

Vice President Gore made his fourth visit to California in seven weeks on Saturday, to address the California Democratic Party convention. Until he arrived, the convention's main attraction had been the gubernatorial candidates, who were duking it out for the title of Most Democratic Democrat.

"Democrats, don't feel sorry for yourselves, because history and a record of achievement is on our side – no matter what those little people say in Washington, with their pointed noses and sharpened little pencils." – California Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres, in his welcoming speech to the state convention. (The Los Angeles Times, March 22)

U.S. Rep. Jane Harman and businessman Al Checchi took the early lead by vowing to reenact affirmative action programs and to sanction gay marriages. Lt. Gov. Gray Davis shied away from making either of those promises, deciding instead to put his two opponents on the defensive. He hit Harman for proclaiming herself the "best Republican in the Democratic Party" and questioned Checchi's contributions to the 1996 presidential campaigns of Republicans Steve Forbes and Bob Dole.

But at the end of the weekend, nothing seemed to have changed much. Delegates reportedly lamented "Poor Gray," who they said has done so much for the party but lacks the personal financial war chests that Harman and Checchi are tapping.

Democrats Square Off in Race for Governor (The Los Angeles Times, March 23)
In the Ring, With Contenders for Governor (The Los Angeles Times, March 23)
Democrats End Conclave Sniffing a November Win (San Francisco Chronicle, March 23)
Harman Steals Show at Democratic Convention (San Francisco Chronicle, March 23)
Gore Rallies Troops at Party Convention (The Los Angeles Times, March 22)
Gore Urges Democrats to Organize Vote Effort: Stresses Opposing Union Fees Measure (The Sacramento Bee, March 22)

Paper Pulls Doonesbury Cartoon for Clinton Coverage
Saying that Gary Trudeau's cartoon has lost some its "relevance" during its commentary on recent allegations against President Clinton, the editor of The Herald-Dispatch in Huntington, Ky., today replaced the Pulitzer Prize-winning strip with "Rugrats."

In early February, several newspapers temporarily pulled the strip for using such phrases as "semen-stained dress," in its discussion of the president's alleged affair with Monica Lewinsky. The Herald-Dispatch editor said he permanently cancelled the cartoon for similar reasons. Since March 9, the comic has not mentioned sex once in its discussion of the Clinton allegations, but it did use the term "aural sex" on March 19, which apparently was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Paper Cancels 'Doonesbury' as Inappropriate (Lexington Herald-Leader, March 23)
Today's Doonesbury (washingtonpost.com)

Reckoning Week Comes for Video Poker in S.C.
South Carolina senators are bracing themselves this week to tackle what may be the state's most contentious issue: the fate of video poker. Filibusters, amendments and other legislative wrangling are expected as lawmakers hope to resolve the issue by Friday. The House has already approved a ban on video poker.
Wary Senate Eyes Its Cards in Poker War (The State, Columbia, S.C., March 23)

Texas Donors Hedge Their Bets
The latest example of why campaign finance legislation is tough to pass comes from Texas, where the Dallas Morning News has taken a look at bet-hedging donors who give to both the Republican and Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor.
Donors Hedge on Close Race (The Dallas Morning-News, March 23)

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