A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Wednesday, October 21, 1998

Beware the slippery slope of state-sponsored gambling, warns the latest commercial in the Alabama gubernatorial race, for it could lead to rampant cockfighting.

"People need to relax and realize that real human beings run for public office. And some of us as real human beings actually have marriages we're proud of, and that's not a slam against anyone." – Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R), on his ad which claims that his wife is the state's best first lady ever. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Oct. 21)

Previously a campaign force only in Missouri and Arizona, anti-cockfighting sentiment is now being tapped by Alabama Gov. Forrest "Fob" James (R) in his reelection bid against Democratic Lt. Gov. Don Siegelman. James opposes Siegelman's plan for funding education with state lottery proceeds.

• Critics: Thumbs-Down to Fob's Cock-Fight Ad (Mobile Register, Oct. 20)
• Gambling, Cockfighting Measures Receive State's OK to Appear on Ballot (The Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, Aug. 22)
• Key Race: Alabama Governor (washingtonpost.com)

Ill. Democrats Knew of Indictment Before Planning Ad Against Ryan
It was no coincidence that ads blaming Illinois Republican gubernatorial nominee George Ryan for licensing unsafe drivers were released days before an indictment was handed down against three of Ryan's former employees in the Secretary of State's office, said Illinois Democratic Party Chairman Michael Madigan.
• Indictments' Timing Just Coincidence? (The Chicago Sun-Times, Oct. 21)
• Key Race: Illinois Governor (washingtonpost.com)

Denver Mayor Lets Taxpayers Pick Up Tab for Anti-Impeachment Mail
There has been much talk about the impact of impeachment on Congressional races, but who knew it was going to have an influence on municipal politics? Two weeks after the Loveland, Ohio, city council voted in support of Congress's impeachment inquiry, Denver Mayor Wellington Web (D) used city funds to mail 800 letters to U.S. mayors asking them to oppose the hearings. A mayoral spokesman estimated the cost at $300.
• Webb Taps Taxes to Tout Clinton (The Denver Post, Oct. 21)

South Carolina's Anti-PAC Candidate to Attend PAC Dinner
Even as he is scheduled to attend a fund-raising dinner organized by the Chamber of Commerce PAC, South Carolina's avowed anti-PAC Senate candidate, Rep. Bob Inglis (R), said that PACs should be abolished. Tickets to the dinner are $100 for one and $150 for two. The key, Inglis said, is that the money is coming from individuals, not the PAC.
• Anti-PAC Inglis Is Guest of Honor at PAC Event (The State, Columbia, S.C., Oct. 21)
• Key Race: South Carolina Governor (washingtonpost.com)

Connecticut Battle Cry: Remember the HMO!
Back in the day, healthcare reform figured to play a major role in the 1998 elections. Although the issue has dwindled on a national scale, Rep. Barbara Kennelly, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee in Connecticut, is finding the topic to be one of her few successful weapons in an uphill battle against Republican Gov. John Rowland.
• HMOs Critical To Campaign (The Hartford Courant, Oct. 21)
• Key Race: Connecticut Governor (washingtonpost.com)

Wisconsin Governor Wants to Wrap Flag Into Hate Crimes Law
The beating death of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard has sparked a national movement to pass hate crime legislation to protect homosexuals against violence. But in Wisconsin, Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) wants to pass hate crime laws to protect the flag. Thompson proposed on Tuesday amending the state's hate crimes law to outlaw attacks on the state and U.S. flags.
• Thompson Vows Flag Protection Legislation (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Oct. 21)

N.Y. Democrat Loses Key Endorsement as Gay Group Favors D'Amato
A leading homosexual rights group on Tuesday endorsed New York Sen. Alfonse D'Amato (R) in his reelection bid against Democratic Rep. Charles Schumer. The endorsement of the Human Rights Campaign comes a week after a popular Washington, D.C.,-based homosexual community newspaper said that the gay vote would be key for Schumer's challenge to D'Amato.
• D'Amato Wins Endorsement of Gay Group (The New York Times, Oct. 21, registration required)
• Poll: Gay Voters Favor Schumer (The Washington Blade, Oct. 16)
• Key Race: New York Senate (washingtonpost.com)

Debates Down South: Florida, South Carolina Candidates Meet
Florida gubernatorial candidates Jeb Bush (R) and Lt. Gov. Buddy MacKay (D) wrapped up their debate schedule Tuesday night, focusing on school prayer, abortion and public funding of private schools.
• Final Debate Highlights Differences (The Miami Herald, Oct. 21)
• Key Race: Florida Governor (washingtonpost.com)

Republican Gov. David Beasley and Democratic challenger Jim Hodges on Tuesday debated the car tax, education funding and video poker.
• Hodges, Beasley Spar Over Issues (The State, Columbia, S.C., Oct. 21)
• Elections Guide: South Carolina Governor (washingtonpost.com)

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