A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Thursday, September 3, 1998

With the North Carolina Senate race – probably the year's most prominent battle over health care regulation – as a backdrop, a coalition of insurance companies has launched television ads praising Republican Sen. Lauch Faircloth and blasting trial lawyers such as Democratic challenger John Edwards. A spokesman for the American Association of Health Plans said the commercials, which are running only in North Carolina, aren't intended to influence the election.

"Now, senator, you know Ted Kennedy – and I'm no Ted Kennedy." – Senate nominee Jay Nixon (D-Mo.) to GOP opponent Kit Bond in this week's debate. (The Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, Aug. 31)

The Edwards campaign also went on TV this week with its first ads since the May 5 Democratic primary. The commercials look very much like Edwards's previous spots, but have toned down statements about his employment at United Parcel Service through college. The Faircloth camp criticized the earlier ads because Edwards only worked six months for UPS.
Health-Insurance Ad Praises Faircloth on Patients' Rights (The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., Sept. 2)
Edwards Runs First TV Ads Since Primary (The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., Sept. 1)
Key Race: North Carolina Senate (washingtonpost.com)

Ross Lead Slipping as Pataki Gains in N.Y. Governor Race
The Democratic candidates for New York governor showed new-found civility in a Wednesday night debate, perhaps because front-runner Betsy McCaughey Ross is struggling.

Ross, the lieutenant governor who recently left the Republican Party, spent yesterday denying reports that she fired her campaign manager and has spent much of the week dodging questions about her millionaire husband's willingness to fund the campaign.

Meanwhile, the League of Conservation Voters endorsed Gov. George E. Pataki in his reelection bid. Pataki has no primary opposition
In N.Y. Gubernatorial Debate, Democrats Sound Like Allies (The New York Times, Sept. 3, registration required)
In N.Y. Gubernatorial Debate, Democrats Sound Like Allies (Albany Times-Union, Sept. 2)
League of Conservation Voters to Endorse Pataki (The New York Times, Sept. 3, registration required)
Elections Guide: New York races (washingtonpost.com)

Endorsements, Visits Make News Across the Country
While New York Gov. George E. Pataki netted the endorsement of the League of Conservation Voters in his reelection bid, the largest police union in Illinois announced its support of Republican gubernatorial candidate George Ryan.
Cops Flip to Ryan (The Chicago Sun-Times, Sept. 3)
Key Race: Illinois Governor (washingtonpost.com)

Louisiana Gov. Mike Foster (R) irked some members of his party by promoting a fund-raiser for Sen. Mary Landrieu (D) to help her pay off 1996 campaign debt. Foster and Landrieu both ran for governor in 1995, and Foster endorsed Landrieu's GOP opponent in the 1996 Senate race. Foster said he is promoting the fund-raiser because Landrieu's finance chairman is his cousin and because "it’s not good for the state not to support sitting legislators, regardless of party."
Gov. Foster Defends His Support for Landrieu Fund-Raiser (The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.)
Governors Guide: Mike Foster (washingtonpost.com)

Republican candidates got plenty of support from heavyweights among their own ranks this week. Former president George Bush was in Kentucky for Rep. Jim Bunning, the Republican Senate nominee. National Rifle Association president, Oscar winner and Nevada resident Charlton Heston boost GOP Rep. John Ensign's bid to unseat Democratic Sen. Harry Reid.
Bush Comes to Boost Bunning (Lexington Herald-Leader, Sept. 2)
Key Race: Kentucky Senate (washingtonpost.com)
Heston Helps Ensign Take Shots at Reid (Las Vegas Review-Journal, Sept. 3)
Key Race: Nevada Senate (washingtonpost.com)

Nevada Democrats aren't exactly stumbling all over each other to invite President Clinton to stump with them in the Silver State. Reid says his schedule is full and Las Vegas Mayor Jan Jones, the party's gubernatorial nominee, says she is more interested in having Hillary Rodham Clinton help her raise money.
Nevada Democrats Aren't in Hurry to Invite Clinton, Gore (Las Vegas Review-Journal, Sept. 3)
Elections Guide: Nevada Races (washingtonpost.com)
Special Report: Clinton Accused (washingtonpost.com)

Oklahoma Senator Calls on Clinton to Resign
Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) said Wednesday that President Clinton should resign, and predicted that he would be impeached if he didn't. Inhofe is at least the sixth senator to ask for Clinton's resignation.
Inhofe Calls on President to Resign (The Oklahoman, Oklahoma City, Sept. 3)

Pundits Bash Burton for Openness
A fickle group, those pundits paid to explain politics to the unwashed masses. After weeks of saying that President Clinton should have 'fessed up earlier, a few professional opinion-offerers criticized Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) for his early admission of martial strife. "If he thinks by pre-empting (the Vanity Fair story) and put this thing to – I don't want to say it – bed, he hasn't," said Ann DeLaney, author of the book "Politics for Dummies."
Burton's Revelation Was Bad Move, Experts Say (The Star-News, Indianapolis, Sept. 3)

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