A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.

By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Tuesday, September 8, 1998

With a week to go before the busiest day of the primary season, politicians and pundits are lamenting the sorry state of voter turnout this year. At least 11 states have already experienced record low turnout this cycle, which is what secretaries of state are predicting for today's votes in Arizona, New Hampshire, Vermont and Wisconsin.

"George Will can just take his hood and go back to wherever he came from." – Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun, on the racist overtones she perceived in Will's Sunday column. (The Chicago Tribune, Sept. 8)

While some suggest that a general mood of satisfaction is creating the low turnout, last week's Nevada primary suggests otherwise. Voters there may cast their ballots for "none of these candidates," and "none" beat out 17 of the 33 actual candidates for statewide office there.
Political Briefing: A Favorite Son: In Nevada, 'None' (The New York Times, Sept. 8, registration required)
Sure Bet in Primary Today? Voters Few and Far Between (The Union-Leader, Manchester, N.H., Sept. 8)
Little Drama in Primary (Arizona Republic, Sept. 8)
Gubernatorial, Congressional Primaries Lead Ballot (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Sept. 8)
Candidates Struggle to Stir Up Interest in New York Races (The New York Times, Sept. 8, registration required)
Elections Guide (washingtonpost.com)

Ind. Indifferent Toward Burton Affair; Clinton Scandal Has Impact
After Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) acknowledged this weekend that he had a son out of wedlock, Indiana voters reacted pretty much the same way they have toward President Clinton's confession of an adulterous relationship: indifferent. However, things got a little raucous at a Town Hall meeting with Burton this weekend, when his supporters shouted down other attendees who questioned his morality. An Indianapolis newspaper noted that such meetings usually focus on solving problems with Social Security, Medicare, and other matters – "rarely the setting for major news."
Burton Learned of Son Years Later (The Star-News, Indianapolis, Sept. 5)
Voters Say Burton Affair a Forgivable Transgression (The Star-News, Indianapolis, Sept. 5)
Burton Faces the Music (The Star-News, Indianapolis, Sept. 5)

Perhaps because of the media focus on scandal, Clinton's affair has congressional candidates carefully navigating their positions on presidential peccadillos.
How Has Scandal Affected Political Mood in Minnesota? (The Star-Tribune, Minneapolis, Sept. 8)
In Bellwether District, Clues to Lewinsky's Impact (The New York Times, Sept. 5, registration required)

Moseley-Braun Apologizes for Using Racial Epithet to Blast Column
Hours after Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun used a racial epithet to answer George F. Will's criticism of her in his syndicated Sunday column, she apologized. Moseley-Braun had reacted to Will's column by saying, "I think because he could not say 'nigger,' he said the word 'corrupt.'" Will's column echoed long-standing criticism of Moseley-Braun's financial dealings, but it did not use the word "corrupt."
Senate Race Stirred by One Word (The Chicago Tribune, Sept. 8)
George F. Will: Hope Comes to Illinois (The Washington Post, Sept. 6)
Key Race: Illinois Senate (washingtonpost.com)

Gubernatorial Campaigners Arrested at Wis. Labor Parade
Police arrested two volunteers for Ed Garvey's Democratic bid for governor of Wisconsin at a Labor Day Parade in Milwaukee. Parade officials said campaign supporters were not authorized to participate in the event. A police spokesman said that the two volunteers ran from officers when police tried to confront them.
Garvey Supporters Arrested at Parade (The Journal-Sentinel, Sept. 8)
Elections Guide: Wisconsin races (washingtonpost.com)

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