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By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Wednesday, September 23, 1998

Between the time that Sen. Lauch Faircloth took office six years ago and this year's close fight for reelection, the North Carolina Republican has changed his position about two key North Carolina industries, and those industries have come through with campaign cash.

"Our industry has become aware, that if you're going to ask people to do things for you, it's reasonable to be prepared to help them." – Mobile home industry executive R.D. Harvey, on his company's donations to Sen. Lauch Faircloth (R-N.C.). (The Charlotte Observer, Sept. 21)

After a 30-day period in 1997 when the mobile home industry gave the senator $35,000, Faircloth went from calling for the abolition of the Department of Housing and Urban Development to asking HUD Secretary Andrew Cuomo to increase his staff to better promote mobile homes as affordable housing.
• Faircloth, Industry Tie Questioned (The Charlotte Observer, Sept. 21)
• Donations to Faircloth Assailed (The News & Observer, Sept. 23)

The bankers have also seen Faircloth warm up to donations from their industry. In 1992, Faircloth accused his Democratic opponent, Sen. Terry Sanford, of having "sold his soul" to bankers while serving on the Senate Banking Committee. Now Faircloth is on that committee, and the industry has given him more than $1 million since 1993. Faircloth said his previous statement was simply "challenger politics."
• Bankers Repaying Faircloth's Loyalty with Interest (The News & Observer, Sept. 21)

If Faircloth's rival, Democratic attorney John Edwards, wants to practice "challenger politics," it looks as if he will have to do it long-distance. Faircloth, who attended a fund-raiser in Greensboro on Tuesday night, said he did not have time to debate Edwards while the Senate was in session. Faircloth also refused to be photographed with Edwards while the two were in the same place for meetings with North Carolina media. The senator refused to even come out of his holding room until he knew that Edwards left the building.
• Much Ado Over a Photo Op (The News & Observer, Sept. 23)
• Key Race: North Carolina Senate (washingtonpost.com)

D'Amato's Plan: Keep Upstate Upset at Schumer
Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, trying to shore up his votes in upstate New York, unveiled an ad campaign there that criticizes Democratic challenger Rep. Charles Schumer for votes that D'Amato says hurt residents living north of Schumer's Brooklyn home.
• D'Amato Seeks to Exploit Upstate Resentment (The New York Times, Sept. 23)
• The Upstate-Downstate Game (The New York Times, Sept. 23)
• In Upstate Tour, D'Amato Assails Schumer Record (The New York Times, Sept. 21)
• Key Race: New York Senate (washingtonpost.com)

Michigan Gubernatorial Hopefuls Won't Debate
For the first time in 30 years, Michigan's gubernatorial candidates are not scheduled to debate. The Economic Club of Detroit on Tuesday rescinded its offer to host a candidate forum after Democratic challenger Geoffrey Fieger did not respond to the invitation. Republican Gov. John Engler had agreed to the Detroit event, but said he will not appear at any other debate.
• Offer Expires Today for Governor Debate (The Detroit News, Sept. 22)

Fieger, who has become nationally known for his colorful and vicious attacks on opponents, is now sparring with his would-be supporters. Of a Democratic state representative who criticized his "recklessness," Fieger said: "He must be a crackpot."
• Rep. Profit Fires Broadside Into Fieger (Detroit Free Press, Sept. 22)
• Elections guide: Michigan races (washingtonpost.com)

Stumping Party Leaders Downplay Clinton Scandal
It's hardly a surprise that Vice President Gore shied away from any mention of President Clinton's scandal at campaign events for Wisconsin candidates Tuesday. But House Speaker Newt Gingrich is not making impeachment part of his stump rhetoric either.

In fund-raisers in Kentucky and North Carolina on Tuesday, Gingrich called for moderation in the Clinton probe. Even at a fund-raiser for North Carolina Republican Dan Page, the first congressional candidate to tie his opponent to Clinton's problems, Gingrich did not mention the president until the closing remarks of his 40-minute address.
• Gingrich: Scandal 'Is Not a Crisis' (The News & Observer, Raleigh, N.C., Sept. 23)
• Gingrich Speaks for Gex Williams, Says Send Tax-Cutter to Washington (The Lexington Herald-Leader, Sept. 23)
• Visiting Wisconsin, Gore Keeps Focus on Rallying Voters (The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Sept. 23)
• Gore in Detroit Today for Health Care Forum (The Detroit News, Sept. 23)

Last Democratic President Says This One Will Be Impeached
At an Emory University forum on Tuesday, former president Jimmy Carter said that President Clinton lied in the Paula Jones deposition and in his grand jury appearance. He said he was embarrassed by Clinton's actions and embarrassed by the response to them. And he said that he thought Clinton would be impeached by the House, but not convicted by the Senate. He also admitted that by talking about Clinton he had broken a pact with former president Gerald R. Ford not to discuss the scandal.
• Carter Predicts Impeachment (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Sept. 23)

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