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By Ryan Thornburg
Washingtonpost.com Staff
Tuesday, September 29, 1998

Hours before a debate between South Carolina's gubernatorial candidates, Republican Gov. David Beasley announced he would no longer oppose a vote on creating a state lottery. In the debate, Democratic nominee Jim Hodges, who supports the lottery but opposed it in 1994, criticized Beasley for changing his position on the vote.

"The national press isn't doing their job as far as keeping everyone in this place accountable. It's a lousy way to run a democracy." – Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wisc.) (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Sept. 29)

Beasley's change of heart follows a reversal on his efforts to remove the Confederate battle flag from the State House. Beasley, who says he still personally opposes a lottery, once supported it when he was a Democratic state legislator.

• Governor Won't Fight Lottery Vote (The State, Columbia, S.C., Sept. 29)
• Beasley's Bet: Flip the Dice, Then Roll 'Em (The State, Columbia, S.C., Sept. 29)
• Candidates' Lottery Positions – and How They've Changed (The State, Columbia, S.C., Sept. 29)
• Candidates Trade Barbs in TV Debate (The State, Columbia, S.C., Sept. 29)
• Elections Guide: South Carolina Governor (washingtonpost.com)

The lottery issue not only looms in South Carolina, where Beasley's once-substantial lead over Hodges in polls is now dwindling, but in Alabama, where Democratic Lt. Gov. Don Siegleman supports using a lottery to raise money for education. His opponent, Republican Gov. Fob James, opposes the creation of a lottery.
• 2 Democrats Hope Support for Lottery Will Help Break G.O.P. Grip on South (The New York Times, Sept. 29, registration required)
• Key Race: Alabama Governor (washingtonpost.com)

Calif. Moves Forward Date of 2000 Presidential Primary
In a move that may indicate another presidential bid by Gov. Pete Wilson, the California Republican signed legislation on Monday that moves up the state's presidential primary from June to March 7. Oregon and Washington may follow suit, which would put at least 12 primaries on that day. Governors from the mountain states of Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona and Montana are also expected to agree in November to place their primaries between March 6 and 10.
• State's Primary Moving From June to Early March (San Francisco Chronicle, Sept. 29)
• Governor OKs Early Primary for 2000 (Los Angeles Times, Sept. 29)
• California Sets Primary on Day Bay State Votes (The Boston Globe, Sept. 29)
• White House 2000 (washingtonpost.com)

Wilson Vetoes Gun Controls While Senate Candidates Shoot It Out
Just as gun control becomes an issue in the California Senate race, Republican Gov. Pete Wilson vetoed legislation Monday that would have prohibited possession of some semiautomatic weapons and ended the sale or manufacture of cheap handguns. Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer began airing a television ad this week that links her Republican opponent, Matt Fong, to the gun lobby.
• Gun Control Is Subject of Wilson's Vetoes, Boxer's Ads (San Francisco Chronicle, Sept. 29)
• Boxer's Latest TV Spot (San Francisco Chronicle, Sept. 29)
• Wilson Vetoes Package of Gun Control Bills (The Los Angeles Times, Sept. 29)
• Key Race: California Senate (washingtonpost.com)

New York Democrat Links Pataki to Scandal
New York Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Vallone is turning scandal strategy on its head. While the mess at the White House has most Democratic candidates on the defensive, Vallone has gone on the offensive by linking Gov. George Pataki and Sen. Alfonse D'Amato to House Speaker Newt Gingrich and independent counsel Kenneth Starr.
• Vallone Links Starr Report to Campaign in New York (The New York Times, Sept. 29, registration required)
• Elections Guide: New York Governor (washingtonpost.com)

S.C. Democrats Planned in Court to Ask GOP Governor About Fidelity
As part of an ongoing lawsuit, lawyers for the South Carolina Democratic Party planned to ask Republican Gov. David Beasley in a deposition this week whether he has ever had an extramarital affair, according to the Oct. 5 Time magazine. The deposition has been rescheduled to allow the governor's office more time to prepare.
• Democrats' Lawyers Planned to Quiz Governor on Infidelity (The State, Columbia, S.C., Sept. 29)

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