And the Winner Is: Nuclear power consultant Gerry Wallace (R) won the Republican nomination in Alabama 5th Congressional District. Fewer than 4500 Republicans bothered to vote in the run off primary. Story Here.

     Massachusetts Governor Stripped of Appointment Power: The Massachusetts General Court voted to strip Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA) of the ability to appoint a Senator to replace John F. Kerry (D-MA) if he is elected President. D.C.'s Political Report's source says that the votes are there to override the Governor's expected veto.

     Whose Signature?: Two of the thousand of signatures that Arizona Democrats are challenging from Ralph Nader's ballot petitions purport to be Ralph Nader's. Story Here.

     Nader's GOP Support Illegal: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, a self described watchdog group, is filing a complaint alleging that Oregon Family Council's and Citizens For A Sound Economy's activities helping Nader gain ballot access are illegal. The conservative organizations are corporations prohibited by election law from making campaign donations. Story Here.

     Poll Not Surprising: A Bellweather Research poll commissioned for the Indiana Manufacturing Association confirms that George W. Bush is leading in Indiana. Click Here.

     Reaffirm the Base: John F. Kerry (D-MA) promised to "smooth the path for citizenship" and improve educational opportunities for minorities as part of his campaign to energize black and hispanic support. Story Here.

     Voting With Their Feet: Joggers and competitive runners are wearing T-shirts with political messages. Story Here.

     GOP Governor Facing Primary Challenges: U.S. Secretary of Commerce Don Evans (R-TX) is being encouraged to return to Texas and run for Governor against Rick Perry (R-TX). Story Here.

     Douglas Seeks Re-Election: Vermont's Republican Governor Jim Douglas (R-VT) kicked off his re-election campaign yesterday by highlighting economic achievements during his first term in office. Story Here.

     Daniels Disses Football: Gubernatorial candidate Mitch Daniels (R-IN) says that Indiana cannot afford to help Indianapolis in its efforts to keep the Colts. Story Here.

     Let's Talk About the Issues: Three of the candidates for Governor of Washington unveiled key parts of their agendas. Story Here.

     Graham Defends Castor: U.S. Senator Bob Graham (D-FL) defended former University of Florida president and Senate candidate Betty Castor (D-FL) against charges that she did not do enough against a professor accused of terrorist activities. Story Here.

     Oxford's Million: Spending by businessman and Senatorial candidate Cliff Oxford (D-GA) has tripped the millionaire's clause allowing his opponents to collect more money from contributors. Story Here.

     Bosa Bounced: The New Hampshire Secretary of State affirmed the decision to remove former Republican Presidential candidate Dick Bosa (R/D - NH) from the ballot and bar his campaign for the Democratic nomination for the United State Senate. Story Here.

     Senator by Day. Crime Fighter by Night: Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Inez Tenenbaum (D-SC) revealed her plan to fight crime - and her qualifications to do so. Story Here.

     Fusion Candidate: Republican U.S. Senate candidate Robert McMullen (R-VT) surprised party official when he announced that he is also seeking the nomination of the state's Libertarian Party. Story Here.

     Three Fine Individuals Debate: The three Democratic candidates competing for the nomination in the Republican rich 5th Congressional District of North Carolina had a very cordial and polite debate. Story Here.

     Accounting Questions: Two for the three Republican candidates in Georgia's 8th Congressional District are facing accounting inquiries regarding campaign expenditures. State Representative Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) appeared to pay for Congressional campaign activities from her state legislative campaign account. Dylan Glenn (R-GA) is being asked to verify that he returned campaign contribution which were given to support the candidate's 1988 general election campaign. Glenn lost the Republican primary that year and was required to return general election donations. Story Here.

     Man Bites Dog Story: A Court has order the inclusion of reference to God by a branch of the state government. The North Carolina Supreme Court ordered District Court Judge James M. Honeycutt to restore references to God in the words said when he enters the courtroom and when witnesses swear to tell the truth. The Court reasoned that Honeycutt lacked the authority to change courtroom procedures set by state law. Story Here.

     GOP Fiscal Division: Despite Republicans in control of both houses of Congress, lawmakers have not been able to pass a budget this year because of deep divisions within the Republican Party over taxes and fiscal responsibility. Story Here.

     Clean Street: Philadelphia Mayor John Street (D) avoided indictments which was handed down charging 12 associates, including the city's former treasurer, with bribery and fraud. Stories Here and Here.

     Thurmond's Indiscretion Memorialized: South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford (R-SC) has signed legislation to add Essie Mae Washington Williams' name to a monument for the late one time segregationist Strom Thurmond (R-SC). Thurmond's affair with a teenage African American housekeeper at a time when he publicly opposed interracial relationships produced the daughter whom he never publicly recognized. Story Here.

     GOP Opposes Republican Victory: The Republican National Committee filed a complaint on Tuesday accusing a organization calling itself the "Republican Victory Committee" of fraudulent fund-raising. The Republican Victory Committee, which is using telephonic fund raisers from India, claims that it is raising money for get-out-the-vote activities around the country. RNC accuses the organization of impersonating the Republican Party. Story Here.

     Alternative Party News: In a press release, the Libertarian Party claims that recent criticism of Michael Moore's documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" is proof that the First Amendment is under assault. Press Release Here.

     Alternative Party News: Oklahoma Libertarian won a legal victory when the 10th Circuit of the Court of Appeals ruled that not allowing a party to invite members of different parties to vote in its primaries violates the freedom of political association. Story Here.

     Updates: New polls were posted in the Florida Presidential Election, Georgia Democratic Senate Primary, Louisiana 3rd Congressional District election, Kentucky 3rd Congressional District election and Wisconsin GOP Senate Primary,

     There were updates posted to D.C.'s Political Report's following pages yesterday: Alabama 2004 Primary Results, Louisiana, and Texas.

     Bush Held Prisoners Illegally: The United States Supreme Court in a 8-1 decision ruled that the administration may not bar American citizens deemed enemy combatants from challenging their designation and detention. The administration detention of American citizens has deprived them of their constitutional right to due process according to the controlling opinion. Furthermore, non-citizens confined at Guantánamo Bay may file petitions for writs of habeas corpus and argue that they are being unlawfully held. Story Here.

     If its a Tuesday, Must Be a Primary: Republican congressional candidates Stephen Engel (R-AL) and Gerry Wallace (R-AL) face off today for the right to challenge Bud Cramer (D-AL). Story Here.

     Bush Approval Down: George W. Bush's (R-TX) job approval rating has fallen to the lowest level of his presidency according to the latest New York Times / CBS News poll. Story Here.

     Substitute Speaker: When John F. Kerry (D-MA) declined to speak at the national mayor conference because it would require him to cross a police union's picket line, Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA) substituted for him and took the opportunity to ridicule the presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee. Story Here.

     Attention Florida: A new Quinnipiac poll of Florida shows Bush and Kerry tied with 43% of the vote. Story Here.

     Health Care Campaign: Governor Joe Kernan (D-IN) presented his plan for a new health care insurance initiative aimed at small Indiana businesses struggling to find affordable coverage for their employees. Story Here.

     Schweitzer Leads Brown: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brian Schweitzer (D-MT) holds a 10-1 lead in money on hand over his Republican opponent Bob Brown (R-MT). Schweitzer's finance reports says that he has $440,053 in the bank, while Brown, who had a competitive primary, only has $44,482. Story Here.

     Castor Accused of Lying: A political group with ties to U.S. Representative and U.S. Senate candidate Peter Deutsch (D-FL) has accused former university president Betty Castor (D-FL) of lying to reporters when she said that she had not been given information from the FBI about terrorist activities on the campus of the University of South Florida. Story Here.

     Split Decision: Florida AFL-CIO endorsed both Castor and Deutsch for U.S. Senate in an action deemed a slap at the third major Democratic Senate candidate Alex Penelas (D-FL). Story Here.

     Schaffer Backed by Conservatives: Former U.S. Representative and Senate candidate Bob Schaffer (R-CO) received the endorsement of conservative groups in his campaign for the GOP nomination. Story Here.

     Congressional Candidate Against Bush: State Senator and congressional candidate Liane Levetan (D-GA) releases a television commercial in which her opponent appears to be George Bush. Story Here.

     Great Scott!: Ex-State Representative Jock Scott (R-LA) wants to become a member of Congress to help war efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. Story Here. When did we go to war in Libya?

     Conservative to the Rescue: U.S. Representative Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) received some conservative coverage in his primary battle with David Walrath (R-NY). Walrath claims that Boehlert is not sufficiently conservative. But former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) is promising to get personally involved in the race if Boehlert is attacked for not being conservative enough. Story Here.

     Cheney's Choice: Vice President Dick Cheney (R-WY) helped raise money for congressional candidate Geoff Davis (R-KY) in his campaign against former television anchorman Nick Clooney (D-KY). Story Here.

     Matured Choice: Clay Chastain (R-MO), who lead several unsuccessful ballot initiative on transportation issues, says that he has matured as a thinker and is now capable of representing Kansas City in Congress. Story Here.

     Police Force: Two Washington police organizations yesterday passed over King County Sheriff Dave Reichert (R-WA) and endorsed State Senator Luke Esser (R-WA) in the race for the 8th Congressional District. Story Here.

     Its Lonely Being Green: Lacking a well known nominee and promising only to campaign in uncompetitive states, the Green Party faces news tests to maintain viability in the American electorate. Story Here.

     Updates: New polls were posted in the Colorado Senate Race.

     There were updates posted to D.C.'s Political Report's following pages yesterday: List of Alternative Political Parties.

     Soar Grapes: Right out of Aesop's Fables: Upon losing the Green Party's endorsement he had sought, Ralph Nader calls the Green Party "strange" and its convention a "cabal." Story Here. Meanwhile the independent candidate works to gain ballot access in Washington and Oregon. Story Here.

     Fleeing Suburbia: The Republican Party is targeting culturally conservative but unregistered and unaffiliated voters fleeing swing-state cities for life in outlying areas. Story Here.

     Governor Race Loses Civil Charm: With the primary only weeks away, the Republican candidates for North Carolina's Gubernatorial nomination are taking the gloves off and attacking each other. Story Here.

     Faith a Private Matter: Despite polls which indicate that most Hoosiers prefer more religious influence in public life, both gubernatorial candidates don't campaign on their faiths. Gov. Joe Kernan (D-IN) is a Catholic and his Republican challenger Mitch Daniels (R-IN) is a Presbyterian. Stories Here and Here.

     Impeachment Report Coming: Although he is resigning July 1, Governor John Rowland (R-CT) still faces the embarrassment of a report which contains evidence that he ignored illegal conduct in a state contract bid and lied about his knowledge of the activities. Story Here.

     Vinroot Unchanged: Gubernatorial candidate Richard Vinroot (R-NC) has not changed his message much in his third campaign for Governor. Story Here.

     Staying Positive a Year Out: State Attorney General and presumptive gubernatorial nominee Jerry Kilgore (R-VA) is promising to present an optimistic and positive message in his for governor next year.

     Amateur Hour: The two Republicans vying for the 5th Congressional District nomination in tomorrow's run-off primary have one thing in common: Neither has ever served in public office. Story Here.

     Legislature Gives Little Time to Campaign: Four Louisiana legislators are stepping up their campaigns for Congress now that the state legislature has finished law-making business last week. Story Here.

     I Will Not Pay for This Mike!: Congressional candidate Brad Smith (R-MI) is not willing to pay for his share of a moderator's fee for an upcoming debate of Republicans candidates in the 7th Congressional District. Story Here.

     Look for the Union Label: Congressional candidate Kalyn Free (D-OK) has won the endorsement of 30 unions, including the AFL-CIO, in her quest to replace U.S. Representative Brad Carson (D-OK). Story Here.

     Innovative Candidate: Congressional candidate Alex Alben (D-WA) was able to prepare RealNetworks for internet commerce. Now he is taking his vision to the political realm. Story Here.

     Blowing in the Wind: West Virginia congressmen Alan Mollohan (D-WV) and Nick Rahall (D-WV) have asked the General Accounting Office to examine how wind turbines are regulated and what effects the projects have on migrating birds. Story Here.

     Unwatched Masses: In the crowded race for Missouri's State Treasurer, the seven Republicans, three Democrats and one Libertarian, try everything to get attention. Story Here.

     Alternative Party News: Libertarian Party Presidential nominee Michael Badnarik (L-TX) will be spending the July Fourth weekend in North Carolina campaigning. Story Here.

     Alternative Party News: The Natural Law Party, finally adhering to the request of its spiritual leader Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, has voted to disband. Individual state parties are each free to continue operating and fielding candidates on their own. Press Release Here.

     Updates: New polls were posted in the Colorado and Mississippi Presidential Races.

     There were updates posted to D.C.'s Political Report's following pages yesterday: Indiana, Nebraska and Constitution Party Links.

     I am out of the office for a few days and have limited access to the 'net. I will continue to do a news summary but can not promise that it will be posted by 9:00 am.

     Cobb Wins Green Party Nomination: In a major blow to Ralph Nader's (I-DC) campaign for president, the Green Party nominated attorney David Keith Cobb for President. For Vice President, the liberal party nominated radio talk show host Patricia LaMarche. In his acceptance speech, Cobb never mentioned Nader but focused on a goal of building the party and promoting ballot access reform. Stories Here, Here and Here.

     Cobb has said that he will only actively campaign in states where the Presidential election is not close and encourage his supporters to "vote their conscience" in the battleground states. The Green Party is already on the ballot in 24 states.

     In the first round of voting Cobb received the support of 308 delegates, Peter Camejo, Nader's running mate, received 118.5 delegates, Nader received 117.5, No Nominee received 74.5, Lorna Salzman 40, None of the Above 35.5, Kent Mesplay 23.5, Jo Anne Beemon 14, Carol Miller 9.5, Dennis Kucinich 8, uncommitted 6.5, Paul Glover 5.5, Johnathan Farley 3, Sheila Bilyeu 2, and the late Eugene Debs 1.

     Under the rules of the convention, if no candidate received a majority of the delegates in the first round, a second round would be taken. Any candidate which had not formally requested the nomination would be eliminated, thus excluding Camejo, Nader, Kucinich, and Debs, who was the Socialist Party presidential candidate in 1920. Nader supporters were backing No Nominee in the second round.

     The final vote in the second round was Cobb 408, No Nominee 308, Kent Mesplay 43, Bier Beeman 8, and three abstentions.

     Consolation Prize: The Populist Party held a successful convention in Portland, Oregon last night when 1150 delegates gathered and nominated Ralph Nader as its nominee. If all of the signatures are valid, Nader would have gained ballot access in the state. In April, Nader attempted to obtain ballot status in Oregon by holding a new party convention but only 741 people showed up. Story Here. Nader had received the support of Republicans in his latest effort to get on the ballot in Oregon. Story Here.

     I Want More Votes: Not happy with capturing two-thirds of the Utah Republican primary vote, Republican Gubernatorial nominee John Huntsman (R-UT) thinks that future Republican primaries should be open to voters without a declared party allegiance. Story Here.

     Surrogates Attack: Vermont Republican and Democratic parties are acting as surrogates and attacking their rival gubernatorial nominees. Governor Jim Douglas (R-VT) is accused of a "lack of vision", "a penchant to pass the back" and a tendency to "walk away from a principled fight." Democratic Peter Clavelle is described as a "rigid, leftist ideologue" with a "reckless approach." Story Here.

     Incumbent Power: U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) has been able to draw several big name Republicans from the lower 48 into Alaska to help with her re-election campaign. Among the high profile visits have been labor Secretary Elaine Chao, Treasury Secretary John Snow, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Dole, Conrad Burns, and John Sununu. And guess what? They are "official" events meaning that the government and not Murkowski campaign paid for the trips. Story Here.

     Democrats Debate Deliberate: The Democratic candidate for Florida's U.S. Senate seat attacked each other in a debate yesterday. Story Here. If all are to believed they Democrats are incompetent, harboring terrorists, and really Republicans.

     Why Is He Running?: Businessman and U.S. Senate candidate Cliff Oxford (D-GA) decided not to run for Senate, and then changed his mind. His campaign appears to lack a clear vision of why he should be the nominee. Story Here.

     Missing Link: U.S. Representative, Senate candidate and avid golfer Chris John (D-LA) has vowed to keep off the golf course until after the election is over. Story Here.

     Getting the Skinny: The Indianapolis Star offers the skinny in Indiana's 3rd Congressional District. Story Here.

     Final Touch-up to Resume: Two bachelor candidates for Louisiana's 3rd Congressional District tied the knot. St. Representative Damon Baldone (D-LA) and Billy Tauzin, III (R-LA) got married in the last two months. Story Here.

     Schwarz Waltz: Former State Senator Joe Schwarz (R-MI) has pulled ahead of his five rivals in the race for the Republican nomination for the 7th District Congressional seat according to a new EPIC/MRA poll. Story Here.

     Former Foley Seat In Play: Despite the ever increasing Republican trend in Eastern Washington, Democrats believe that they have a shot to capture the open seat being vacated by U.S. Representative George Nethercutt (R-WA). Hotel mogul Don Barbieri (D-WA) is a strong candidate to capture the seat once held by Speaker Tom Foley (D-WA). Each of his three potential Republican opponents claim to be a pro-gun, anti-abortion, tax cutter who would steer more federal spending into the district. Story Here.

     Skipping the Formal: Having previously run state-wide office, former State Senator Jan Backus (D-VT) has decided to forgo a traditional campaign kickoff event. Backus is running for Lt. Governor of Vermont. Her opponents are current Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie (R-VT), former State Senator Cheryl Rivers (D-VT), and State Representative Steve Hingtgen (Pr-VT). Story Here.

     Alternative Party News: The Constitution Party completed its ticket by nominating Chuck Baldwin for Vice President.

     Updates: New polls were posted in the Illinois Senate Race.

     There were updates posted to D.C.'s Political Report's following pages yesterday: List of Presidential Candidates, Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming,

     I am out of the office for a few days and have limited access to the 'net. I will continue to do a news summary but can not promise that it will be posted by 9:00 am.

     And He's Out of There: Businessman and GOP Senate nominee Jack Ryan (R-IL) quit the race yesterday among the uproar that he took his then wife to a sex club and requested that she perform a sexual act on him in public. Illinois Republicans were scrambling to find a replacement candidate with former Governors Jim Edgar (R-IL) and James Thompson (R-IL) declining to run. The leading contender for the nomination is Ronald Gidwitz (R-IL), a member of the Illinois Board of Education. Also mentioned are are three challengers Ryan defeated in the March primary: state Sen. Steve Rauschenberger (R-IL), dairy owner Jim Oberweis (R-IL) and businessman Andy McKenna (R-IL). Stories Here, Here and Here.

     Polls have already been released testing the strength of State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka (R-IL), retiring U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald (R-IL), Edgar and Gidwitz against State Senator Barack Obama (D-IL), the Democratic nominee. Polls Here.

     I said after the primary that Ryan was a strong candidate and predicted that he would win the election. Of course that was before this scandal broke. I withdraw the prediction, but stand by my assessment of the candidate. Jack Ryan is being unfairly pushed off the campaign stump. His credential and commitment to public service should not have been eclipsed by his marriage. Ryan did nothing wrong. He asked his wife for sex and when she said no, he agreed. This should not be a scandal.

     "Lee"ving You: Former Chrysler CEO and national business idol Lee Iacocca is abandoning George W. Bush and backing John F. Kerry for President. Iacocca had appeared in a television commercial for Bush in 2000, but now says that we need a new president. Iacocca said, "I say this not as a partisan but as an unabashed patriot." Story Here.

     How Did This Nazi Get Here?: The Bush and Kerry campaign are trading accusations that the other side was first to invoke the image of Adolf Hilter during the campaign. MoveOn.org briefly had on its web site a "proposed" commercial created independently which made the comparison between Bush and the WWII German leader. Now the Bush campaign has complied an on-line video about Kerry's "coalition of wild-eyed" backers. Guess who is there? Adolf Hilter's image was taken from the MoveOn.org's video. Stories Here and Here.

     Cheney's Last Dance: Vice President Dick Cheney (R-WY) said that he had no desire or aspiration to run for President in 2008. Story Here.

     They Are Not Going for the Mountains: Both President George W. Bush and Senator John F. Kerry announced that they will be making additional visits to West Virginia in July. Stories Here and Here.

     This One Goes to The Dogs: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger admits that he made a mistake. Schwarzenegger had proposed saving money by euthanizing stray after three days. The current law requires that public animal shelters to hold strays for six days. Schwarzenegger reversed himself Friday and now pledges to keep California's law unchanged. Story Here.

     That Didn't Last Long: Earlier this week gubernatorial candidates Brian Schweitzer (D-MT) and Bob Brown (R-MT) had signed pledges vowing a positive campaign. Now Schweitzer has called on Brown to stop the attacks coming from Republican surrogates. Story Here.

     Too Little, Too Late: Idaho Democrats finally have a candidate to face U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID). He is engineering consultant Scott McClure (D-ID). The trouble is that McClure did not decided to run until after the filing deadline and state party caucus. Therefore he will not be listed on the ballot and is running a write-in campaign. Story Here.

     Helping Hands: U.S. Senate Harry Reid (D-NV) is pushing legislation that would benefit a close friend by removing an obstacle to his plans to build develop land near Las Vegas. Story Here.

     Don't Bank on It: U.S. Senate candidate and former U.S. Representative Bob Schaffer (R-CO) lists "bank director" as part of his experience. The only problem is that the bank does not exist yet. Schaffer is a director for the Greenwood Federal Savings Bank which is still in the planning stages. Story Here.

     Campaigning Without Attention: U.S. Senate candidate Bill Jones (R-CA) unveiled his energy plan calling for diversifying and increasing California energy sources. Too bad no one was paying attention. Story Here.

     Physician Wants Right to Sue HMO: Physician and U.S. Senate candidate Daniel Mongiardo (D-KY) has called upon Congress, and his fall opponent U.S. Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY), to overturn the United States Supreme Court's decision that patients could not sue HMO in state courts because a federal law grants them immunity. Story Here.

     Kemp Withdraws Endorsement: Former U.S. Representative and 1996 Vice Presidential nominee Jack Kemp (R-NY) has withdrawn his endorsement of Winston-Salem City Councilmember Vernon Robinson (R-NC). It seems that Robinson's attacks on immigrants has angered the football legend. Kemp has now endorsed Ed Broyhill (R-NC), the son of a former U.S. Senator Jim Broyhill (R-NC), for the open 5th Congressional District. The winner of the GOP primary is expected to easily win election. Story Here.

     Leaving What He Does Best: Congressional candidate Dave Reichert was named Sheriff of the Year at the National Sheriff's Association annual conference. The King County Sheriff was recognized in part for his work on the Green River Task Force and the arrest and conviction of Gary Ridgway. Story Here.

     Taxes, Taxes, Taxes: Republican congressional candidates Adam Taff (R-KS) and Kris Kobach (R-KS) took turns trashing each other over taxes. They, and the third Republican in the race for Kansas 3rd Congressional District GOP nominee, Patricia Lightner, all claim to support lower taxes. But Lightner and Kobach have also voted to increase taxes when necessary. Taff has not held public office. Story Here.

     Metzl's Ambition: Congressional candidate James Metzl (D-MO) started his campaign against U.S. Representative Karen McCarthy (D-MO). Then when McCarthy announced her retirement, former Kansas City Mayor Emmanuel Cleaver (D-MO) became the front runner. Neither prospect however deter the foreign policy advisor from his goal of being elected to Congress. Story Here.

     Courting MoveOn.org: Congressional candidate Joe Driscoll (D-PA) has asked his supporter to lobby MoveOn.org on his behalf. Driscoll wants the endorsement of the liberal organization and the financial benefits which come with it. Story Here. Other Pennsylvania candidates have already received the backing of MoveOn.org. Story Here.

     One Down. Eight to Go: One of the nine candidates trying to prevent the re-election of U.S. Representative Barbara Cubin (R-WY) has dropped out of the race. Mike Oxley (R-WY) has withdrawn. Story Here.

     More Negative, Less Civil: Associated Press's Jim Abrams explored the ever more uncivil behavior of Congress. Story Here.

     Alternative Party News - Constitution: Michael Peroutka (C-MD) as expected received the nomination of the Constitution Party yesterday at their convention in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. D.C.'s Political Report had planned on attending at least on day of the Convention but I was called away on family business.

     Alternative Party News - Green: The Green Party meeting in Wisconsin will select their parties nominee this evening. The contest is between David Cobb (G-TX) and Ralph Nader (I-DC). Nader did not appear at the convention and does not want the nomination, only the endorsement of the party. Speaking in his place was his running mate, Peter Camejo. David Cobb has chosen Pat LaMarche (G-ME) as his running mate. Ms. LaMarche was the parties 1998 nominee for Governor of Maine.

     Alternative Party News - Fascist: D.C.'s Political Report was recently contacted by American Fascist Party Presidential nominee Seth Tyrssen. Mr. Tyrssen is concerned that his pro-Fascism party is being unfairly lumped together with Nazi. "We believe in the correctness of Fascism as the true wave of the future. Not the ham-fisted, all-intrusive variety of media fame, but rather more like the society found in the movie Starship Troopers," writes the write-in candidate. I am assuming that is without the giant brain sucking insects. More about Tyrssen here.

     Updates: New polls were posted in the Florida Presidential Race, Illinois Senate Race, Michigan Presidential Race, North Carolina Gubernatorial Primary, Ohio Presidential Race, Oklahoma Presidential Race, Pennsylvania Presidential Race, Pennsylvania Senate Race, and Wisconsin Presidential Race,

     There were updates posted to D.C.'s Political Report's following pages yesterday: List of Alternative Political Parties, Illinois

     I am out of the office for a few days and have limited access to the 'net. I will continue to do a news summary but can not promise that it will be posted by 9:00 am.

     One More Try: In April Ralph Nader (I-DC) attempted to obtain ballot status in Oregon by holding a "New Party" convention with over 1000 delegates in attendance. Only 741 people showed up. Tomorrow night he will try again with a nomination convention in Portland. Story Here.

     Nader a No in Hoosier: Ralph Nader's Indiana Coordinator admits that the independent candidate will not be on the ballot. The campaign has only collected 9000 of the 30,000 signatures needed. Story Here.

     More on Nader?: And in South Carolina, Nader has rejected the offer to be the Reform Party nominee. Nader plans to collect signatures and earn a spot on the state's ballot as an independent.

     What to Do If Kerry Wins: Massachusetts Democrats and Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA) are fighting over how the vacancies caused by a John F. Kerry (D-MA) Presidential victory would be filled. Current law would allow Romney to appoint a replacement until a special election two years later. Democrats want to change that to 160 days till the special election and no appointment. Story Here.

     Cheney Reprieve: The Supreme Court held yesterday that a lower court had acted "prematurely" when it rejected a request from Vice President Dick Cheney (R-WY) to block disclosure of records from his energy policy task force. The lower court may still require the disclosure after further review, but now it would not occur before the election. Story Here.

     The partial victory did nothing for Cheney's disposition. On the floor of the U.S. Senate he told U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) to "Go fuck yourself!" Story Here.

     Resistance is Futile, Part II: Senate candidate Jack Ryan (R-IL) is considering quitting the race because of the furor regarding his ex-wife's sexual allegations. U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) has "postponed" his appearance at a fundraiser for the candidate. Story Here and Story Here.

     Bush Praises Deadbeat: President George W. Bush (R-TX) praised Tami Jordan as an example of how one can change their life for the better. But Jordan still owes $308,765 to the company from which she embezzled. She was convicted in 2000 of theft and forgery. Story Here.

     Where Johnny?: U.S. Representative and Senate candidate Johnny Isakson (R-GA) has declined to participate in 5 different debates with his GOP rivals. Story Here.

     Withdrawal?: U.S. Senate candidate Jim Finkelstein (D-GA) wants to withdrawal American troops from Iraq immediately. Finkelstein claims that the federal government has failed to provide adequate equipment for U.S. troops deployed in Iraq and brings his son, Sgt. Ben Finkelstein who was deployed in the country for five months, on the campaign trail to testify to that fact. Story Here.

     Did Governor Easley Help Terrorist?: State Senator and gubernatorial candidate Fern Shubert's (R-NC) new television and radio commercials imply that Governor Mark Easley (D-NC) is to blame for the 9-11 terrorist attacks. Shubert claims that a North Carolina law regarding driver's licenses, made it easier for the terrorists to engage in their activities. Story Here.

     Will the Fat Lady Never Sing?: U.S. Representative Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX) who appeared to have a lost the primary nomination contest to former Secretary of State Henry Cuellar (D-TX) won an important victory on Wednesday. A panel of the Court of Appeals overturned a lower court judge who had ruled that Rodriguez could not challenge the eligibility of hundreds of voters. The 2-1 decision would send the case back to the lower court, but Cuellar plans to ask the full court to hear the case. Story Here.

     Moore on Kennedy: Controversial documentarian Michael Moore finally responded to U.S. Representative Mark Kennedy's (R-MN) claim that Moore deleted his comments from the film Fahrenheit 9/11. According to Moore, the Congressman was non-responsive to the question asked. Story Here. Since Kennedy's response ended up on the cutting room floor, we will never know whether Kennedy's answer to the leading question from Moore was responsive or not.

     Moving In for the Fight: Democratic replacement nominee in Maryland's First Congressional District, Kosta Alexakis (D-MD), had his real estate agent call U.S. Representative Wayne Gilchrest's (R-MD) office to describe the boundaries of the district. The agent wanted to be sure the candidate was moving into the district. Alexakis was appointed as the nominee after the primary winner, Ann D. Tamlyn, withdrew in April. Story Here.

     Strayhorn Victim of Witchhunt?: Texas Comptroller and potential gubernatorial candidate Carole Keeton Strayhorn (R-TX) has accused Governor Rick Perry (R-TX) of engaging in a witchhunt. Perry has ordered audits of her agency. Story Here. This is ironic since Strayhorn is the one persecuting follows of the Church of Wica.

     Leaving Office and Country: Washington State Representative Velma Veloria is leaving office after 12 years in the state legislature and moving to Cambodia to be with her husband. Story Here.

     Updates: New polls were posted in the North Carolina Republican Primary, Missouri Democratic Primary, Florida Presidential Race, Ohio Presidential Race, and Pennsylvania Presidential Race.

     There were no other updates posted to D.C.'s Political Report's following pages yesterday. Nor will there be until June 28, 2004. I am out of the office for a few days and have limited access to the 'net. I will continue to do a new summary but can not promise that it will be posted by 9:00 am.

     Challenging the Ballot: Arizona Democrats plan to challenge the Ralph Nader's petitions. Nader submitted the signature of 21,185 names and needs only the valid signature of 14,694 registered voters to be on the ballot. Story Here and Here.

     Watch Who Is Coming To Your Door: America Coming Together, a "527 group" independent from John F. Kerry (D-MA) and the Democratic Party, has hired released felons to conduct door-to-door voter registration drive in three election swing states. The groups' goal is to defeat President George W. Bush. Story Here. Sending felons, some convicted of sex offenses, assaults and burglary, to peoples' houses is probably the dumbest political move of the season.

     Meanwhile, three campaign finance watchdogs have accused America Coming Together of illegally spending "soft" money. Story Here.

     Suing Health Care Insurers: Seizing on the Supreme Courts' recent action, John F. Kerry called President Bush a hypocrite for 1) opposing a patients' bill of right while governor of Texas, then 2) campaigning on it in 2000, then 3) sending his solicitor general to fight it. Story Here. The key dispute between Kerry and Bush is whether or not patients should be allowed to sue their insurance carriers in federal court for wrongful denial of benefits. The Supreme Court ruled that patients are not allowed to sue in state court.

     Pay Attention to Me: Each candidate in North Carolina crowded GOP gubernatorial primary is trying to distinguish himself from the pack. Patrick Ballantine (R-NC), Dan Barrett (R-NC), Bill Cobey (R-NC), George Little (R-NC), Fern Shubert (R-NC), and Richard Vinroot (R-NC) are competing for the right to face Gov. Mike Easley (D-NC) in the fall. Story Here. There is not much different. They all claim that want to lower taxes, reduce government spending and eliminate targeted economic incentives for big businesses. Story Here.

     Look Past the (D): Scott Metheson (D-UT) is running for governor in the overwhelmingly Republican state of Utah. For a Democrat to win he needs to hold the Democratic base, pick up a majority of independent voters, and take between 12 and 17 percent of registered Republicans. Story Here.

     Spending Limits: Former U.S. Representative John Thune (R-SD) offered U.S. Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD) to limit campaign spending in there battle for the U.S. Senate. Daschle rejected the offer saying it was not how much money they spend, but the kind of campaign they run. Story Here.

     Alabama Run-off: U.S. Representative Bud Cramer (D-AL) is still waiting to know who his challenger will be. Stephen Engel (R-AL) and Gerry Wallace (R-AL) are campaigning for the GOP nomination. The campaign is more about style than about issues as each tries to woo Christian voters. Story Here and Here.

     One Bold Move: State Representative Damon Boldone (D-LA) enters the race to replace retiring U.S. Representative Billy Tauzin (R-LA). He is the fifth candidate to formally enter the race. Story Here.

     Misled and Fed up: Saying they were misled by the Bush administration, U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and U.S. Representative William Jefferson (D-LA) would have voted against authorization of the war with Iraq if they knew then what they know now. Story Here.

     Wanted: Top Lawyer: Seattle Times covers the four candidate for Washington Attorney General: Deborah Senn (D-WA), Mark Sidran (D-WA), Rob McKenna (R-WA) and Mike Vaska (R-WA). Story Here.

     Updates: New polls were posted in the New Jersey Presidential Election, North Carolina Senate Election, and Tennessee Presidential Election.

     In addition an older poll were released in the Oregon Presidential Election.

     There were updates posted to D.C.'s Political Report's following pages yesterday: Utah and South Carolina.

     A Rose By Any Other Name: In response to the 9-11 commission requesting addition information the White House regarding the alleged Iraq / Al Qaeda connection, the administration produced evidence that an officer of the Saddam's Fedayeen was also an Al Qaeda operative. Now it turns out that two distinct individuals simply had a similar name. Story Here. So we are back at square one. No evidence of a connection between Al Qaeda and Iraq. No evidence of weapons of mass destruction. No justification for going to war.

     Oops! Our Bad: The State Department corrected its annual terrorism report yesterday and acknowledged that it had underreported the number of attacks and victims of terrorism in 2003. The Bush administration had hailed the original report as evidence that it was winning the war on terrorism. Story Here. Does the revision mean that Bush will now admit that he has not made the world safer?

     Kerry Support for Vets Highlighted by Not Voting: Yesterday Kerry cancel a trip to swing state New Mexico in order to vote in the U.S. Senate on an amendment that would have guaranteed federal funding for veterans' health care. But Republicans, trying to highlight his absence while on the campaign trail, used procedural maneuvers to shelve the vote. Senate Majority leader Bill Frist (R-TN) said, "Senator Kerry, who hadn't been here all year, who's missed 80% of all votes, parachutes in for a day and then will be taking off once again." Story Here and Story Here. The GOP was clearly able to disrupt Kerry's campaign for the day, but he still got the effect he wanted. This episode highlighted Kerry's credentials as a veterans' supporter.

     Resistance is Futile: Senatorial candidate Jack Ryan (R-IL) is being urged to drop out of a race after allegations made by his ex-wife during an earlier custody battle surfaced. In sealed court documents, actress Jeri Ryan accused the prominent businessman of asking her to engage in a sexual act before others. Ryan is denying the charge. Story Here and Here. Let me see if I understand this. The GOP wants Ryan to drop out because he visited a sex club but did not have sex?

     Bowles over Burr: Senate candidate Erskine Bowles (D-NC) has widened his lead over U.S. Representative Richard Burr (R-NC) in their campaign for the U.S. Senate according to a new poll by Research 2000. Story Here. And in additional good news for Bowles, the big summer time reading, "My Life" by former President William J. Clinton (D), has nothing but praise for his former chief of staff. Story Here.

     Candidate Rejects Endorsement He Never Received: U.S. Representative and Senate candidate Bob Schaffer (R-CO) announced yesterday that he was declining the "possible political endorsement" from the Colorado Education Association, an exercise in frivolity since he had no chance of receiving the teacher's union endorsement. They endorsed Democratic Attorney General Ken Salazar (D-CO) last month. Story Here.

     Minority Needed for Majority: U.S. Senate candidate Peter Deutsch (D-FL) unveiled a new radio ad campaign focusing on African-American voters who make up to 22% of the primary vote. Story Here.

     Outsider Not Wanted: U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) is running a radio commercial accusing her democratic opponent, former Governor Tony Knowles (D-AK) of "shipping in Outside activists with Outside Agendas" to engage in door-to-door campaigning. However, of the 31 canvassers employed by the Alaska Democratic Party to go door-to-door promoting Knowles, only four are not Alaskans. Story Here.

     Good Start or Empty Campaign Promise?: Gubernatorial candidates Brian Schweitzer (D-MT) and Bob Brown (R-MT) have signed campaign pledges vowing a positive campaign. Story Here.

     Rell to the Rescue: Lt. Governor Jodi Rell (R-CT) prepares for her elevation to Governor. Her first order of business is reassuring a state racked by scandals. Story Here.

     I Don't Live Here, but Vote For Me Anyway: Two of the six Democrats seeking to represent Georgia's 4th Congressional District don't live within its borders: Cathy Woolard (D-GA) and Nadine Thomas (D-GA). The U.S. Constitution requires a member of the House of Representative to be a citizen of state, but not necessarily the district. Story Here.

     Questioning Schrock: Congressional candidate and Iraqi war veteran David Ashe (D-VA) challenged U.S. Representative Ed Schrock (R-VA) for votes "against funding for veterans, active duty military and homeland security - specifically port security." Story Here.

     Alaskan Ethics: Alaska Republican Party chief Randy Ruedrich admitted yesterday that he broke state ethics laws while serving as an appointed regulator and agreed to pay a $12,000 fine. Ruedrich conducted party business out of his government office. Story Here.

     Alternative Party Conventions: The Green and Constitution Parties' nomination Conventions start this week. Story Here and Here.

     Alternative Party News: The America First Party has joined the choir of voices rejecting electronic voting and called for elections "conducted using hand-marked and hand-counted paper ballots." Press Release. That's no surprise coming from a party which wants to turn back the clock on other issues as well.

June 23, 2004 - Early Edition

     And the Winners Are:
    

De Win for DeMint: U.S. Representative Jim DeMint (R-SC) soundly defeated former Governor David Beasley (R-SC) to claim the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate. DeMint captured 59% of the vote. He now faces state Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbuam (D-SC) this fall. Story Here. Complete South Carolina Results Here
    

The Man Hunts: Businessman and former Ambassador Jon Huntsman (R-UT) easily defeated former State House Speaker Nolan Karras (R-UT) for the Republican nomination for Governor by a 2 to 1 margin. Huntsman faces a fierce challenge from law school dean Scott M. Matheson, Jr. (D-UT), the son of the last Democratic Governor of Utah. Story Here. Complete Utah Results Here
    

History Repeats: Former State Representative John Swallow (R-UT) again defeated consultant Tim Bridgewater (R-UT) for the GOP nomination in the 2nd Congressional District. Ninety-nine percent of the precincts reported returns. Swallow had 53% of the vote. Swallow defeated Bridgewater 52% to 48% in 2002. Story Here. Complete Utah Results Here
    

Cannon at the Ready: U.S. Representative Chris Cannon (R-UT) beat back a challenge from anti-immigration advocate and former State Representative Matt Throckmorton (R-UT) 58% to 42%. He faces police officer Beau Babka (D-UT) in November. Story Here. Complete Utah Results Here

     Ethics Investigates Humphreys: After questions were raised about whether or not Senate candidate Kirk Humphreys (R-OK) disclosed all his interests in privately held companies, the Senate Ethics Committee has asked him to provide more information about his financial holdings. Story Here.

     Unopposed and Unapologetic: U.S. Representative Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) made a promise to only serve six terms. Now he is running unopposed for his seventh. Story Here.

     A Few Democrats Here: Even in Michigan 7th Congressional District where Republican outnumber Democrats, three Democrats are vying for the Democratic nomination for the seat being vacated by U.S. Representative Nick Smith (R-MI): paralegal / organic farmer Sharon Marie Renier (D-MI), consultant Drew Walker (D-MI), and paramedic Douglas Wilson (D-MI). Story Here.

     Compare and Contrast: Vice President Dick Cheney (R-WY) went to Lincoln, Nebraska to help raise money for congressional candidate Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE). He left leaving the city with a $32,000 tab. Story Here. Cheney was the "top billing" at a $250 per person breakfast. The next day Green Party nominee Steven Larrick held a $5 per person fundraiser. No news on how much that cost the city of Lincoln.

     Let Me See Your Ross Perot Imitation: Just a month after businesswoman Naomi Preston (D-ID) dropped out of the congressional race against U.S. Representative Butch Otter (R-ID), she got back in. According to her spokesperson Preston initially withdrew in order to help her mother recover from a badly broken hip. Story Here.

     In and Out: Former Rochester City councilor Joe Mayer (DFL-MN) has discontinued his campaign because of health reasons. Party leaders met on Friday to search for a replacement candidate. His withdrawal leaves U.S. Representative Gil Gutknecht (R-MN) facing only former district judge Jim Mork (I-MN). Story Here.

     Updates: New polls were posted in the Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin Presidential races.

     In addition polls were released in the Utah Governor and South Carolina Primaries as well as New York 27th and Louisiana 3rd Congressional Districts.

     There were updates posted to D.C.'s Political Report's following pages yesterday: Idaho, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah and Wisconsin.

     If its a Tuesday, Must Be a Primary: Primaries are held today in Utah and a run-off primary in South Carolina. The top bill is the Republican Senate primary between former Governor David Beasley (R-SC) and U.S. Representative Jim DeMint (R-SC). Beasley came in first place in the first round of voting, but momentum is with DeMint. Story Here. D.C.'s Political Report is predicting victory for DeMint.

     In Utah, the Republican gubernatorial primary is between businessman and former Ambassador Jon Huntsman (R-UT) and former State House Speaker Nolan Karras. Huntsman has been leading in the polls. Story Here.

     The 2nd Congressional District features a rematch between former State Representative John Swallow (R-UT) and consultant Tim Bridgewater (R-UT). Two years ago, Swallow won the nomination but lost to U.S. Representative Jim Matheson (D-UT). Polls indicated that Swallow might get a second chance at Matheson.

     And finally, U.S. Representative Chris Cannon (R-UT) is expected to defeat former State Representative Matt Throckmorton (R-UT). Cannon was able to eliminate Throckmorton two years ago at the Republican Convention, but this year Throckmorton was able to get enough support to force a primary.

     It's Nader / Camejo: In another blow to the Green Party, former California gubernatorial candidate Peter Camejo (G-CA), who was under consideration for the party's Presidential nomination, announced that he would be Ralph Nader's running mate. Story Here.

     Return of Compassionate Conservatism: Campaigning in Cincinnati, George W. Bush proposed $410 million for programs to support traditional marriages, responsible parenting, and reintroduction of prisons to society. Story Here.

     Thanks, But No Thanks: John F. Kerry's presidential campaign returned a $2,000 check after discovering that it came from a former South Korean president's son who has been arrested and charged with tax evasion. Story Here.

     "Facts Not Fear": Forty-eight Nobel Prize winning scientists announced their backing of John F. Kerry for President. They claim that George W. Bush has allowed ideology rather than facts to determine the nation's science policies. Story Here.

     Holden Out Hope: A new poll by the Democratic pollsters Garin Hart Young has Governor Bob Holden (D-MO) with a solid lead over state Auditor Clair McCaskill (D-MO) in the gubernatorial primary. Story Here.

     The Pitch for Mitch: Gubernatorial candidate Mitch Daniels (R-IN) said he will disclose his campaign's funding sources more frequently than required by law. Story Here.

     Doctor, Heal Thy Self: The Kentucky Medical Association's political action committee has endorsed U.S. Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) for re-election. In doing so, it passed over Democratic nominee and physician Daniel Mongiardo (D-KY). Story Here.

     Squires Gets Second Look: After minimizing her candidacy, Georgia Democrats are taking a second look at State Senator and U.S. Senate candidate Mary Squires (D-GA). Story Here.

     Still Considering: Former Governor Buddy Roemer (R-LA) is still considering whether or not to enter the Louisiana Senate election. His entry could shake up an election which current has only one major Republican but three Democrats. Story Here.

     Granny D Talks Tough: Democratic replacement candidate, 94 year old reform advocate Doris "Granny D" Haddock (D-NH), pointed out that if elected, she would not be the oldest Senator ever. That distinction belongs to the late U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond (R-SC). Story Here.

     Cusack Relents: John Cusack (R-NJ) conceded New Jersey's 1st Congressional Republican nomination to Daniel Hutchison (R-NJ) on June 18, 2004. Cusack has said that he would seek a recount after losing by a mere 14 votes, however, citing "health reasons" he dropped the recount request. Story Here.

     Sexy or Sick: Forced to release documentation concerning his custody battle with ex-wife, actress Jeri Ryan, it was revealed that Senatorial candidate Jack Ryan (R-IL) was accused of pressuring and tricking his then wife into going to sex clubs and trying to get her to have sex in front of others. In the documents, Ryan generally dismissed the allegations. Story Here.

     The Set Up: Georgia Democrats gerrymandered the 11th Congressional District to elect an Democrat. Then to their surprise Phil Gingrey (R-GA) was elected. Only one candidate filed for the Democratic nomination this year, Rich Crawford (D-GA). Story Here.

     Down But Not Out: Fred Lampropoulos (R-UT), who recently lost a campaign for the Republican nomination for Utah, is rumored to be considering a campaign for the U.S. Senate. Story Here.

     Underdog: Shaun McNally (D-CT) officially started his campaign for the Democratic nomination to face U.S. Representative Rob Simmons (R-CT). Democrats at their District Convention in May endorsed Jim Sullivan (D-CT) for the nomination, but provided McNally exactly 15% of the delegates' votes needed to gain ballot access. Story Here.

     Shipping Not Included: Congressional candidate Robert Whittel (D-FL) is expressing concern that most American ports and ships remain inadequately secure against potential terrorist threats. Story Here.

     Americans by Choice: In Oregon's 1st Congressional District both the Democratic and Republican parties have nominated naturalized Americans. Incumbent David Wu (D-OR) was born in Taiwan and his Republican challenger, Goli Ameri (R-OR), was born in Iran. Story Here.

     Ashe to Schrock: Iraqi War veteran David Ashe (D-VA) announced his candidacy for Virginia 2nd Congressional District. The District includes a large military presence. Ashe attacked incumbent U.S. Representative Ed Schrock (R-VA) as a reckless spender. Story Here.

     Outsourcing Security: Congressional candidate Stan Matsunaka (D-CO) accused U.S. Representative Marilyn Musgrave of "betraying taxpayers" by voting to outsource a domestic security contract. Story Here.

     What? Me Worried?: Congressional candidate Michael McCaul (R-TX) is already acting as Congressman-elect. McCaul faces only a write-in candidate in the newly gerrymandered Texas district.

     Cleaver Fights Back: Former mayor and congressional candidate Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) finally responded to criticism from his primary opponent Jamie Metzl (D-MO) and accused him of engaging in the politics of personal destruction. Story Here.

     Boren of Truth: Congressional candidate Kalyn Free (D-OK) has accused her primary opponent St. Rep. Jim Boren (D-OK) of taking credit for others' work in his latest television commercial. Story Here.

     Out of Hospital: Republican congressional candidate Larry Diedrich (R-SD) was released from the hospital yesterday after have heart survey. He will be at home for several weeks before he resumes his campaign. Story Here.

     Ladies, Start Your Engines: PoliticsNH.com is reporting that Portsmouth Magazine will name congressional candidate Justin Nadeau (D-NH) as one of city's most eligible bachelor. Story Here.

     Hunting for a Candidate: Former Governor Jim Hunt (D-NC), known as the Education Governor for his efforts to improve North Carolina schools, has endorsed J.B. Buxton (D-NC) in the Democratic primary for state superintendent of public instruction. Story Here.

     Alternative Party News: Green Party activists gather in Wisconsin this week but Ralph Nader (I) dominates the landscape. Story Here.

     Alternative Party News: Vote Marxist! Congressional candidate and Socialist Equity Party member Carl Cooley (SE-ME) has a unique slogan. "I'm not a lawyer. I'm not a legislator. I'm a Marxist."

     The Magic of Polling: Three national polls released last week produced three varied results on partisan identification. The Los Angeles Times found 38% of respondents called themselves Democrats compared to 25% who said they were Republicans. However Gallup found Democrats and Republicans almost equal in numbers. This produced calls that the Times should have "weighted" or adjusted George W. Bush's number upwards. Instead it found Bush 8% behind John F. Kerry. Story Here.

     Updates: New polls were released in the Michigan 7th Congressional District Republican Primary, Missouri Democratic Gubernatorial Primary, North Carolina Republican Gubernatorial Primary and Utah Governor Polls.

     There were updates posted to D.C.'s Political Report's following pages yesterday: Presidential Candidates, Connecticut, Illinois, and Utah.

     Rowland To Resign Tonight: Embattled Governor John Rowland (R-CT) has called a press conference to announce his resignation. Rowland is the target of a federal criminal investigation, and an impeachment inquiry by the state legislature, for accepting gifts from contractors and government employees. Story Here.

     Alternative Party News: The Green Party National Convention will highlight several candidates for Congress including Terry Baum (G-CA), Bob Kinsey (G-CO), Scott Summers (G-IL), and Efia Nwangaza (G-SC).

     Alternative - Alternative Party News: Not happy with your choice between Democrats and Republicans? Why not choose the Family Value Party nominee Tom Wells? Or maybe you can vote for Ryan Lipner and help challenge the Constitution requirment to be 35 years old to serve. Lipner is only 20. St. Petersburg Times reviews some lesser known candidates who have filed to be on the ballot in Florida. Story Here.

     It is Not About the Oil. Really!: The Bush administration has quietly spent $2.5 billion from Iraqi oil revenue on projects in that country's hot spots. The Bush administration had previously said that oil revenue belonged to Iraq and that they would be set aside for use when Iraq's sovereignty was restored. Story Here.

     Show Us The Evidence!: The commission investigating terrorist attacks on New York and Virginia on September 11, 2001 has asked Vice President Dick Cheney (R-WY) to provide them with any evidence he has that would show links between al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Preliminary reports by the commission claiming no evidence of a connection were criticized as inaccurate by the Vice President. Story Here. In response the Bush Administration produced "captured documents" that show that one lieutenant colonel in Saddam's Fedayeen was a member of al-Qaeda. Story Here.

     Arizona Battlegrounds: A new poll released in Arizona shows George W. Bush and John F. Kerry in a statistical tie. Story Here.

     Pennsylvania Punditry: A fractured and discontent GOP in the Keystone State could end up costing George W. Bush 21 electoral votes. Story Here.

     Targeting Voters: Associated Press's Liz Sidoti writes about the new practice of focusing presidential campaign ads on selected audiences. Story Here.

     Close Run-off: Tomorrow's run-off Republican primary for GOP South Carolina Senate between former Governor David Beasley (R-SC) and U.S. Representative Jim DeMint (R-SC) promises to be close. Story Here.

     Broyhill Broil: The Rev. Franklin Graham's appearance in an ad for congressional candidate Ed. Broyhill (R-NC) has become controversial. Graham was surprised to see himself in the ad and thinks the campaign should stop airing it. Story Here.

     "Watt"ing more: U.S. Representative Mel Watt (D-NC) is campaigning not only for re-election, but also, to be the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Story Here.

     No Assistance for the Assistance Commission: The U.S. Election Assistance Commission, established as part of Help America Vote Act, is poorly funded, ignored by politicians, and therefore unable to fulfill its mission. The commissioners were appointed nine months late and given only $1.2 million of its authorized $10 million. Story Here.

     Dean's Does Democrats: Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean (D-VT) campaigned for three Democrats in Missouri yesterday. Story Here.

     Everything is Big in Texas, but Ethics: Currently under investigation for various ethical or criminal violations are a host of Texas politicians and political organizations including U.S. Representative Tom DeLay (R), U.S. Representative Martin Frost (D), Texans for a Republican Majority PAC, Texas Association of Business, Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick (R), and former Texas House Speaker Pete Laney (D). Story Here.

     Gay Bashing for Political Gain: The timing of a vote on an anti-homosexual Constitution Amendment is politically motivated. Lobbyists on both sides believe the decision to have the vote immediately before the Democratic National Conventions was planned by the White House to fire up conservatives and win votes in battleground states. Story Here.

     What are You Talking About?: Ever wonder where certain election phrases like "dark horse" and "convention bounce" come from? Story Here.

     Updates: New polls were released in the Arizona Presidential Race.

     There were updates posted to D.C.'s Political Report's following pages yesterday: Illinois.

     Not Much to Show for $85 Million: After three months and $85 million dollars spent, George W. Bush has not been able to destroy the image of U.S. Senator John F. Kerry (D-MA). After it became apparent that Kerry would be the Democratic Party nominee, Bush and the Republican Party began a 90-day campaign to weaken Kerry's candidacy. Pollsters and independent analysts claim that Bush's efforts have not been successful. Story Here.

     I'm Still Running!: Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) is still campaigning for the nomination he lost in March. The U.S. Representative from Ohio rallied his supporters at the Texas Democratic Convention. Story Here.

     Unorthodox Positions Remain Hidden: As U.S. Representative Jim DeMint (R-SC) campaigns for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate, he does not mention his call for higher taxes on the poor or his support of free trade. Why would he? South Carolina is the ninth-poorest state in the Union and has lost 57,100 in the last four years, most to foreign competition. Story Here.

     The Skinny in Indy: The Indianapolis Star offers the "skinny" on Indiana's 2nd Congressional District contest between Chris Chocola (R-IN) and Joe Donnelly (D-IN). Story Here.

     Cleaver Cleaved?: Frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, former mayor Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) has allowed his primary rival Jamie Metzl (D-MO) define the race. Cleaver's strategy is to keep the race out of the headlines and win on superior name recognition. Story Here.

     Guillotine Comment Still Cutting: Even after an apology, the comment by U.S. Representative Martin Frost's (D-TX) campaign manager about putting U.S. Representative Pete Sessions' (R-TX) head in a guillotine is dominating coverage of this close House contest. Story Here.

     Three GOP in Democratic District: Three Republicans are vying for the nomination is Nebraska's Democratic 2nd Congressional District. Story Here.

     Campaigning Before Rivals: Former Governor and Richmond Mayoral candidate L. Douglas Wilder (D-VA) spoke at a Republican conference this week-end, fueling speculations about the unpredictable and self-serving politician. Story Here.

     Four From Veto-Proof: Wisconsin Republicans are hoping to pick up four seats to gain a veto-proof majority in the State Senate. Story Here.

     Alternative Party News: Green Party delegates gather this week for a National Convention. They not only have to choose whether or not to nominate a national ticket, but they also have a more difficult task of choosing a nominee to carry on the legacy of the party. According to their website, attorney David Cobbs has more pledged delegates, but most delegates are arriving uncommitted. 836 Delegates are expected. Cobbs has the pledge of 229.5 delegates. Press Release Here.

     Updates: New polls were released in the North Carolina Governor Race and Utah Primaries.

     There were updates posted to D.C.'s Political Report's following pages yesterday: Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, North Carolina, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

     Putting to Bed the McCain Rumors: U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), campaigned with and for George W. Bush (R-TX) yesterday. McCain "effectively rejoined the Republican ranks" with two appearances meant to show unity within the GOP. Story Here.

     That's a Lot of Money: President George W. Bush, who has broken all previous records for fund raising with more than $218 million collected, has spent most of it already. Bush spent $152 million through May, more than half, on television ads attacking John F. Kerry (D-MA). Story Here and Here.

     Abortion Still Evil, But Communion May Be Given: The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, forced to respond to the recent political controversy regarding communion for Pro-choice politicians, reaffirmed existing Catholic governance by a vote of 183-6. The Bishops said that abortion, is "always intrinsically evil and can never be justified" but that "Bishops can legitimately make different judgments on the most prudent course of pastoral action." Story Here.

     She Works Hard For the Money: Kerry called for a raise in the federal minimum wage to $7 an hour. Story Here.

     Some time ago, I said that Kerry could not win this election based solely on the "Anyone But Bush" motive, that he had to offer an alternative plan. For the last week, Kerry has been touring the country offering his economic vision. Is anyone able see it? Click Here.

     Governor Must Testify: The Connecticut Supreme Court ruled yesterday that Gov. John G. Rowland (R-CT) must testify before the legislative committee considering his impeachment for accepting gifts from friends, state contractors, and employees. Rowland had argued that the separation of powers in the state constitution provided him with absolute immunity. Story Here.

     Set The Right Tone: Gubernatorial candidate Mitch Daniels (R-IN) order the Indiana Republican party to shut down a web site and stop distributing copies of a pamphlet which attacked his democratic opponent as creating a "Legacy of Neglect." This is not the first time Daniels has disagreed with the state party about tactics. Daniels was upset after the Indiana state party previewed a video that portrayed Governor Joe Kernan (D-IN) as the cartoon character Wile E. Coyote with, at one point, a bra on his head. Story Here.

     Huntsman on the Verge of Nomination: A new poll commissioned by the Salt Lake Tribune show Jon Huntsman, Jr. (R-UT) with a big lead over Nolan Karras (R-UT). Story Here.

     Vinroot Leads Crowded Field: Former Charlotte Mayor and 2000 GOP nominee Richard Vinroot (R-NC) leads the field of candidates seeking the Republican nomination to face Governor Mike Easley, a new poll says. Story Here.

     Second Time a Charm: Businessman Tony Sanchez (D-TX), who spent more than $60 million of his own money in a losing bid for governor in 2002, said that he might consider a second run. Story Here.

     Trading Jabs on Trade: Former Governor David Beasely (R-SC) and U.S. Representative Jim DeMint (R-SC) attacked each other's position on international trade during Thursday debate. The run-off primary between the two senate candidates will be held on Tuesday. Story Here.

     Reed the Underdog Takes on Nethercutt: U.S. Senate candidate Reed Davis (R-WA) was barred from speaking at the state GOP convention and is facing a primary opponent who is backed by George W. Bush. But he keeps fighting. Story Here and Here.

     Open Closed Case: For months U.S. Senate candidate Jack Ryan (R-IL) and his ex-wife, actress Jeri "Seven of Nine" Ryan, have been trying to keep sealed the record of their custody battle. Now a court judge has ruled that they should be partially opened to the public. Story Here.

     Costly and Confusing Says Stork: Congressional candidate and former Wilton Manors mayor Jim Stork (D-FL) picked up a national theme about the new Medicare prescription drug plan and tried to pin the blame on U.S. Representative Clay Shaw (R-FL). Stork says the new prescription drug discount cards are confusing and do not provide enough savings. Story Here.

     Grandstanding on Taxes: Congressional candidate Greg Walcher (R-CO) is making opposition to higher tax the central theme of his campaign. Walcher attacked one of his Republican opponents as being a flip-flopper on taxes. Story Here.

     Alternative Party News: It would appear that the Constitution Party Convention will have some excitement after all. Jim Headings of Tennessee plans on challenging Mike Peroutka for the party nomination. The Constitution Party, which "works to restore our government to its Constitutional limits and our law to its Biblical foundation," is having its Convention next week in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

     Libertarian and Reform party candidates will appear on the legislative ballot in Kansas. Story Here.

     Dirty Tricks 101: In Thetford, Michigan supervisor candidate Nate Jonker was the victim of a dirty trick. A campaign flier he prepared was altered to included the line, "Let's party! Drinks and recreational drugs will be provided by us. Bring your spouse and your Vaseline and help us get elected!" It was then mailed out to an undetermined number of voters. Story Here.

     Gay Maneuver: Despite private head counts which show little chance of passing, the U.S. Senate plans to vote on a constitutional amendment banning homosexual marriages immediately before the Democratic National Convention. Story Here.

     Moonies Make You Do Funny Things: For the last three days Politics1.com has devoted a large portion of its daily blog to a minor "feel good" event held in a U.S. Senate office building and attended by several members of Congress from both parties. The problem was the organizer was an organization associated with Rev. Sun Myung Moon who at the event proclaimed himself "humanity's Savior, Messiah, Returning Lord and True Parent."

     During the ceremonies U.S. Representative Danny Davis (D-IL) "helped place a golden crown" upon Moon and U.S. Representative Curt Weldon (R-PA) presented Libyan dictator Moammar Khadafy with an award. Click Here. I have a great deal of respect for Ron Gunzberger and his website, but his zealous accounts of this event are over blown. The Representatives' attendance, and participation, in an event billed as recognition for peacemakers, does not equate to endorsement of Moon or his beliefs.

     Updates: New polls were released in the Tennessee Presidential Race, North Carolina Governor Race, Utah Primary.

     There were updates posted to D.C.'s Political Report's following pages yesterday: List of Presidential Candidates, Kansas, and Wisconsin.

     What Did He Do Right?: The commission investigating the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in Virginia and New York is making conclusions which are bound to make George W. Bush (R-TX) uncomfortable. In 17 preliminary reports, the panel has called into question nearly every aspect of the administration's response. It appears the attacks were foreseen and might have been prevented with better planning. Story Here.

     Questionable Actions: 1) Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld held an Iraqi in a military prison but did not register him with the International Committee of the Red Cross for seven months. Story Here. The Geneva Conventions call for the prompt registration of each detainee. Story Here.

     2) Vice President Dick Cheney (R-WY), and not the Commander-and-Chief, gave the order to shoot down hijacked airplanes and skipped over Rumsfeld in the chain of command on September 11, 2001. Story Here.

     3) Rumsfeld removed himself from the chain of command when he ran out of his Pentagon office to help in the rescue effort on September 11.

     Debate Schedule: The Commission on Presidential Debates has released their proposed schedule and structure for debates between President George W. Bush and U.S. Senator John F. Kerry. Story Here.

     I Won't Give Up on You: Ralph Nader (I-DC), campaigning in Alabama Wednesday, claimed that presumptive Democratic nominee John F. Kerry (D-MA) will abandon the state in the fall. Nader needs to gather 5000 signatures by August 31 to qualify for the general election in Alabama. Story Here.

     Disenfranchising the State: In Florida, a former felon may apply to have voting rights restored. In the last year, Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL), brother of the President, has restored the voting rights of 20,861 ex-felons. But the state is currently in the process of removing 47,000 "possible" felons from the voter rolls. That is a net loss of upwards of 27,000 voters. Story Here.

     Kernan's Jobs Plan: Governor Joe Kernan (D-IN), seeking re-election, campaigned in front of a newly reoccupied airline maintenance facility and promoted initiatives for small businesses. Stories Here and Here.

     Filling Up the Airwaves: U.S. Senate candidates Doug Gallagher (R-FL) and Peter Deutsch (D-FL) have launched major television commercial campaigns. They are the first in what is expected to be a very crowded primary campaign. The primary will be held on August 31. Other candidates have already had limited commercial runs. Story Here

     Missing the Show: When three of the eight Georgia Democrats running for the U.S. Senate gathered for their first debate, sparks flew between businessman Cliff Oxford (D-GA) and Sid Cottingham (D-GA). Oxford attacked the "political unknown" Cottingham for voting for Bush in 2000. Cottingham questioned Oxford's electability due to allegations of domestic abuse. Story Here. Sounds like the winner of the debate was those who did not attend.

     "Also Rans" Endorse: Republican candidates for the South Carolina Senate nomination who were eliminated in the first round of voting have begun endorsing the two remaining candidates: former Governor David Beasley (R-SC) has the support of Orly Benny Davis (R). U.S. Representative Jim DeMint (R-SC) has the support of Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride (R-SC) and businessman Thomas Ravenel (R-SC). Former Attorney General Charlie Condon (R-SC) has not made a decision yet. Story Here.

     Shea it Isn't So: Republican Senate candidate Wev Shea (R-AK) has asked the National Republican Senatorial Committee to stop airing a commercial about the presumptive Democratic nominee, former Governor Tony Knowles (D-AK). Knowles has complained that the ad wrongly represents his position on Arctic National Wildlife Refuge development. Story Here.

     Taking Sides: John Magnnis is reporting that retiring U.S. Senator John Breaux (D-LA), Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu (D-LA), Insurance Commissioner Robert Wooley (D-LA), and Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom (D-LA) will all endorse U.S. Representative Chris John (D-LA). John faces two other prominent Democrats in the campaign to replace Breaux. Story Here.

     Best Qualified or Least Qualified?: As in his two previous campaigns for Congress, Dylan Glenn (R-GA) argues that his ties to the White House make him the best choice to represent Georgia. But his opponents are claiming that his experience just proves that he is a "Washington insider." Story Here. Unspoken in this debate is national Republicans' hope that Glenn could become the only African-American Republican in Congress.

     Third Democrat in Louisiana Third District: State Representative Damon Baldone (D-LA) is set to join ex-St. Rep. / lobbyist Charlie Melancon (D-LA) and former congressional aide Charmaine Caccioppi (D-LA) in the campaign to replace retiring U.S. Representative Billy Tauzin (R-LA).

     With Friends Like These: U.S. Representative Ray LaHood (R-IL) says that his Republican colleague U.S. Representative Phil Crane (R-IL) could be defeated because "he just has not really worked [his district] that well, and he hasn't paid attention to it." Story Here.

     Alternative Party News: Leaders of the Workers World Party met on May 23 and nominated John Parker of Los Angeles, California for President and Teresa Gutierrez of New York, New York for Vice President. The Workers World Party is committed to the "struggle of the multinational working class in this country and around the world." Story Here.

     To the Victor Goes the Spoils: USA Today reports that many of the abuses that Republicans claimed Democrats engaged in before capturing the U.S. House of Representative in 1994 are still being done. Now it's the Republican's turn. Story Here.

     Left Out?: The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is holding a fund-raising tribute to retiring Democratic Senators. However retiring U.S. Senator Zell Miller (D-GA) is not on the guest list. Georgia's senior Senator has endorsed George W. Bush for re-election. Story Here.

     Money Tolerance: Texas State Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn (R-TX), who in her official capacity has denied tax exempt status to churches based on religious beliefs, has amassed $3.2 million in her campaign for Governor in 2006. Story Here.

     Updates: New polls were released in the Tennessee Presidential Race, New Mexico 1st Congressional District, Pennsylvania 6th Congressional District, Oklahoma Senate Primary, and Wisconsin Congressional Primary.

     There were updates posted to D.C.'s Political Report's following pages yesterday: Summary of Presidential Predictions, List of Presidential Candidates, Colorado, Florida, Minnesota Presidential Polls, Missouri Presidential Polls, Ohio, Ohio Presidential Polls, Texas, Wisconsin Presidential Polls,

     Recovering: We are happy to report that South Dakota congressional candidate Larry Diedrich's (R-SD) surgery to replace a deteriorating heart valve went well. Story Here. Diedrich lost the June 1 special U.S. House election to Democrat Stephanie Herseth (D-SD) and is challenging her in the general election.

     First in the Nation: The Philadelphia Daily News claim that they are the first major newspaper in the country to endorse U.S. Senator John F. Kerry (D-MA) for President. Story Here.

     $1 Million a Day: Since clinching the Democratic nomination for President, U.S. Senator John F. Kerry (D-MA) has been raising money at a rate of $1 million per day, a faster pace than George W. Bush (R-TX). Bush, however, has still outraised Kerry by almost $60 million.

     "No Al Qaeda - Iraq Tie" says Commission: The bipartisan commission investigating the September 11 terrorist attacks said there was no evidence of Iraqi connection with the al-Qaeda organization responsible for the attack. This is further evidence that George W. Bush's rationale for the war in Iraq was invalid. Story Here.

     Protesting Religious Doctrine: A group of protesters camped outside the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh yesterday and called upon Bishop Donald Wuerl to deny communion to Catholic legislators who support legal abortion. Last month Bishop Wuerl said sacramental sanctions are the wrong response. Story Here.

     VP Name Game: D.C.'s Political Report has been avoiding reports on the vetting of running mates by John F. Kerry. The slow leak of names by the Kerry campaign, especially keeping U.S. Senator John McCain's (R-AZ) name in the news, is meant to make Kerry look bipartisan, diligent, and Presidential. But almost every Democratic Senator and Governor has been mentioned as a possible running mate. It makes very little sense to make a list. Nonetheless, my personal favorite, U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), is mentioned here. Another Story Here.

     I Don't Want to Hear About It: North Carolina GOP Chair Ferrell Blount does not want to hear any more about the alleged improper use of the party's fund-raising list by former state party chair Bill Cobey in his campaign for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. Blount says that he is 99.9% sure there has been no improprieties. Still no explanation how Cobey was able to get his hands on the confidential list of donors. Story Here.

     Fighting Tooth and Nail: Former Gov. David Beasley (R-SC) and U.S. Representative Jim DeMint (R-SC), in a tight battle for the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate, showed up at a debate last night ready to rumble. Story Here.

     Utah Primary: With the primary less than a week away, the nomination battle between U.S. Representative Chris Cannon (R-UT) and challenger Matt Throckmorton (R-UT) intensifies and with it, media coverage. Stories Here and and Here. The main issue in the race appears to be immigration reform: Cannon is in favor, Throckmorton opposed.

     Vying for Scapegoat: Retired economist Michael Kennedy (R-CO) and lay minister Stephen Hackman (R-CO) are competing against each other for the right to face U.S. Representative Mark Udall (D-CO) in the general election. Story Here.

     My Poll is Better Than Your Poll: U.S. Representative Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) scoffed at a poll released by her Democratic challenger Stan Matsunaka (D-CO) which showed the race for Colorado's 4th Congressional District as a toss-up. To prove it is invalid, she released her own poll and claimed that because her poll included Green Party candidate Bob Kinsey it has to be more accurate. Story Here.

     Ethical Retribution: In what appears, by timing, to be a Republican response to the ethics complaint filed against U.S. Representative Tom DeLay (D-TX), a Republican state senator has urged an investigation into whether U.S. Representative Martin Frost (D-TX) illegally funneled corporate donations to Texas legislative candidates four years ago. Frost denied the allegation and called it a smoke screen intended to hamper his re-election and divert attention from the ethics charges against DeLay. Story Here. DeLay is being investigated for the exact same offense by Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle.

     Bigger is Better: U.S. Representative Denny Rehberg (R-MT) and U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) agree that more should be spend on highway improvement than George W. Bush wants. Story Here.

     Access to the Polls go Open and Close, Open and Close, Open and Close: Kansas GOP officials' attempt to open the state primary to independent voters received a set back yesterday when District Court Judge Charles Andrews, Jr. issued a temporary restraining order blocking unaffiliated voters from participating in the August 3 Republican primary. Additional hearings are scheduled for Friday. Story Here.

     Someone Has to Win: John Henderson and Tami Bailey-Davis ran against each other for the Frankton Lapel Indiana School Board. But neither won. Both candidates got 866 votes, so Circuit Court Judge Fredrick Spencer has to decide how to break the tie. Story Here.

     Dubie Do It: Vermont Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie (R-VT) announced that he would seek re-election. Dubie enjoys an advantage as the only conservative in a field that includes two Democrats and a member of Vermont's Progressive Party. Story Here.

     Dusty and Burg: Jim Burg (D-SD) has agreed to seek re-election to South Dakota Public Utilities Commission. Burg is the only Democrat on the three member board. His November opponent will likely by Dusty Johnson (R-SD). Story Here.

     Updates: New polls were released in the Colorado 4th & 6th Congressional Districts, New York Presidential Race, New York Senate Race and Rhode Island Presidential Race.

     There were updates posted to D.C.'s Political Report's following pages yesterday: Colorado.

     Updates: New polls were released in the Alaska Senate Race, Colorado Republican Senate Primary, Florida Presidential Race, Maryland Presidential Race, Maryland Senate Race, South Carolina Senate Primary, Utah Republican Gubernatorial Primary, Washington Presidential Race, and Washington Senate Race.

     There were updates posted to D.C.'s Political Report's following pages yesterday: Arizona, Colorado, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Oklahoma.

     It was Bound to Happen: The Club for Growth, a conservative political organization which has thrown itself into Republican primaries and attacked those perceived as too moderate, has produced an new attack ad against presumptive Democratic nominee John F. Kerry. The distinction is that this one includes images of Ronald Reagan. The commercial portrays Reagan and George W. Bush as strong leaders - Reagan on communism and Bush on terrorism, while claiming that Kerry was "wrong then, wrong now" on national security. Story Here.

     Kerry to Kerry: Quit: Massachusetts Lt. Governor Kerry Healey (R-MA) said that U.S. Senator John F. Kerry (D-MA) should resign from the U.S. Senate and allow Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA) to appoint someone who can represent "the people of Massachusetts" full time in the U.S. Senate. Story Here. I presume this person would be another Republican and cast votes different than how Kerry, the choice of the "people of Massachusetts", would vote.

     527 Silently for Kerry: Dan Willis is disbanding the committee he founded "Colorado Votes Kerry." The Kerry campaign does not want folks creating fund-raising committees that use the Kerry name in their titles without formal approval. Story Here.

     Democrats Finally Have Message: House of Representative Democratic leaders introduced their "American Job Plan." The proposal of closing tax loopholes, investment in technology, tax credit for job creation, and increasing Pell Grants might not be the best option, but at least now there is something to debate. Story Here.

     Seeing Daylight: Indiana gubernatorial candidate Mitch Daniels (R-IN) said that a governor should be willing to take the state in directions it may resist. As an example he said he would move Indiana to Daylight Saving Time. Story Here.

     A Fool and His Money ... : Former state senator Lloyd Jackson (D-WV) spent more than $3 million dollars of his own money trying to win the Democratic Party nomination for Governor. He ended up a distant second and still owes himself $3,043,240. Story Here.

     Different Message: The two South Carolina Republicans left vying for their party's nomination for the U.S. Senate had different messages when visiting Charleston yesterday. U.S. Representative Jim DeMint (R-SC) talked about his opponent being a flip-flopper. Former Governor David Beasley (R-SC) talked about bring jobs back to South Carolina. Story Here. Will the negative or positive message prevail?

     Populist Republican: Using populist themes against U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT), businessman Jack McMullen (R-VT) officially started his second race for the U.S. Senate. McMullen ran six years ago and spent almost $300,000 of his own money. But he was criticized for having moved to Vermont only months earlier and lost to Fred Tuttle by 10 percentage points. Tuttle, a farmer and part-time actor, spent only $816 on his race, supported Leahy in the fall campaign and did not compete against him. Story Here. No wonder McMullen has recreated himself as a populist.

     Pro-Choice Group Scolds Democratic Senators: A coalition of pro-choice Wisconsin groups called out two of its traditional allies, U.S. Senators Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) for supporting the appointment of a federal judge they claim "can't be impartial" on abortion rights. Story Here.

     Toeing the Party Line: The four major Wisconsin Republicans vying for the nomination for the U.S. Senate all agreed with President George Bush's policy for a pre-emptive war with Iraq. Story Here.

     Too Close to Call: The Club for Growth, which is backing former U.S. Representative Bob Schaffer (R-CO) over beer magnate Peter Coors (R-CO) in the Colorado Republican Senate primary, has released a poll showing Schaffer ahead by 3% with the margin of error of 4.4%. Details Here.

     Chutzpah: State Senator Debbie Wasserman Shultz (D-FL) is so convinced that she will be elected to open House seat that she donated $100,000 from her campaign treasury to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. I bet her general election opponent Margaret Hostetter (R-FL) will be doing everything in her power to make Shultz regret her decision.

     And Then There Were None: U.S. Representative Tom Cole's (R-OK) sole challenger, Charlene Bradshaw (I-OK) was thrown off the ballot yesterday. Bradshaw, who is a registered Republican, filed to run as an independent. Such action is apparently illegal in Oklahoma. Story Here. I can guarantee that if Bradshaw was ever a Republican, she'll never be one again.

     Millionaire Amendment Invoked: For the first time, to my knowledge, the millionaire amendment of the Campaign Reform Act has been invoked. It happened in North Carolina's 5th Congressional District. The amendment permits candidates to triple the limit on individual campaign contribution. Normally a federal candidate may only accept $2000 per individual per election (primary or general). However if a self-financed candidate spends more than $1 million of his own money, a candidate may accept up to $6000 from an individual. Businessman Ed Broyhill (R-NC) has donated to his campaign $990,000. Story Here.

     Diedrich Off Campaign: Republican congressional candidate Larry Diedrich (R-SD), who lost a close special election to U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-SD) this month, will undergo heart surgery today. There is no word whether or not Diedrich will return to his campaign to deny Herseth a full term. Story Here.

     Outside Support: The following candidate have been endorsed by outside groups who are likely to contribute significant money. State Senator Charlie Dent (D-PA) has been endorsed by the Republican Main Street Partnership PAC. EMILY's List is running television commercials for Kalyn Free (D-OK). And the Associated Builders and Contractors have endorsed surgeon Charles Boustay (R-LA).

     In God We Trust. The Supreme Court Plays Games.: The U.S. Supreme Court ducked a hot political issue and dismissed a case over the inclusion of the phrase under God in Pledge of Allegiance. The Court said that the plaintiff's custody battle prevented him from having standing in the case. Story Here.

     Calls for Halliburton Special Counsel: U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) called on U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft to appoint a special counsel to investigate whether Vice President Dick Cheney help steer a multi-million dollar no-bid contract to his former employer Halliburton. Story Here.

     They Were Waiting in Missouri: Missouri Democrats were prepared for George W. Bush's visit. Bush was inundated with local newspaper and radio advertisements meant to distract the president from his planned message. Story Here.

     DeLayed Ethics: Although his questionable actions have been in the press for some time, an ethics complaint against U.S. Representative Tom DeLay (R-TX) has only now been filed. DeLay is accused in the complaint of soliciting campaign contributions in return for legislative favors, laundering illegal campaign contributions through a Texas political action committee, and improperly involving a federal agency in last years redistricting fight. Story Here.

     Alternative Party News: Supporters of Ralph Nader (I) in Nevada have placed the name of Victoria Jackson Gray Adams on qualifying petition as the consumer activist's running mate. (From Press Release). Mrs. Adams was a prominent members of the civil rights movement and ran for the U.S. Senate as the nominee of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. More on her here.

     Regional Balance for Ballantine: State Senator Bob Rucho (R-NC) claims that the GOP should nominate someone from the Eastern part of North Carolina, e.g. Patrick Ballantine (R-NC), to insure Republican victory in fall. Story Here.

     RAH RAH REE: State Auditor and gubernatorial candidate Claire McCaskill (D-MO) revealed her two television commercials in her insurgent campaign to deny Governor Bob Holden (D-MO) the Democratic Party nomination. Why two ads? One is aimed as urban voters and one is aimed at rural voters. She even pronounces the state's name differently in the 30-second spots: Missour-RAH and Missou-REE. Story Here.

     Castor To Be Tied to Terrorist: It was expected during the general election, but not during the primary. Supporters of U.S. Representative and Senate candidate Peter Deutsch (D-FL) are planning to challenge Betty Castor (D-FL) for not actively trying to fire Sami al-Arian while President of University of South Florida. Al-Arian, a former USF computer engineering professor is charged with raising money for Palestinian terrorists. He and other ex-employees were named in a federal indictment last year that said they used the university to help carry out suicide bombings in Israel. Castor claims that she never received evidence from the FBI that would have justified dismissing al-Arian. Story Here.

     Meanwhile U.S. Representative Peter Deutsch (D-FL) brings his aggressive campaign to the voters. Story Here.

     Another Special Election: Governor Mark Easley (D-NC) has set July 20, 2004 as the date for the special election to fill the vacancy left by U.S. Representative Frank Ballance's (D-NC) resignation. Easley called the for the contests to be held in conjunction with the state's primary in order to save money. The three parties with ballot status were asked to select a candidate to stand in the special election. The Democratic Party picked ex-judge G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) as their nominee. The GOP nominee is 2002 nominee Greg Dority (R-NC) and the Libertarian Party's nominee is teacher Tom Eisenmenger (L-NC). Story Here.

     I'm Not McKinney. Vote for Me.: Six Democrats have filed to run in the open race for Georgia 4th Congressional District. Their names are former U.S. Representative Cynthia McKinney (D-GA) and "Anyone But Cynthia". Three state senators, a former President of Atlanta's City Council and a prominent businessman all make good arguments why they should be the alternative candidate. Story Here. Unless one of these five candidates is able to consolidate the anti-McKinney vote, it would appear that the controversial former Representative could regain a seat in Congress. The one thing going for the anti-McKinney vote is the possibility of a run-off primary if McKinney fails to gain 50% of the vote in the primary.

     Crashing the Party: U.S. congressional candidate James Socas (D-VA) showed up at U.S. Representative Frank Wolf's (R-VA) citizens forum and tried to initiate a debate of the Medicare Modernization Act. The incumbent did not bite and called his challenger's actions rude. Story Here.

     Gay vs. Grain: Congressional candidate Stan Matsunaka (D-CO) says that U.S. Representative Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) has given too much attention to gay marriages and not enough attention to the agricultural concerns of the district. Story Here.

     Exploding Cannon: U.S. Representative Chris Cannon (R-UT) was accused by an anti-immigration group of soliciting campaign contributions from illegal immigrants. The accusations come just a week before the primary election where Cannon is being challenged by ex-State Representative Matt Throckmorton (R-UT). Story Here.

     If its a Tuesday, Must Be a (Run-Off) Primary: South Dakota holds run off primaries for local elections.

     We're Sorry!: Republican candidates dropped their efforts to keep two incumbent Oklahoma state legislators from seeking re-election. The challenges had alleged that the two were barred from re-election because they had already served 11 years. Oklahoma has a six term limit of state legislators. Story Here.

     Why You Like D.C.'s Political Report: Time Magazine reveals that more and more people are forgoing traditional sources and getting their news from blogs. Story Here. And thank God for that!

     The Man Behind the Paper Trail: California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley's (D-CA) insistence that touch screen voting machines in California have paper trail capacity has caused confusion and praise. Story Here. Democrats in Florida wish they had someone like Shelley. Florida Democrats decry vote security in the Sunshine State. Story Here.

     Financial Disclosure Leaves Much Hidden: U.S. Senators were required to submit their financial disclosure forms. It reveals none are in not middle class. They are rich. How rich? Because of the forms do not require the disclosure of spouses income and are often vague in specifics, it is not known. Story Here.

     Butterfly Ballots Be Damned: A lawsuit in Indiana will decide whether the ballot there will be arranged by party or by office. Story Here. The Democrats, who want the layout to put all candidates in a neat, easier to read column by party, are way off base. We do not elect parties. We elect people to office. The Democrats' goal is to make it easier for party line vote. I think it is better to have informed voters.

     Dear Mr. President: In November, the National Archives will display letters written by children to U.S. Presidents. Story Here. This story was so pleasant, I didn't know how to summarize it without plagiarizing. I recommend you read it for yourself.

     Updates: There were updates posted to D.C.'s Political Report's following pages yesterday: Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, New Jersey, New Jersey Primary Results, and North Carolina.

     And the Winner Is ...: It took five days of counting, but attorney Daniel Hutchison (R-NJ) was finally declared the winner of New Jersey First Congressional District Republican primary. Hutchison won the elect by 12 votes out of 8,364 casts. The vote will be certified today and runner-up John Cusack (R-NJ) is vowing to request a recount. Cusack was leading before the provisional ballots were counted. Provisional ballots are given to people voting in the wrong polling place, and election officials must certify the legality of each provisional ballot before those votes can be counted. Story Here.

     Defeat Bush v. Vote Kerry: The enthusiasm within the Democratic Party appears to be more about defeating George W. Bush (R) than electing John F. Kerry (D). Story Here.

     Big Mistake on Terrorism: Secretary of State Colin Powell admitted that the State Department's incorrect reporting of a decline in terrorism was a "big mistake." Terrorist acts and victims counts have increased during the Bush Administration. Story Here.

     Buy My Book and Vote for John: Former President Bill Clinton (D-AR) plans on using his cross-country book tour to promote the presidential campaign of U.S. Senator John F. Kerry (D-MA). Story Here.

     Nader's Half Way in Indiana: Citing a poll showing him with 6% of the Indiana vote, presidential candidate Ralph Nader (I) urged Indiana voters to break the two party monopoly. The Nader campaign claims to have half of the signatures necessary to get on the ballot in Indiana. Story Here. Poll Information Here.

     Negative Ads Appear in South Carolina: A new television commercial promoting the campaign of U.S. Representative Jim DeMint (R-SC) breaks his promise to avoid negative campaigning in the run-off primary with former Governor David Beasley (R-SC). DeMint claims that the ad, featuring two good old boys arguing whether Beasley is a "flip-flopper" or "wishy-washy" leader, is not a negative attack. Story Here. Message to DeMint: If you are name calling, its negative.

     Like Water off a Duck's Back: Alabama Democrats are not letting the indictment of former Governor Don Siegelman (D-AL) distract them from their goals for November. The State Democratic Executive Committee met yesterday to finish the selection of delegates to the Democratic National Convention. Story Here.

     Bush Jumps: Former President George Bush (R-TX) celebrated his 80th birthday by jumping out of an airplane and plunging 13,000 feet over his presidential library. Story Here. And I was impressed when my grandmother went roller blading on her 90th birthday.

     No Money - No Campaign: One-time candidate for U.S. Senate, Burt Cohen (D-NH) , may have dropped out of the race because his campaign funds were stolen. Story Here.

     Advancing Arab-Americans Agenda: Arab Americans organize to increase their clout and promote their agenda. With large concentrations in two swing states, Michigan and Ohio, Arab Americans hope to have a greater influence in policy by providing election victories. Story Here.

     Approaching Asian-Americans: The Kerry presidential campaign recruited two prominent Asian-Americans, U.S. Representative Mike Honda (D-CA) and Governor Gary Locke (D-WA), to raise money and urge Asian-Americans to vote for the presumptive replacement nominee. Story Here.

     Late Starter: Kostas Alexakis (D-MD) got a late re-start on his campaign. Alexakis lost in the primary, but Maryland Democrats picked him to be the Democratic nominee for Maryland's 1st Congressional District after the primary winner, Ann Tamblyn (D-MD), dropped out because of health reasons. Story Here.

     Updates: There were updates posted to D.C.'s Political Report's following pages yesterday: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Idaho, Louisiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, South Carolina Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

     Nader's Ethical Problem?: Presidential candidate Ralph Nader (I-DC) is engaged in a questionable campaign practice. Since October, he has run his campaign out of the office of the charity Citizen Works he created. The in-kind contribute could violate both federal election laws as well as put the tax exempt status of the charity in jeopardy. For the last year Citizen Works has sent out e-mail announcements of Nader activities and help Nader promote his causes. Story Here.

     Edwards for Vice President: Retiring U.S. Senator John Edwards (D-NC) continues to be rank and file Democrats' choice for Vice President. In an Associated Press poll conducted by Ipsos-Public Affairs, 36% of registered voters said they would most like to see Edwards as John F. Kerry's running mate. Story Here.

     Not Very Diplomatic: More than two dozen retired diplomats and military official, several appointed to key positions by Republican presidents, are issuing a joint statement calling for the defeat of President George W. Bush. The group, calling itself Diplomats and Military Commanders for change, claim that Bush's policies have damaged American's national security. Story Here.

     Never Again: Programming flaws on the new touch screen machines in 11 Florida counties, including Broward and Miama-Dade, could make manual recounts impossible. Story Here. This is one way to prevent a repeat of the recount fiasco in Florida after the 2000 election.

     Missouri Mission: Governor Bob Holden (D-MO) began running television commercials for his re-election campaign. Holden not only faces a tough November opponent in Secretary of State Matt Blunt (R-MO), but also the first major primary battle for an incumbent Missouri governor in 24 years. Holden's message however ignores his opponents and casts the election as Holden v. the Republican Party. Story Here.

     SC GOP Decision: South Carolina Republicans must choose between former Governor David Beasley (R-SC) and U.S. Representative Jim DeMint (R-SC) for the nomination to face Inez Tenenbaum (D-SC) in the U.S. Senate race. Most are focusing on the weaknesses of each candidates. Story Here.

     Cohen Withdraws: Democrats lost their nominee for U.S. Senator from New Hamphsire when State Senator Burt Cohen withdrew from the race. Doris "Granny D" Haddock, the 94 year old grandmother who gained notoriety when she walked across the country promoting campaign finance reform, entered the race on the same day. Story Here.

     On Health Care: Facing a weak field of challengers, U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) has turned his attention to health care as the central issue of his re-election campaign. Story Here.

     Quick Review: Indianapolis Star provides a quick review of the "Skinny" in Indiana's 1st Congressional District race. Story Here.

     Religious Schism: Los Angeles Times examines the political division between regular religious service attendees and more secular voters. Story Here.

     Updates: There were no updates to D.C.'s Political Report on Saturday.

     Final Farewell: Ronald Reagan's body departs Washington after public viewing and funeral service at the National Cathedral. Story Here and Here and Story Here.

     Kerry, McCain Play Games: In a move calculated to make John F. Kerry look bipartisan, John McCain (R-AZ) was asked to "consider" being Kerry's running mate. I'm sure the Kerry camp knew that the independent minded Republican would say no, and since there was not a formal offer, Kerry's eventual vice presidential choice would not be diminished in comparison. Story Here.

     This is good news for Governor Tom Vilsack (D-IA). There is increase speculation that he is among Kerry's top choice for Vice President. Story Here.

     Stern v. Bush: Radio shock jock Howard Stern (I-NY) has called for a "jihad" to defeat George W. Bush. Stern called for the action after the Federal Communication Commission announced a record $1.75 million fine against the owner of Clear Channel Communications for airing some Stern comments the FCC deemed offensive. Stern defends his show as a product of free speech. Story Here.

     Teddy Bears Campaigning: In their first encounter since winning their parties' nominations, gubernatorial candidates Joe Kernan (D-IN), the current Governor, and Mitch Daniels (R-IN), the challenger, were cordial and polite. At the state convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, neither candidate talked about the campaign or asked for support from the veterans. Story Here.

     Off Record Accounts: Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner and U.S. Senate candidate Carroll Fisher (D-OK) was warned that the off the record accounts he had set up violated state rules. The state House / Senate investigating committee continues to focus on the special accounts Fisher maintained for "continuing education day fund." Story Here.

     Washington Eighth Candidate Not Taking the Fifth: New York Times reviews the Washington state 8th Congressional District race. The unexpected retirement of U.S. Representative Jennifer Dunn (R-WA) has created a race in which either party could be expected to win. On the Republican side, Sheriff Dave Reichert, best known for his role in solving the Green River Killing case, has all the trappings of the frontrunner. On the Democratic side, Dave Ross, a popular radio talk show host, is being heard from most. But that is because he refuses to stop his show until he officially declares his candidacy. Story Here.

     Contest is One of Electability: In the primary between John Swallow (R-UT) and Tim Bridgewater (R-UT) the issue of who has the better chance of defeating incumbent U.S. Representative Jim Matheson (D-UT) is the focus. Story Here.

     Home State Hindrance: U.S. Representative Jerry Lewis (R-CA) wants to be chair of the powerful House Appropriations Committee. But because Californians currently hold 5 of the 21 chairmanships, there is considerable resistance to his selection. Story Here.

     All In Agreement: Three Democratic candidates for Wisconsin open 4th Congressional District agree that Bush is the problem and electing Democrats is the solution. Story Here. That message will probably work in this Democratic leaning district, but if Democrats are going to win nationally they have to come up with a positive message. They can't retake the House of Representatives on a message of kicking out Bush. Bush doesn't serve in Congress.

     Montana Democrats have the right idea. They introduced their plans to boost Montana's sluggish economy with several thoughtful proposals. Story Here. Now if the Democrats could come up with a similar plan for the entire nation, they would be on better footing to win the House of Representatives.

     Madonna Will Have to Wait: Bowing to pressure, U.S. Representative Lee Terry (R-NE) will skip the Madonna concert he used to raise $20,000 for his re-election campaign. Terry who has spoken out against obscene, indecent and profane material in public broadcasts, was criticized for buying tickets to the Madonna's risqué Re-Invention World Tour and reselling them to donors. Story Here.

     Wilder Concern: Former governor and Richmond mayoral candidate Doug Wilder (D-VA) will address Republicans House of Delegates members today at their legislative retreat. Story Here.

     If Elected, I Resign: Indianapolis City-County Councilwoman Susan Williams (D-IN) upon receiving her party's nomination for the state's top education position no sooner announced her intention not to serve. Williams is part of a growing number of Indianans who believe that the state superintendent of public instructions should be an appointed position, rather than an elected one. She intends to step down, no matter who is elected governor, and allow the new governor to pick the state's top education official. Story Here.

     I agree that school officials should be appointed rather than elected. I hate seeing politics interfere with good and proper education. But Williams' action makes a mockery of democracy. Indiana currently elects its school superintendents. At the very least the person elected owes the voters the obligation to serve.

     Big Shoes to Fill: John Marshall (D-VA), the son of the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, is being mentioned as a possible candidate for Lieutenant Governor. Story Here.

     Barry Barry Quite Contrary: Former Washington Mayor Marion Barry (D-DC), who was re-elected to a fourth term as mayor after serving time in jail for drug possession, announces today that he is seeking election to the city council. Story Here.

     Gubernatorial Candidate's Brother Dies: Gubernatorial nominee Monty Warner's (R-WV) brother, former State Senator Buffy Warner, died Friday at the age of 53 after falling from his yacht. Story Here.

     Term Limits Debated: Republicans have challenged the right of two incumbent Democratic Oklahoma state legislators to seek re-election. Oklahoma has a term limit on state legislators of twelve years. State Representatives Mike Mass (D) and Opio Toure (D) have both served 11 years after being elected in special elections. If they are re-elected and serve out their terms they would have served for 13 years. State Attorney General Drew Edmondson (D-OK) has opined that the Oklahoma Constitution establishes an exception to the 12 year term limit, saying it doesn't count against a partial term served by someone elected to fill a legislative vacancy. Story Here.

     Building for D Party: Construction workers returned to the site of next month's Democratic National Convention on Friday after protesting police officers took their fight from the sports arena to City Hall. Story Here.

     Updates to D.C.'s Political Report: The following pages of D.C.'s Political Report were updated yesterday: Colorado, Colorado Polls, Illinois Polls, Indiana, Kentucky Polls, Louisiana, Louisiana Polls, Ohio, Pennsylvania Polls, Virginia, and Washington Polls.

     Primary Decision: The Washington State Supreme Court dismissed an appeal and thereby cleared the path to hold primaries that limit voters to one party's ballot. Washington previously used a "blanket primary" system in which all candidates appeared on one ballot and the top finisher from each party advanced to the general election. But federal courts held that such primaries violate political parties' right to pick their own nominee. Story Here.

     Feeling Safer?: The Bush Administration wrongly reported that terrorism declined worldwide last year. In fact, the number of incidents increased and the victims piled up. Story Here.

     Bush Stalled While Economy Moves: A new poll from the Associate Press continues to show the presidential race in a dead heat. The problem for Bush is that he gets no credit for the country's economic recovery. Story Here. This contrasts with a Los Angeles Times Poll which has John F. Kerry (D) opening up a 7% point lead. Story Here. As a results of the close race, both political parties are focusing on the few undecided voters. Story Here.

     The First Step: After several notable failures, Ralph Nader (I) appears to have gain ballot access on his own for the first time. The Nader campaign submitted petitions to appear on the ballot in Arizona. Story Here.

     First Debate for Reporters Only: Gubernatorial candidates Brian Schweitzer (D-MT) and Bob Brown (R-MT) will have their first debate today at the Montana Newspaper Association convention. Story Here.

     Anti-War and Anti-Defense: Anti-war activist and U.S. Senate candidate James Finkelstein (D-GA) has accused two of Republican opponents, U.S. Representatives Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Mac Collins (R-GA), of accepting campaign contributions from defense contractors after voting for the war in Iraq. Story Here. Come on James! Are your really accusing these public servants of voting to put American lives at risk in exchange for campaign contributions?

     Going Low: Former Governor David Beasley (R-SC) and U.S. Representative Jim DeMint (R-SC) both campaigned in South Carolina's Lowcountry. Political observers believe that the June 22 primary run-off could be decided by the margin in the region. Story Here. Third place finisher in the Senate primary, Charleston developer Thomas Ravenel (R-SC), endorsed DeMint yesterday.

     Chasing Conservative $$$: Former Alaska Senate President Mike Miller (R-AK) is chasing conservative votes and dollars in his bid to defeat U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) in the primary. Story Here. Lisa Murkowski has another approach to campaigning. She is running ads saying that she voted for President Bush's tax cuts and her opponents did not. How could they? They were not members of Congress. Story Here.

     No Vacancy: Yesterday Indiana Democrats were looking at vacancies in the undercard. Now they have nominees for Attorney General and State School Superintendent. Former Secretary of State Joe Hogsett (D) will run for Attorney General and Councilmember Susan Williams (D) is the nominee for School Superintendent. Story Here and Here.

     Rumors about Rehberg: U.S. Representative Dennis Rehberg (R-MT) had to take time away from his official duties to try to quash a rumor that he was drunk while attending events at the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan. Story Here. The truth is that he fell from a horse.

     Rematch Close: A poll released by a Democratic polling company found U.S. Representative Marlyn Musgrave (R-CO) leading her 2002 Democratic nominee Stan Matsunaka (D-CO) by only 3%. In 2002, Musgrave defeated Matsunaka by 13%. Click Here.

     At the Last Moment: Facing a deadline to find a candidate to challenge U.S. Representative Tom Davis (R-VA), Northern Virginia Democrats recruited Kenneth Longmyer, a retired foreign service office to be their nominee. Story Here.

     Leaving Some Unopposed: With filing deadline passing, Democrats were not able to come up with candidates in eight congressional districts. John Shadegg (R-AZ), Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Frank Lucas (R-OK), Tom Cole (R-OK), Jo Ann Davis (R-VA), Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), and Eric Cantor (R-VA) join the list of incumbents without a major party opponent. Story Here, Here, Here and Here.

     Sheriff Short: Sheriff Dan Corsentino (R-CO) and Anthony Martinez (D-CO) submitted insufficient number of signatures to get on the ballot in the Colorado 3rd Congressional District. They has five days to try to fix the error. Story Here.

     Not Good Enough: Not satisfied that no Democrat filed to face him in the November election, U.S. Representative Tom Cole (R-OK) is trying to have his lone independent challenger Charlene K. Bradshaw removed from the ballot. His reason: Ms. Bradshaw is registered as a Republican. Story Here. I have no idea what Oklahoma law is regarding this, but it seems to me that a person should have the right to quit a party if they wish.

     Republican Longshot: Republicans are opening their wallets for County Auditor Larry Kaczala's (R-OH) bid to unseat U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH). Kaczala has raised over $250,000. Republicans are donating in this heavily Democratic District as retaliation for Kaptur efforts recruiting candidates to run against GOP incumbents. Story Here.

     Closed Republican: Not all Kansas Republicans are happy with the decision to open up their primary to independent voters. A Wichita Republican filed two court petitions yesterday challenging the decision. Story Here.

     Indian ID Giver: Native American activists are claiming that poll workers misapplied South Dakota's requirement for voters to produce photo identification and thereby disenfranchised some voters during the recent special election. Story Here.

     Final Taste of Pork: Retiring U.S. Representative Jack Quinn (R-NY) has assured money for his pet project in the omnibus transportation bill. Story Here.

     Updates to D.C.'s Political Report: By popular demand, here is a list of pages updated yesterday: D.C.'s Political Report's List of Presidential Candidates page, D.C.'s Political Report's Ratings Page, List of Predictions page, D.C.'s Political Report's Arizona page, D.C.'s Political Report's Connecticut page, D.C.'s Political Report's Indiana page, D.C.'s Political Report's Kansas page, D.C.'s Political Report's Kentucky Poll page, D.C.'s Political Report's Massachusetts page, D.C.'s Political Report's Missouri Poll page, D.C.'s Political Report's New Hampshire Polls page, D.C.'s Political Report's New Jersey page, D.C.'s Political Report's New Jersey Primary Results page, D.C.'s Political Report's Ohio Polls page, D.C.'s Political Report's Oklahoma page, D.C.'s Political Report's South Carolina Poll page, D.C.'s Political Report's Utah page, D.C.'s Political Report's Virginia page, D.C.'s Political Report's Wisconsin Polls page,

     Above the Law: A classified memo prepared for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld offered a sweeping assertion that Congress and the federal courts have no authority to limit the detention and interrogation of those declared enemy combatants. It therefore could, if it chooses, ignore laws and treaties against torture. Story Here. Why should this surprise us? The Bush administration has withdrawn from more international treaties than any other President since Roosevelt and the Second World War. Why would we expect him to abide by international treaties against torture of prisoners of war?

     Oops!: Minutes after winning the Republican nomination for Montana Governor, Bob Brown's campaign accidentally sent out an e-mail concession statement. Story Here. Brown does have one more task however before facing Democratic nominee Brian Schweitzer (D-MT). He must unify a Republican party after a bitter primary. Story Here.

     Not Ready to Give Up: Dan Hutchison (R-NJ) is not conceding defeat in primary battle with John Cusack (R-NJ). Hutchison has put out a press release stating that he is waiting for the count of the provisional ballots. Press Release here thanks to Politics NJ.com. Associated Press reports that, with all precincts reporting, John Cusack has 4,170 votes and Daniel Hutchison has 4,169 votes. Provisional ballots have not been counted. Story Here.

     No Free Walk: U.S. Representative Steven Rothman (D-NJ) has an opponent after all. Former Fair Lawn Mayor Edward Trawinski (R-NJ) received the Republican nomination after a successful write-in campaign in the primary. Story Here.

     Dodd Doing Again: Doug Dodd (D-OK) is making his third attempt to represent the Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District. Story Here.

     The Fight Has Just Begun: U.S. Representative Jim Moran (D-VA) has said that he would take a few days off the campaign trail after his primary victory. When he returns, he'll find that his Republican challenger has not been idle. Lisa Marie Cheney (R-VA) launched her campaign to unseat Moran in the general election. Although the district is heavily Democratic, Cheney has an opportunity to defeat Moran due to his history of controversies. Story Here.

     True Blue Candidate: Joe Altebaumer means it when he says he is a blue collar candidate. The Wyoming Democrat, who campaigns from his motorcycle, has held jobs ranging from mechanic to oil field worker and trucker to draftsman. Story Here.

     Special Opportunity: Congressional candidate Greg Dority (R-NC) thinks that the special election to fill the seat of U.S. Representative Frank Ballance (D-NC), who announced his resignation, gives him a better opportunity to win the overwhelmingly Democratic Congressional District. Dority concedes that even if he wins, he would likely hold the seat for only a few months. Story Here.

     Morrison More or Less Out: Writer and activist Roy Morrison (D-NH) dropped plans to run for Congress and instead has endorsed Paul Hodes (D-NH). Story Here.

     Vacancies in the Democratic Ticket: Indiana Democrats will meet on Saturday and nominate their candidates for attorney general and superintendent of public instruction. As of yesterday, no one had filed to be considered for either position. Story Here.

     The Reagan Factor: Trying to capitalize on the feelings the nation has for the late president Ronald W. Reagan (R-CA), GOP candidates are now including mention of Reagan in fund-raising appeals and campaign commercials. Story Here. George W. Bush has replaced his campaign web site with a Reagan memorial. Click Here. I hope that Reagan funeral does not become a repeat of U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone's (D-MN) funeral. An overtly political event would be disrespectful of the man and his politics.

     Preliminary Potential: Florida justifies its refusal to let the public see the list of "potential" felons ordered removed from the voter rolls because its says the list is "preliminary." Story Here.

     Guilty Knowledge: New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-NY) is being sued by a young woman you claims that the Manhattan Assemblyman had advance warning that his aide, Michael Boxley, engaged in aggressive sexual behavior. Boxley pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of sexual misconduct after charges of aggravated rape were dropped. Boxley claims that his relationship with the women in question was consensual. Story Here.

     Conflict of Interest in Siegelman Case: Former Governor Don Siegelman (D-AL) wants to be represented by former U.S. Attorney Doug Jones when he appears in court today. Siegelman is being arranged with his former chief of staff Paul Hamrick and physician Phillip Bobo. The prosecutors claim that Jones has a conflict of interest because he served as U.S. attorney when the investigation of Bobo began. Story Here.

     Real Men Do Not Pretend to be Women: The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that a state law setting aside separate spots for men and women on the political parties' county committees is constitutional. Christian Tompras had challenged the law claiming that it denied him the ability to file as a candidate for the town's Republican committeewomen position. Story Here.

     Mack for President: Richard Mack (L-UT) has withdrawn from race for Governor. Mack has been selected as one of the 12 finalists for Showtimes' "American Candidate," a "reality" show where candidates compete for $200,000 and national air time to run for president of the United States as the people's candidate. Story Here. No word on how Libertarian Party Presidential nominee Michael Badnarik feels about the possibility of facing a fellow Libertarian in November.

     Deciding How to Run a Primary: The Washington state Supreme Court will take up a case that is expected to decide how the state's primary will be conducted in September. At issue is whether there will be a traditional party primary, a "Top Two" primary in which voters may vote for any party's candidate and the top two vote getters advance to the general election, or a "jungle general" in which every candidate who files for office gets on the November general election ballot. Story Here.

     Discrimination Against Third Parties: The Green Party of Alaska has a problem with the laws regarding ballot status. In 2002 it lost its ballot status because its gubernatorial candidate failed to gain 3% of the vote, even while Green candidates won 7.2% in the U.S. Senate contest and 6.3% in the U.S. House race. The Green Party says that 3% support for any statewide office should qualify it for ballot status. The state legislature changed the law and said it would consider the vote for Senate or House only if there was no Gubernatorial race. Story Here.

     Adios: U.S. Representative Frank Ballance (D-NC), who had previously announced that he would not seek a second term, abruptly resigned from Congress. Ballance said it was his current health condition which convinced him to retire, but the Freshman Congressman was being investigated for financial improprieties at a non-profit foundation he started in 1985. Story Here and Here.

     Final Divorce: U.S. Representative Charlie Gonzalez (D-TX) will not have to face his ex-wife. Becky Whetstone (D-TX) had tried to run as an independent against her former husband, but failed to gain ballot access, falling 47 signature short. In the divorce filings, Whetstone accused Gonzalez of physical assault, mental and emotional abuse, infidelity and squandering their marital assets. Story Here.

     Zogby Interactive and Other Polls: More than twenty new state polls have been released in the last forty-eight hours. Click Here.

     California's Mod Squad: A group of business friendly Democrats in the California state assembly keep their more liberal compatriots in line. Story Here.

     Campaigning for Malpractice: Gubernatorial candidate Matt Blunt (R-MO) says that he will help improve Missouri's health care system by placing limits on medical malpractice suits. Story Here. There are merits on limiting punitive awards in malpractice claims, but saying that it will improve health services is like saying bank robberies improve bank security.

     No More Nepotism?: In a move directed at Governor Frank Murkowski's (AK) appointment of his daughter Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to fill the vacant U.S. Senator seat, Alaskan governors will no longer be allowed to make long term appointment. Special elections will be held to fill Senate vacancies. Story Here.

     All In Favor of Schools, Raise Your Hands: Maine voters voted to increase public school subsidies. Story Here.

     Republican Wolf in Democrat Sheep's Clothing: Los Angeles Times reviews the politics of U.S. Senator Zell Miller (D-GA). Story Here.

     Republican Wolf in Nader Clothing: The head of the Arizona Democratic party is accusing Republicans of helping Ralph Nader (I) gain ballot access. Story Here.

     Primary Results:

Virginia 8th Congressional District Democratic Nomination: Jim Moran defeated Andrew Rosenberg. Story Here.

South Carolina Republican Senate Nomination: David Beasley and Jim DeMint advanced to the run-off. Story Here.

South Carolina Democratic Senate Nomination: Inez Tenenbaum defeated Ben Fraiser. Story Here.

South Carolina 1st Congressional District Republican Nomination: Henry Brown defeated Bob Batchelder. Story Here.

South Carolina 4th Congressional District Democratic Nomination: Brandon Brown defeated Andrew Wittman. Story Here.

South Carolina 4th Congressional District Republican Nomination: Bob Inglis defeated Jack Adams and Carole Wells. Story Here.

South Carolina 6th Congressional District Republican Nomination: Gary McLeod defeated Michael Reino. Story Here.

North Dakota School Superintendent: Wayne Sanstead (D) defeated Max Laird (D). Story Here.

New Jersey 1st Congressional District Republican Nomination: John Cusack and Daniel Hutchison TIED?. Story Here.

New Jersey 5th Congressional District Democratic Nomination: Anne Wolfe defeated Frank Fracasso. Story Here.

New Jersey 13th Congressional District Democratic Nomination: Robert Menendez defeated Steven Fulop. Story Here.

Montana Democratic Gubernatorial Nomination: Brian Schweitzer defeated John Vincent. Story Here.

Montana Republican Gubernatorial Nomination: Bob Brown defeated Pat Davison, Tom Keating, and Ken Miller. Story Here.

Montana Democratic Secretary of State Nomination: Bill Kennedy defeated Jon Ellingson. Story Here

Montana Republican Secretary of State Nomination: Brad Johnson defeated Todd O'Hair and Bob Werner. Story Here

Montana Democratic School Superintendent Nomination: Linda McCulloch defeated Clair Kimm. Story Here

Montana Republican School Superintendent Nomination: Bob Anderson defeated John Fuller. Story Here

Iowa 1st Congressional District Democratic Nomination: Bill Gluba defeated Denny Heath. Story Here.

Iowa 5th Congressional District Democratic Nomination: Joyce Schulte defeated Gene Blanshan and Sal Mohamed. Story Here.

     If It's Tuesday, It Must Be a Primary: Primaries are held today in Iowa, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Carolina, and Virginia. Primary run-off is held is Arkansas. And today is the filing deadline in Connecticut and New Jersey.

     Key races to watch are as follows:

Virginia 8th Congressional District Democratic Nomination: Jim Moran v. Andrew Rosenberg

South Carolina Republican Senate Nomination: David Beasley, Charlie Condon, Orly Davis, Jim DeMint, Mark McBride and Thomas Ravenel

Montana Democratic Gubernatorial Nomination: Brian Schweitzer v. John Vincent

Montana Republican Gubernatorial Nomination: Bob Brown, Pat Davison, Tom Keating, and Ken Miller

     Other Races include:

South Carolina Democratic Senate Nomination: Inez Tenenbaum v. Ben Fraiser

South Carolina 1st Congressional District Republican Nomination: Henry Brown v. Bob Batchelder

South Carolina 4th Congressional District Democratic Nomination: Brandon Brown v. Andrew Wittman

South Carolina 4th Congressional District Republican Nomination: Jack Adams, Bob Inglis and Carole Wells

South Carolina 6th Congressional District Republican Nomination: Gary McLeod v. Michael Reino

North Dakota School Superintendent: Wayne Sanstead (D), Max Laird (D), and Keith Jacobson (R)

New Jersey 1st Congressional District Republican Nomination: John Cusack v. Daniel Hutchison

New Jersey 5th Congressional District Democratic Nomination: Frank Fracasso v. Anne Wolfe

New Jersey 13th Congressional District Democratic Nomination: Robert Menendez v. Steven Fulop

Montana Democratic Secretary of State Nomination: Jon Ellingson v. Bill Kennedy

Montana Republican Secretary of State Nomination: Brad Johnson, Todd O'Hair, and Bob Werner

Montana Democratic School Superintendent Nomination: Linda McCulloch v. Clair Kimm

Montana Republican School Superintendent Nomination: John Fuller v. Bob Anderson

Iowa 1st Congressional District Democratic Nomination: Bill Gluba v. Denny Heath

Iowa 5th Congressional District Democratic Nomination: Gene Blanshan, Sal Mohamed, and Joyce Schulte

     An Official End to the Presidential Primaries: The last Presidential Primaries are held today in New Jersey and Montana. I'm going out on a limb and predicting that U.S. Senator John F. Kerry (D-MA) will receive the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in July.

Montana Democratic Presidential Nomination: John F. Kerry, Dennis J. Kucinich, and Lyndon LaRouche

New Jersey Democratic Presidential Nomination: John Kerry, George Ballard, Dennis Kucinich and Lyndon LaRouche.

     The Reagan Factor: Supporters of George W. Bush are hoping that the nation's mourning for the late President Ronald Reagan will turn into support for the President's re-election. Story Here.

     More Negative: Another study, this one by the Los Angeles Times concludes that, even with independent spending in favor of Kerry, Bush's campaign is more negative. Seventy percent of Bush's commercials have been attack ads on Kerry. Story Here.

     National Energy Independence: U.S. Senate candidate Joe Hoeffel (D-PA) renewed the call for American energy independence. Hoeffel's proposal includes raising the fuel-efficiency standards for passenger cars and increase domestic drilling. Story Here. Hoeffel held his news conference outside a gas station where a gallon of regular gasoline was selling for $1.99. Gee whiz. I just paid $2.05.

     National Choice: U.S. Senator George Allen (R-VA), in a move being interpreted as tacit support from the National Republican Party, has endorsed Mel Martinez (R-FL) for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate over several other qualified Republicans. Allen is the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Story Here.

     Klayman Debt: U.S. Senate candidate Larry Klayman (R-FL) is being sued by the polling company Fabrizio, McLaughlin & Associates, Inc. for $60,000 in unpaid fees. Story Here.

     Miles to Go: Mike Miles (D-CO) has been an underdog for some time. First he was the only Democrat actively campaigning against U.S. Senator Ben Campbell (R-CO). Then when Campbell announced that he would retire, Miles became the underdog for the Democratic nomination to State Attorney General Ken Salazar (D-CO). But Miles defeated Salazar at the Democratic convention and is campaigning hard for the nomination. Story Here.

     Gadfly by Choice: Vernon Robinson (R-NC)'s campaign for the GOP nomination for Congress has been one attention gathering stunt after another. He illegally placed a Ten Commandments Monument on public grounds, described immigrants as soaking off taxpayers, skirted campaign disclosure laws, and falsely accused his opponents of supporting gay rights. But there is a reason for this madness. In a crowded primary field of eight candidates, he needs to stand out. As little as 15% of the vote could win put him in the expected run-off primary. Story Here.

     Congressional Hypocrite: As a Congressman Lee Terry (R-NE) often advocated against "filth" on television. But the Republican doesn't have a problem with filth in music concerts. Terry leased a block of prime tickets for Madonna's "Reinvention World Tour" and then used the tickets to raise $20,000. Madonna has often exploited her audience's appetite for sexuality in order to advance her career. Story Here.

     Coming Out Fighting: Former state Delegate Winsome E. Sears (R-VA) began her campaign for U.S. Congress with a blistering attack on incumbent Bobby Scott (D-VA). She accused Scott of lying about his voting record during a 90 minute radio talk show. Story Here.

     Early to File: Candidates began filing for elections in Oklahoma yesterday. Story Here.

     New Openness: The Kansas Republican party is trying something new. They have opened their primaries to independent voters. Previously, only party members were allowed to cast voters. Story Here.

     Case Closed: Colorado Republicans lost a final attempt to redistrict the state to be more favorable to them when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal. After capturing the Governor's mansion and both chambers of the state legislature, Republicans decided to redistrict a second time to try to get more Republican seats. The effort failed when the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that the state can only redistrict once every ten year. Story Here.

     See Ya Later: Facing increased pressure over the push to purge "suspected" felons from the state's voter rolls, Ed Kast, head of Florida's elections division resigned yesterday. Story Here. State law forbids convicted felons from voting, even after they have completed their sentences. Florida refuses to publicly release the names of those "suspected" felons ordered removed from the rolls.

     Tearing Down the Wall: Republicans in the House of Representative introduced a bill which will further destroy the wall separating church and state. They have proposed allowing a church to engage in political activities without risking its tax-exempt status. Story Here. Is it mere coincidence that this bill is introduced after the Bush re-election campaign contacted churches in Pennsylvania asking for their help? Story Here. And the Church for God's Blessing on Republicans cried "Amen!"

     Bush, Kerry, Nader, and Friedrich?: Bruce Friedrich, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' director of vegan campaign, is one of the finalists selected for the Showtime network original show, American Candidate. Story Here.

     I Voted: I'm more than a political junkie. I am a voter. I voted this morning at 6:14. In case anyone wants to know, I live in Jim Moran's original home base. Polls had opened at 6:00 and I was the seventh person voting this morning.

     Give Me Polls! Give Me Polls!: New poll of Maine voters released from Critical Insight continues to demonstrate Bush's weakness. Story Here. Scott Rasmussen also slowly releases the state by state breakdown from the month of data he has collected. Click Here. Looking far into the future, a poll tries to judge whether or not Alabama Governor Bob Riley (R) will be re-elected in 2006. Story Here. D.C.'s Political Report's maps of polls are here.

     Bush Couldn't, but Reagan Does: Reagan's death has silenced Kerry's campaign. Presidential candidate John F. Kerry (D) has decided to cease active campaigning this week in honor of the late Ronald Reagan. This includes the star studded fund-raisers planned for Los Angeles and New York City. Story Here.

     Jackson Calls Bush a Liar: Rev. Jesse Jackson (D) denounced the White House in a speech yesterday evening in Pittsburgh. At a rally of union members Jackson said that the administration's lies have cost innocent lives. Story Here.

     The Hunt in North Carolina: Six Republicans are vying for the option to face Governor Mike Easley (D-NC) in November. Story Here. Everyone ignores Easley's primary opponent, Rickey Kipfer (D). Story Here.

     Favorites Don't Throw Mud: Way ahead in the polls, and a Democrat in a Democratic leaning state, gubernatorial nominee Joe Manchin (D-WV) proposes a "gentlemen's agreement" on negative campaigning. Story Here. Republican nominee Monty Warner (R-WV) should not accept this empty proposal. Whether or not a candidate offers negative campaign commercials, elections should be open to all discussions. No candidate should try to fight with one hand tied behind his back.

     It Comes Down to This: Primary battles wrap up tomorrow in South Carolina. Or do they? A run-off is expected in the Republican nomination fight. Story Here.

     Morphing: Using morphing software is not new in commercials. Many campaigns have use the special effect to change their opponents into bogeymen. But U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) is using it to transmogrify himself into constituents before returning to his own form, an effort to show that he is concerned with ordinary citizens. Story Here.

     Schaffer's Victorious: U.S. Representative Bob Schaffer (R-CO) took first place in voting at the Colorado GOP convention, winning the top line for the Republican primary. In a disputed count that did not match with the delegates in attendance, Schaffer received 61% of the delegate votes to Peter Coors's (R-CO) 39%. Story Here.

     Gore Attacks Democratic Candidate: Democrats' 2000 Presidential nominee, Al Gore, criticized Miami Dade Mayor and Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate Alex Penelas (D-FL). Penelas represents a largely Republican county. During the 2000 election, Penelas was accused of not being an "aggressive" supporter of Al Gore. Gore called the mayor "the single most treacherous and dishonest person" he dealt with during the disputed 2000 presidential campaign. Story Here.

     The Cavalry to the Rescue: U.S. Representative Jim Moran (D-VA) is joined by prominent Democratic elected officials in the final weekend before he faces primary opponent Andy Rosenberg (D-VA). Story Here and Here.

     Beverly Hillbillies: Campaign contributions from Beverly Hills celebrities are flowing into the campaign coffers of Kentuckian Nick Clooney (D-KY), the father of George Clooney and brother of Rosemary Clooney.

     Oklahoma Filing: Filing period begins in Oklahoma. Candidates have three days to file the proper paperwork to be on the ballot. Story Here.

     Games Politicians Play: Poking fun at each other, the major parties have created competing on-line games. The Democrats have a GOP Survivor, and the Republicans have Kerryopoly. Here and Here.

     Tributes to Ronald Reagan: Associated Press, Chicago Tribune, Dallas Morning News, Detroit Free Press, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, U.S.A. Today, Washington Post, Washington Times, Reagan Memorial Network (Formerly known as Fox News).

     Unfair Advantage: Republican rivals of North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Bill Cobey (R-NC) are accusing the candidate of using party resources to his advantage. Cobey is the former state party chair. His rivals are claiming that he is using party mailing lists and e-mail lists in the campaign to win the party's nomination in the July 20 primary. Story Here.

     Running with a Limp: Indiana gubernatorial candidate Mitch Daniels (R-IN) is walking with a limp after he accidentally dropped a motorcycle on his ankle. Story Here.

     One-Third the Way to Political Recovery: Former Governor David Beasley's (R-SC) political career was supposedly over after he was defeated for re-election in 1998. Beasley is now the leading candidate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate and is expected to make it to the primary run-off. Story Here. In a related story, Lt. Gov. André Bauer (R-SC) endorsed businessman Thomas Ravenel (R-SC). Story Here.

     Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics: U.S. Senate candidate and former Oklahoma City mayor Kirk Humphrey (R-OK) admits that his claim that 54,000 jobs were created in the city during his tenure is inaccurate. Story Here.

     It's About Character: U.S. Congressional candidate Andrew Rosenberg's (D-VA) campaign appears to be nothing more than "I am the guy running against Moran." U.S. Representative Jim Moran's (D-VA) ethical and verbal lapses have dominated the primary. Story Here.

     Expanding the Franchise: State Senator M. Mandy Dawson (D-FL) is advocating a constitutional amendment that would restore felons' right to vote once they have completed their prison term. Story Here. Meanwhile 14 states are actively considering lowering the voting age. Story Here.

     Of All The Gall: Former U.S. Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC) was in the hospital Saturday after having a gall stone removed. Helms spokesman Jimmy Broughton said the former senator is doing great. Story Here.

     Ronald Reagan is Dead: Former President Ronald Wilson Reagan (R) died today after struggling with Alzheimer's disease. Story Here.

     A Plethora of Polls: D.C.'s Political Report was very busy yesterday trying to keep up with all of the election polls released. I think I got them all (and corrected my mistake about Arizona). The Associate Press lists two. Story Here. D.C.'s Political Report's Electoral Map can be found Here.

     Patron's Death Doesn't Deter Candidate: Jersey City's mayor Glenn Cunningham (D-NJ) recruited former Goldman Sachs exec. Steve Fulop (D-NJ) to challenge U.S. Representative Robert Menendez (D-NJ). Two weeks ago Cunningham died of a heart attack. Fulop says that despite the loss of his "close friend and mentor" he was going to stay in the race "to give the people of the 13th District a choice." Story Here.

     Democrats Joining With Republicans. Cats Joining With Dogs. What is the World Coming To?: Skip Kildore tried to have gubernatorial candidate Brian Schweitzer (D-MT) thrown off the primary ballot because he chose as his running mate a Republican state senator. Montana does not have party registration. The Secretary of State's office noted that although John Bohlinger (R-MT) served in the state senate last session as a Republican, he signed a declaration that he was a candidate for the Democratic Party nomination for lieutenant governor. Story Here.

     KKK - Kennedy, Kerry, and Knowles: U.S. Senate candidate Tony Knowles (D-AK) is complaining that an television commercial associating him with U.S. Senators Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and John Kerry (D-MA) is negative advertising because it misrepresents his record of support for drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Story Here.

     I'll Be Back! Maybe!: California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) has decided to help out U.S. Senate candidate and former California Secretary of State Bill Jones (R-CA) in his sagging campaign against U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA). The question is how much help will he give. Schwarzenegger has agreed to headline an unspecified number of fundraisers. Story Here.

     Controversial And Lovin' It: Former Myrtle Beach Mayor Mark McBride (R-SC) is claiming his controversial record as mayor as an asset in his campaign for the U. S. Senate. Story Here.

     What if They Had An Election and No One Voted?: There is not much excitement about any of the primaries in New Jersey. Story Here. But that did not prevent Frank Fracasso (D-NJ) and Anne Wolfe (D-NJ) from sparring in their primary debate. Story Here.

     Beauty and the Beast: North Carolina Democrats are banking on a former beauty queen to defeat U.S. Representative Robin Hayes (R-NC). Hayes has had a series of close election victories, but Democrats could still not coax a top tier candidate to run. Their hopes now rest on Beth Troutman, who until recently worked on the production staff of the NBC-TV show West Wing. Story Here.

     Making History: Besides being the first women to be elected to Congress from South Dakota, Stephanie Herseth (D-SD) has another distinction: The first candidate to win after deciding to pay herself a salary out of campaign donations. Story Here. Herseth took advantage of a change in the campaign finance rules that allow federal candidates to pay themselves a wage from their campaign treasuries. The rule change was intended to encourage people who are not wealthy to run for office.

     Iowa Primary: There are contested primary battles in Iowa 1st and 5th Congressional Districts. Stories Here, Here My bets to win their nominations are on Bill Gluba (D-IA) in the 1st and Gene Blanshan (D-IA) in the 5th.

     Junk Food? Where's the Beef?: Dave Franker (D-IA), challenging U.S. Representative Jim Leach (R-IA), touts his work on getting junk food out of public schools. Maybe he should be talking about raising money. The candidate has raised only $10,000 and has $5,500 in the bank. The incumbent has almost $133,000 in the bank. Story Here.

     GOP Convention Withers the Field: Congressional candidate Greg Walcher (R-CO) won the top line on the ballot in the crowded 3rd Congressional District after winning first place in the convention caucus. Also making the ballot by way of the convention was Matt Smith (R-CO). Delina Disanto (R-CO) failed to receive the 30% vote at the convention to appear on the ballot. Several other candidates skipped the convention vote and plan to petition their way onto the ballot. Story Here.

     Gloom and Doom: The Annenberg Election Survey says that key swing voters are more pessimistic about the economy and Iraq than the rest of the country. Story Here. However, Kerry has not been able to capitalize on their disapproval. Only 27% rate him favorable. Another 24% had an unfavorable view of the Democratic candidate. Most, 38%, were neutral.

     Law Suit with Punch: U.S. Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) has joined a lawsuit demanding that Florida election officials make public the list of "possible" felons that have been ordered deleted from the voters rolls. Story Here. In 2000, hundreds, and some claim thousands, of voters were illegally removed from the voter roles in Florida because they had similar names to convicted felons.

     Still Looking: Former chief weapon inspector says that there are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Story Here. We still waiting for an admission from Bush.

     Danforth For Damage Control: Former U.S. Senator John Danforth (R-MO) has been nominated to be Ambassador to the United Nations. Story Here.

     Pre-Empt: Governor Jennifer Granholm (D-MI) announced that she would support Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick's re-election, no matter who challenges the incumbent. This was good news for Kilpatrick who has not had the stellar performance that some expected of him. Story Here.

     I'm Mad at Strayhorn!: Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, who is imposing a religious litmus test on congregations before she will grant them tax-exempt status, doesn't care who she angers. "It's OK to have somebody mad at you if you're speaking up and speaking out in the causes of human well-being and human decency," she said. Story Here.

     Damned If You Vote. Damned If You Don't: Several U.S. Catholic bishops have stated that communion should be denied to Catholic politicians who don't vote with church teaching and those who support them. A top Vatican cardinal has finally cautioned them about denying Communion. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger said he would like Vatican officials to meet soon with a U.S. bishops' panel reviewing how church leaders should interact with Catholics in public life. Several prelates have said that Communion should not be used as a public punishment. Story Here.

     God and Gay Marriages: Twenty-six religious organizations, including Christians, Jews, and Sikhs, are urging Congress to reject a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban same sex marriages. Story Here.

     Moving Away from Undecided: Two new polls move two states out of the undecided column. A poll by the Behavior Research Group shows George W. Bush with a 12% point lead over John F. Kerry in Maricopa County Arizona. Poll Here. In West Virginia, a state won by Bush in 2000, Kerry has a 7% point lead according to Mason-Dixon. Kerry might be the beneficiary of reverse coattails. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Manchin (D-WV) has a 37% point lead over his Republican challenger Monty Warner (R-WV). Poll Here.

     CORRECTION: The Behavior Research Center poll to which D.C.'s Political Report referred to is of Maricopa County Arizona, not the entire state.

     Bigger Platform for Racist Call: Former KKK leader David Duke (R-LA) is considering running for the U.S. Senate from Louisiana. The former state representative captured 46% of the vote in his 1990 campaign. Story Here.

     All Together Now: "I've been working on the railroad.": A day after retired railroad worker Robert Conroy (D-KS) entered the race for U.S. Senate, former railroad lobbyist Lee Jones (D-KS) joins him. Story Here.

     GOP for Reid (D-NV): Several prominent Republicans, including former Republican National Committee Chair Frank Fahrenkopf and the father of Nevada U.S. Senator John Ensign (R-NV), have endorsed U.S. Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) for re-election. Story Here.

     Based on Experience: U.S. Representative Jim DeMint (D-SC), who was once seen as the front runner for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate, is emphasizing his legislative experience as he campaigns. That legislative experience, however, includes votes seen as harmful to South Carolina's textile industry. Story Here.

     Biding Her Time: Presumptive Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in South Carolina, Inez Tenenbaum (D-SC), is focusing on the general election and not the upcoming nominating primary. Story Here.

     Coors v. Coors: The Coors Brewing Co. distanced itself from its former chairman, U.S. Senate candidate Peter Coors (R-CO), yesterday. In a written statement, company CEO Leo Kiely said that the brewing company does not support "discrimination against the gay-lesbian-bisexual-transgender community, via legislation or otherwise." Coors said during a primary debate last week that he supports the proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages. Story Here.

     Elsewhere, gay Republicans have purchased television time and are vowing to fight GOP members who try to use the gay marriage issue to divide voters. Story Here.

     Underdog Has More Experience: John Vincent has served as mayor, city commissioner, state legislator, and Speaker of the Montana House. But he is the underdog against Brian Schweitzer (D-MT) who has never been elected to public office. Story Here.

     Pollster to Candidate: I Quit: Nationally renowned and respected pollster Alan Secrest (D) has severed relations with long-time client U.S. Representative Jim Moran (D-VA). Secrest claims that during a heated meeting over campaign strategies, Moran made an anti-Semitic comment. Secrest refuses to elaborate. Moran, who is in a contentious re-nomination campaign, has denied the claim. Story Here.

     Tanonaka Fun: Former television anchor Dalton I. Tanonaka (R-HI) announced that he will challenge U.S. Representative Neil Abercrombie (D-HI). Story Here.

     The Political Divide Further Defined: In addition to the traditional partisan divided, the gender gap, secular vs. sectarian voters, add a new one: Developers vs. High Iechnology Industry. In Washington 8th Congressional District, developer are donating money to Republicans while workers in the high technology industry are favoring Democrats. Story Here.

     Getting Goss Out of Tenet: Former CIA operative and retiring U.S. Representative Porter Goss (R-FL) is being mentioned as a possible replacement for CIA Director George Tenet. Story Here.

     Under Ticket: An early May poll conducted by the Republican polling firm Susquehanna Polling gives some insight on the Pennsylvania state-wide elections. In the Treasurer race current State Auditor Bob Casey (D) leads Jean Craige Pepper (R) 59% to 33%. To replace Casey, Pennsylvanians prefer St. Sen. Jack Wagner (D) over former Deputy State Attorney General Joe Peters (R) 36% to 28%. For State Attorney General, James Eisenhower (D) and Tom Corbett (R) are in a statistical tie. Eisenhower has the support of 35% of voters to Corbett 38%. The poll was conducted May 4-7 and has a 4% margin of error. Story Here.

     When You Vote is as Important as for Whom: Ending a controversy in Missouri, the state Supreme Court ruled that the vote on a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage should be held in August. The Republican Party had wanted the referendum to be held in November, hoping that it would increase turnout among likly Republican voters. Story Here.

     A Vote for Democracy: The U.S. House of Representative overwhelming rejected a proposed constitutional amendment which would have permitted state governors to fill vacancies in the House of Representative during national emergencies. Story Here.

     Ohio Toss-up: The latest polling data out of Ohio shows how volatile the election truly is. Four polls covering the same period of time come up with vastly different results. The American Research Group poll says that Kerry leads Bush by 7%. Mason Dixon agrees that there is a 7% difference but claim Bush is leading. Zogby International's interactive poll places Kerry in the lead by 4.6%. Yesterday Rasmussen Research released their poll claiming a statistical tie: Bush 46% - Kerry 44%. Rasmussen Reports also released poll results for California, New York, Texas, Illinois, Missouri, and the first public poll of Georgia. Polls Here.

     Courting the Amen Crowd: As George W. Bush seeks to enlist the help of churches and synagogues in his campaign for re-election, Americans United for Separation of Church and State claims that the cooperation would jeopardized the religious organizations' tax-exempt status. Story Here.

     Defending the President: President George W. Bush is in the process of hiring outside counsel to represent him in the grand jury investigation into the leak of CIA officer Valerie Plame's identity. Story Here.

     Too Many Cooks Spoil the Soup: After three Republicans stepped forward to challenge U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) for the Republican nomination, former Democratic Governor Tony Knowles (D-AK) is the beneficiary. The latest poll has Knowles regaining the lead in the campaign for U.S. Senate. Story Here.

     I've Been Working on the Railroad: The Democrats in Kansas have a candidate for the U.S. Senate. After their first choice, attorney Joan Ruff (D-KS) dropped out citing her late start, 76 year old retired railroad worker Robert Conroy (D-KS) filed to take on incumbent U.S. Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS). Democrats have not won a Senate seat in Kansas since 1932. Story Here.

     Under the Knife: U.S. Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) had heart surgery to correct an abnormal heart rhythm on Tuesday. Story Here.

     State GOP Accused of Bias: The North Carolina Republican Party is supposed to be neutral in its crowded gubernatorial primary. Some are alleging, however, a bias in favor of former state party chair / former U.S. Representative Bill Cobey (R-NC). Story Here.

     Legal Opinion Impairs Campaign: A legal opinion issued by Montana's chief lawyer could complicate the gubernatorial campaign of Pat Davison (R-MT). Davison's running mate, Dave Mihalic has been accused of being ineligible to serve because he failed to meet the state's two-year residency requirement to run for lieutenant governor. Story Here. Undeterred, Davison asks two of his Republican challengers to drop out of the nominating contest. Story Here.

     No Vacancy: Stephanie Herseth (D-SD) is sworn in today filling the last vacancy in the U.S. House of Representatives. Story Here.

     And So Is Your Mother!: The campaign in Virginia 8th Congressional District Democratic nomination turns nasty. U.S. Representative Jim Moran (D-VA) and newcomer Andy Rosenberg (D-VA) are competing for the Democratic nomination in this "inside the beltway" district. Rosenberg claims that Moran is no longer fit to be a Representative after years of scandals. Moran is claiming that Rosenberg is nothing more than a Republican Wolf in Democratic Sheep Clothes. Story Here. Selections from the candidates direct mail pieces posted Here.

     Guess Who's Coming to Dinner: Former Bangor City Councilor David Nealley (I-ME) confirmed that he will not run for Congress against U.S. Representative Michael Michaud (D-ME) and Brian Hamel (R-ME). But Socialist Equity Party member Carl Cooley (SE-ME) will. Story Here.

     Making It Official: Ilana Freedman (R-MA) and Thomas Tierney (R-MA) both filed the required number of signatures to compete for the right to challenge U.S. Representative Marty Meehan (D-MA). Story Here.

     Dozens Step Up: Virginia's statewide officers are up for election in 2005, and with all three races expected to have no incumbent running, dozens of prominent politicians of both parties are exploring campaigns. Story Here.

     Employment Wanted: Recently downsized experienced attorney seeks employment. Resume Here.

     The Envelope Please:

South Dakota Special Election Results: Stephanie Herseth (D) defeated Larry Diedrich (R) 50.6% to 49.4%. Almost 3000 votes separated the two candidates.

     The victory by the Democrat in this Republican leaning state is being trumpeted as the start of a national tide for Democrats. Herseth and Diedrich will face each other again in November. Both won their respective primaries today as well. Story Here and Here.

Alabama Primary Results:

Alabama Democratic Presidential Primary: John F. Kerry (75%) over Dennis Kucinich (4.2%) and Lyndon LaRouche (3.3%).

Alabama Democratic Senate Nominee: Wayne Sowell by default. Johnny Swanson was removed from the ballot.

Alabama 5th Congressional District Democratic Nominee: Bud Cramer defeated Michael Williams, 89.5% to 10.5%.

Alabama 5th Congressional District Republican Primary: Steven Engel and Gerry Wallace will face each other in a June 22, 2004 run-off primary. Wallace lead with 45.1% of the vote. Engel received 40.2%. Nate Bailie received the remaining 14.6% of the vote.

Alabama 6th Congressional District Republican Nominee: Spencer Bachus defeated Phillip Jauregui, 86.6% to 13.4%.

Alabama 7th Congressional District Democratic Nominee: Artur Davis defeated Albert Turner, 88% to 12%.

     Most eyes in Alabama were focused on the Alabama Supreme Court races where supporters of ousted Chief Justice Roy Moore (R-AL) were seeking revenge against other justices. In the end, only one of the four challengers was successful. In addition, Moore's personal attorney Phillip Jauregui lost is bid to for the 6th Congressional District GOP nomination. Story Here.

New Mexico Primary Results:

New Mexico Green Party Presidential Primary: Carol A. Miller (G) 55%, David Keith Cobb (G) 26%, Lorna Salzman (G) 10%, Paul Glover (G) 7%, Kent Mesplay (G) 2%.

New Mexico 1st Congressional District Democratic Nominee: Richard Romero defeated Miles Nelson 58.3% to 41.7%.

New Mexico 2nd Congressional District Democratic Nominee: Gary King defeated Jeff Steinborn 63.5% to 36.5%.

     Democrats chose the front-runners as their nominees in two districts critical to their plans of recapturing the U. S. House of Representatives. Story Here.

South Dakota Primary Results:

South Dakota Democratic Presidential Primary: John F. Kerry (D) (82.3%) over Howard Dean (5.7%), Dennis Kucinich (2.4%) and Lyndon LaRouche (3.5%).

     ¿Qué Tal?: Congressional candidate Vernon Robinson (R-NC) found a unique way to advertise his anti-illegal immigrant positions on radio. In a radio commercial which denounced illegal immigrants who "commit heinous crimes" and "sponge off the American taxpayers", Robinson had the federal mandated sponsorship identification in Spanish. The ad ended with the words, "Yo Gingo! This episode of the Twilight Zone was paid for by Robinson for Congress." Story Here. Although Robinson said that the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Election Commission offer no guidance about whether the disclaimer had to be in English, he changed the line to English under pressure from the radio station. Story Here.

     Alaskan Freeze: The sun comes out in Alaska for six month and everyone decides to run for public office. Yesterday was the filing deadline in Alaska. Fourteen people have filed to run for the U.S. Senate including three Democrats, four Republicans, two members of the Alaskan Independence Party, one person each from the Green, Libertarian, and Moderate Republican parties, and two independents. The major players are former Governor Tony Knowles (D), incumbent U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R), former U.S. Attorney Wev Shea (R) and former State Senator Mike Miller (R). Click Here for list and Here for Story.

     Southern Democrats Will Rise Again: Democrats, who once saw the five open U.S. Senate races in the South as an impediment to retaking the U.S. Senate, are now claiming that they could win four of the five. Story Here.

     Selling Taxes in New Hampshire: State Representative Paul McEachern (D-NH) is seeking the Democratic gubernatorial nomination in New Hampshire. McEachern, who is making his fourth try at the Governor Mansion, wants to replace New Hampshire's property tax with an income tax. His Democratic opponent, John Lynch (D-NH) has pledged to veto any income and sales taxes. Story Here.

     Not His Strongest Selling Point: The North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research rates state legislators according to their effectiveness. Near the bottom of the list was St. Rep. Billy Creech (R-NC) who wants to take his abilities to Congress. He is challenging U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-NC). Story Here.

     It's Miller Time: Congressional candidate Tony Miller (D-NC), running in another critical race for Democratic chances of controlling Congress, fired his campaign manager over philosophical and personal differences. Story Here.

     For Whom Would Jesus Vote?: The head of the White House Office of Faith-Based Initiatives says that those who oppose Bush's executive orders are on the wrong side of the cultural war. Story Here.

     Never Count a Bad Man Out: Former Washington Mayor Marion Barry (D-DC), who was elected to a fourth term after serving in jail for crack cocaine possession, is planning to run for the city council. Story Here.

     If It's a Tuesday, It Must Be A Primary: Primaries are held today in Alabama, New Mexico, and South Dakota,

     Today is also the filing deadline in the following states: Alaska, Colorado, and Massachusetts.

     Oh, yeah! Today is the special election in South Dakota for the vacant U.S. House seat.

     Still Campaigning: He is not seeking re-election. He abandoned his campaign for the Democratic Presidential nomination, but U.S. Senator John Edwards (D-NC) is still making the national campaign rounds. Story Here.

     Bam!: Barack Obama (D-IL) is leading his Republican rival Jack Ryan (R-IL) by a whopping 22% points in the open seat race for the U.S. Senate. Story Here.

     Florida Could Decide Everything: The open U.S. Senate race in Florida could determine who ultimately controls the upper chamber of Congress. Story Here.

     Anointing the Nominee: Retiring U.S. Representative Jack Quinn (R-NY) endorses Erie County Comptroller Nancy A. Naples (R-NY) to succeed him in the heavily Democratic Buffalo Congressional District. Story Here.

     Campaigning Early: Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack (D-IA) has two more years in his current term, but already several prominent Iowans have started campaigning to replace him. Story Here.

     Alternative to Alternative Political Party News: The Personal Choice Party has nominated Charles Jay for President. Jay, a spokesperson for the International Brotherhood of Prizefighters, defeated Lawrence Rey Topham for the nomination. The Personal Choice Party is a feel good party which "asserts that everyone has free agency and individual rights. Personal Choice expresses the philosophy of live and let live." Story Here. Jay has chosen as his Vice Presidential nominee, porn star Marylin Chambers. Before you write this candidate off as just another joke, realize that the Personal Choice Party has ballot access in Utah. The joke is on us.

     Employment Wanted: Recently downsized experienced attorney seeks employment. Resume Here.

     No Really: The last widow of a Civil War veteran died YESTERDAY. Story Here.

Copyright 2004 by Daniel "D.C." Finegold Sachs