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New Jersey Democrat Jon Corzine is on pace to spend a staggering $50 million in his overall bid to win the seat of retiring Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D).

Campaign records show that Corzine has been spending an average of $1.7 million a week since Labor Day and earmarked $5 million on TV ads in New York and Philadelphia just during NBC's Olympics coverage. His underfunded Republican rival, Rep. Bob Franks, has tried to turn Corzine's wallet into a campaign issue and on Tuesday led a demonstration on Wall Street — where Corzine previously worked — to call attention to Corzine's unwillingness to release income tax returns.
• Corzine Commits $12M to Ads on TV (Bergen Record, 09/27/00)
• Corzine Is TV's $12M Man (Associated Press, 09/27/00)
• As Corzine Buys More Airtime in Senate Race, Franks Takes Attack to Street (The New York Times, 09/27/00)
• Franks Camp Takes on Goldman Sachs (Newark Star-Ledger, 09/27/00)
• Lazio's Soft Cash Ban Aids Franks (Newark Star-Ledger, 09/26/00)
• More Coverage: N.J. Senate Race

Minn. Senate: Grams' Son in Trouble Again

Already facing a difficult re-election campaign, Minnesota Sen. Rod Grams (R) must once again contend with family problems after his son Morgan was arrested in New Mexico. Grams endured a high-profile incident last year in which questions were raised about the senator seeking special police treatment for Morgan in a drug case, though no evidence was found that the senator interfered.
• Morgan Grams Arrested in New Mexico (St. Paul Pioneer Press, 09/27/00)
• Morgan Grams Arrested in New Mexico With 15-Year Old Girl
(Star Tribune, 09/27/00)
• Grams' Son Arrested in New Mexico
(Duluth News Tribune, 09/27/00)
• Grams Says Adversities Won't Affect Political Future (Star Tribune, 11/30/99)
• More Coverage: Minn. Senate Races

Fla. 8th District: GOP May Have Hurt Chances With Rough Primary Fight

Democrats have targeted Florida's 8th Congressional District — the seat being vacated by Senate candidate Rep. Bill McCollum (R) — as a hopeful pick-up and so far, the results of the race must be pleasing. Democratic candidate Linda Chapin stood by as Republicans waged a bitter fight for the nomination, which will finally be decided in a primary run-off Tuesday.
• Keller, Sublette Cool Down (Orlando Sentinel, 09/24/00)
• Eight District Gears for Round 2 (Miami Herald, 09/24/00)
• More Coverage: Fla. 8th District Race

Ind. Governor: McIntosh Not Gaining Ground on O'Bannon

With Rep. David McIntosh (R) still trailing Gov. Frank O'Bannon (D) in Indiana gubernatorial polls, some state Republicans are admitting McIntosh's campaign has not caught fire with voters and that his chances of upsetting O'Bannon are growing slimmer.
• Republicans Hope McIntosh Has 9 Lives (The Indianapolis Star, 09/24/00)
• Hopefuls Debate State's Status (The Indianapolis Star, 09/23/00)
• More Coverage: Ind. Governor's Race

Ind. Senate: Smooth Sailing for Lugar

For every unpredictable Senate race this year, at least one or two are expected to remain safely in the incumbent's hands. One clear example is Indiana, where almost 50 percent of the voting public still does not even recognize the name of Democrat David Johnson, who's trying to unseat four-term Sen. Richard Lugar (R).
• Lugar Holds Major Lead in Statewide Poll (South Bend Tribune, 09/22/00)
• More Coverage: Ind. Senate Race

Del. Senate: Carper Attacks Roth on Health Care

Delaware Gov. Tom Carper (D), attempting to unseat Sen. Bill Roth (R), used a joint appearance before the Medical Society of Delaware on Monday to assail the five-term incumbent's congressional record on health care issues.
• Carper Attacks Roth on Health Issues (Wilmington News Journal, 09/26/00)
• More Coverage: Del. Senate Race

"It's been our pleasure." – Notoriously fickle Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, paying tribute to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright who was making her potentially final appearance before the group Tuesday.
• Helms Leads Senate Panel's Tribute to Albright
(The Charlotte Observer, 09/27/00)

Jason Thompson can be reached at jason.thompson@washingtonpost.com. Early Returns runs Monday-Thursday.