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Tennessee Republicans received some good news over the weekend, according to a statewide poll jointly sponsored by two newspapers.

Not only does incumbent Sen. Bill Frist (R) appear to hold a commanding lead over Democratic rival Jeff Clark, but Texas Gov. George W. Bush has taken a 46-43 percent lead over Vice President Gore in Gore's home state. The three-point difference is within the margin of error, but it shows a sharp change from a March poll in which Gore led by six points. And according to some observers, it could mean "Tennessee is in play."
• Bush Leads 46%-43% in Tennessee Poll (Nashville Tennessean, 10/01/00)
• Bush Leads Gore in Tennessee (Chattanooga Times & Free Press, 10/01/00)
• Poll: Frist Leads Clark by Large Margin (Chattanooga Times & Free Press, 10/02/00)
• Gore Keeps Edge Over Bush in Tennessee, Poll Shows (Nashville Tennessean, 03/26/00)
• More Coverage: Tenn. Senate Race | State Profile

N.Y. Senate: Upbeat Lazio Dismisses Polls, Backs Abortion Pill

Rep. Rick Lazio (R) on Sunday dismissed his sagging poll numbers in the Senate race against first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, saying that he thinks most voters "don't give a darn" about polls. Clinton also underplayed the recent surveys that give her a lead, declaring herself the race's underdog while speaking to Harlem churchgoers.
• Hil Girds for Battle as Rick Shrugs Off Polls (New York Daily News, 10/02/00)
• Harlem Sings Hillary's Praise (New York Newsday, 10/02/00)
• Lazio Pushes Character, Integrity (Albany Times Union, 10/02/00)

Lazio announced Sunday that he supports RU-486, the abortion-inducing pill recently approved by the FDA — an issue position at odds with his Republican base and party presidential nominee George W. Bush.
• Lazio Supports Abortion Pill, Opposing Bush (The New York Times, 10/02/00)
• More Coverage: N.Y. Senate Race

Missouri: Outside Incidents Ignite Unrest in Campaigns

Missouri is a hotbed of close races this fall, with high-profile elections for governor, Senate and the House. But candidates across the board were thrown off their message last week by fallout from the RU-486 approval, and by a controversial comment from state GOP spokesman Daryl Duwe.
• Busy Week in Politics Ignites Unrest Within Both Parties
(St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/02/00)
• Duwe Apologizes to McCaskill for 'Hooker' Remark
(Jefferson City News Tribune, 10/01/00)
• Republican Party Deepens the Insult to Women Voters in Missouri
(Kansas City Star, 10/30/00)
• More Coverage: Mo. Governor's Race | Senate Race | 2nd District Race

Mich. Senate: Abraham's Record Focus of Race

In Michigan's Senate race, both candidates are campaigning on opposite sides of Republican Sen. Spencer Abraham's record. The first-term incumbent is proudly touting his six-year term in office—which includes 16 new laws—while his opponent, Rep. Debbie Stabenow (D), is attempting to turn Abraham's record against him.
• Senate Candidates Are Running on Abraham's Record (Lansing Record, 10/01/00)
• More Coverage: Mich. Senate Race

"We're going to float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. Watch out Richard Cheney, I've arrived in Kentucky." – Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.)—invoking Kentucky native Muhammad Ali—upon a Sunday arrival in the Bluegrass State to being preparation for his vice presidential debate with Republican Richard Cheney.
• Lieberman Warns Cheney on Debate
(Associated Press, 10/02/00)

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