A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.
__ More Campaign Coverage __ • Howard Kurtz's Media Notes • CQ Races to Watch

Still trailing the resource-rich Jon Corzine (D) in New Jersey's Senate race, Republican candidate Rep. Bob Franks finally hit the airwaves Wednesday with his first campaign ad.

The hard-hitting spot questions Corzine's credibility as a potential senator and accuses the wealthy Democrat of "spending 60 million bucks to buy New Jersey's Senate seat." However, due to Franks's financial straits, the ad is airing only on Philadelphia television stations, prohibiting two-thirds of New Jersey households from seeing it. Corzine, by contrast, is spending $1.2 million per week to blanket the state with TV ads. The two candidates will meet Sunday for the first of five scheduled debates.
• Franks's Cash-Short Campaign Finally Puts Its First Ad on TV (The New York Times, 10/05/00)
• Franks Goes on TV Attack Against Corzine (Newark Star-Ledger, 10/05/00)
• Franks Camp Airs Its First Attack Ad (Bergen Record, 10/05/00)

Though Franks is strapped for campaign cash, some of his supporters are not. A wealthy Republican benefactor launched his own independent TV commercial Tuesday that attacks Corzine for refusing to release personal income tax returns.
• GOP Benefactor Pays for Anti-Corzine Ad (Bergen Record, 10/04/00)
• Franks Gets Boost by Third-Party TV Ad (Newark Star-Ledger, 10/04/00)

Republicans are hoping that Franks's entrance into the electronic campaign fray will stem growing support for Corzine, who now holds a 14-point lead over Franks, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll.
• Corzine Has Widened Lead Over Franks, Poll Indicates (Philadelphia Inquirer, 10/05/00)
• More Coverage: N.J. Senate Race

Mich. Senate: Democrats Revise Abraham Attack Ad

Michigan's Democratic Party has altered a television commercial hitting Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.) on health care after Abraham's campaign said the spot falsely stated the senator's position and warned television stations against airing it.
• Democrats Revise TV Ad Attacking Abraham (Detroit News, 10/04/00)
• Ad Watch (Detroit Free Press, 09/29/00)
• More Coverage: Mich. Senate Race

Fla. 15th District: Weldon Faces a Formidable Foe

For the first time since coming into office as part of the Republican "revolution" in 1994, Rep. Dave Weldon (R) is facing a high-profile, possibly dangerous Democratic opponent—state Sen. Patsy Kurth, a cousin of House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D).
• U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon Faces His Most Daunting Opponent (Orlando Sentinel, 09/30/00)
• More Coverage: Fla. 15th District Race

"With the exception of Hillary's New York race, my defeat is Bill Clinton's highest political priority." – Senate candidate Bill McCollum (R-Fla.), trying to energize his conservative base in a new fundraising letter. While in the House of Representatives, McCollum helped lead the drive to impeach Clinton.
• McCollum: Clinton Is Driven to 'Defeat Me'
(St. Petersburg Times, 10/04/00)

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