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Former Louisiana governor Edwin Edwards' second corruption trial this year ended Wednesday with his acquittal, though Edwards is still awaiting a potentially life-long prison sentence.

The 73-year-old Edwards has now been tried four times in federal court and escaped conviction each time but one, when in May a jury found him guilty on several corruption charges. In the insurance fraud trial just concluded, Edwards' co-defendent, Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Brown, was found guilty on seven felony counts. Brown becomes the state's third-consecutive insurance commissioner to be convicted of corruption.
• Edwards Acquitted (New Orleans Times-Picayune, 10/12/00)
• Brown Guilty; Others Cleared (Baton Rouge Advocate, 10/12/00)
• Former La. Governor Acquitted (Associated Press, 10/11/00)

Ala. 4th District: GOP Incumbent Falls Back on 'Family Values'

Two-term incumbent Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) is making the traditional rounds in Alabama's 4th Congressional District, campaigning from chili cook-offs to church festivals on a strong "family values" platform in hopes of fending off a formidable challenge from Democrat Martha Folsom. Folsom, the state's former first lady, is attempting to become the first woman from Alabama elected to Congress.
• Aderholt Puts Focus on Family Values (The Birmingham News, 10/09/00)
• Marsha Folsom Carries Democrats' Hopes (The Birmingham News, 10/10/00)
• Aderholt, Folsom Debate Unlikely (The Gadsden Times, 10/07/00)
• Aderholt, Folsom Engage in TV Battles Over Issues (The Birmingham News, 10/09/00)
• More Coverage: Ala. 4th District

Wisconsin: Thompson Begins Push for Bush

The George W. Bush campaign has enlisted popular Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) to stump for the Texas governor in a number of key battleground states, including Michigan, Missouri and Ohio, where Thompson kicked off his election push for Bush earlier this week.
• Thompson Hits Road for Bush (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 10/10/00)
• Wisconsin Leader Pushes for Bush at Findlay Rally (Toledo Blade, 10/10/00)
• Profile: Gov. Tommy Thompson (R-Wis.)

Del. Senate: Popular Candidates Stay Close, Well-Funded

An independent poll released this week showed Sen. Bill Roth (R-Del.) and Gov. Tom Carper (D-Del.) in a statistical tie in their Senate race, a contest that has pitted two of Delaware's most popular politicians in race attracting national attention—and national donors.
• Senate Contest Close as Can Be (Wilmington News Journal, 10/10/00)
• Money Pours in to Carper-Roth (Wilmington News Journal, 10/05/00)
• More Coverage: Del. Senate Race

N.Y. Senate: Republicans Wonder About Lazio's Team

With first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) up in New York Senate polls and time running out for Rep. Rick Lazio (R) to catch up, worried Republicans are starting to question the congressman's choice of campaign officials.
• Did Lazio Pick the Wrong Gurus? (New York Post, 10/12/00)
• More Coverage: N.Y. Senate Race

Mich. Senate: Abrahams at Top of Money Chase

Bouyed by the high-tech industry, Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.) has pulled in $8.2 million for his reelection campaign—the largest amount for any incumbent senator and the fourth-largest total for all Senate candidates this year.
• Abraham Near Top in Raising Funds (Detroit Free Press, 10/10/00)
• More Coverage: Mich. Senate Race

"Get endorsement from Pat Buchanan, locking up his vital 0.8% of the vote." – David Letterman, listing one of the ten ways Green Party candidate Ralph Nader can still win the White House, on his show's nightly Top Ten list.
• Top Ten Ways Ralph Nader Can Still Win
(The Late Show With David Letterman, 10/10/00)

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