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As the man who "breathed new life" into Missouri's Democratic Party, Gov. Mel Carnahan is being mourned not only as a person but as a political leader as well.

Embroiled in one of the nation's closest Senate races with incumbent Sen. John Ashcroft (R), a Carnahan victory was key to Democratic hopes of regaining a majority in Congress. Democrats also thought a strong showing from Carnahan on Election Day might boost Vice President Gore's numbers in the pivotal state. And though Carnahan's name will remain on the ballot, Ashcroft now appears all-but-certain to win a second term.
• Democrats Shaken by Leader's Death (Springfield News-Leader, 10/18/00)
• Missouri Democrats Cope With Grief, Campaign Confusion
(Kansas City Star, 10/18/00)
• Carnahan's Death Leaves Void in Political Landscape
(St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/18/00)
• More Coverage: Mo. Senate Race

Roger Wilson, the state's former lieutenant governor, was sworn into office early Wednesday morning after Carnahan's body had been officially identified as one of the victims of the Monday night plane crash.
• Wilson Officially Sworn in as Missouri's 52nd Governor
(Columbian Missourian, 10/18/00)
• Wilson Sworn in as Governor (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/18/00)
• Missouri Mourns Carnahan as Wilson Takes Helm (Springfield News-Leader, 10/18/00)

Carnahan's body will lie in state at the governor's mansion on Thursday, and the White House announced that President Clinton will attend Friday's memorial service on the lawn of Missouri's Capitol building in Jefferson City.
• Clinton to Attend Carnahan Memorial Service
(Associated Press, 10/18/00)

Ky. 6th District: Candidates Plan for Final Push

Turning away from the ad wars that have marked the most expensive congressional race in Kentucky history, Republican Rep. Ernie Fletcher and Democratic challenger Scotty Baesler are returning, for the time being at least, to some old-fashioned campaign tricks—a rolling bus tour for Fletcher and some high-profile help for Baesler.
• Candidates Get Set for Stretch Run (Lexington Herald-Leader, 10/17/00)
• Fletcher Leads Fundraising Race (Lexington Herald-Leader, 10/15/00)
• More Coverage: Ky. 6th District

Fla. Senate: McCollum Campaigning to Catch Up

Rep. Bill McCollum (R-Fla.) still trails Democrat Bill Nelson in the state's Senate race, but a recent poll by The Orlando Sentinel showed McCollum may finally be gaining some ground with the state's very important independent voters.
• McCollum Looks to Trim Nelson's Lead (The Orlando Sentinel, 10/15/00)
• Nelson's Lead Slides Among Independents (The Orlando Sentinel, 10/13/00)

In fact, McCollum's heavy campaign schedule has cut into his day job as a member of Congress—his absentee voting rate has been an extremely high 52 percent during the previous four months.
• Campaign Pressures McCollum (Miami Herald, 10/16/00)
• More Coverage: Fla. Senate Race

Mich. Senate: Funds Help Fuel Abraham's Surge

Not far removed from being labeled one of the most vulnerable Republican incumbents in Congress, Sen. Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.) is surging past the challenge of Democrat Debbie Stabenow, thanks in large part to a highly successful fundraising effort.
• Abrahams Widens the Gap With Plenty of Ads, Funds (The Detroit News, 10/17/00)
• More Coverage: Mich. Senate Race

Pennsylvania: Analyzing Ridge's Presidential Role

Though it appears Pennsylvania's electoral votes are slowly slipping away from George W. Bush, political analysts say that Republican Gov. Tom Ridge, who has campaigned tirelessly for the GOP candidate, would probably avoid the brunt of the blame if Bush does not carry the key state.
• If Bush Can't Win State, Few Would Blame Ridge (Allentown Morning Call, 10/16/00)
• Profile: Gov. Tom Ridge

"This is not what democracy looks like, this is not what democracy looks like." – Jeff Gates, the Green Party's gubernatorial candidate in Georgia, as he was being drug out of the crowd during Monday's debate between Democratic Sen. Zell Miller and Republican challenger Mack Mattingly.
• Tax Attack by Mattingly Sparks Debate
(The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 10/17/00)

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