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__ Endorsement Watch __ Through Election Day, Early Returns will collect and excerpt newspaper editorials that back candidates in some of this year's top political races. Other endorsements for: • Vice President Gore • Gov. George W. Bush • House, Senate, Governor
__ More Campaign Coverage __ • Howard Kurtz's Media Notes • CQ Races to Watch

Republicans reacted angrily to Missouri Gov. Roger Wilson's announcement that he would appoint Jean Carnahan to the U.S. Senate if her deceased husband won the race, but Missouri voters appear to like the idea.

Though actual survey results have not been released, both Democrats and Republicans agreed Wednesday that former governor Mel Carnahan has taken a lead of anywhere from 5 to 12 points, depending on the poll – a major shift from before Carnahan's death, when incumbent Sen. John Ashcroft (R) held a lead. Most observers agree, however, that Ashcroft still holds the advantage in the race.
• Sympathy Boosts Carnahan in Polls (Kansas City Star, 10/26/00)
• Democrats Rally Around Jean Carnahan as She Ponders Offer
(Kansas City Star, 10/25/00)
• Seven Other Political Widows Have Inherited Senate Careers
(St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/25/00)
• Jean Carnahan Is Described as Tough, Committed, Strong
(St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/25/00)

Saying "I don't know who my opponent is, or if I have an opponent," Ashcroft officially resumed his suspended campaign Wednesday by touting education proposals at a Missouri elementary school.
• Ashcroft, Back on Trail, Touts Plan to Students (Columbia Missourian, 10/26/00)
• Ashcroft Resumes Campaigning With Appearance at Grade School
(St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/26/00)

Democrats initially expressed concern that voter apathy in the wake of Carnhan's death would hurt their party's chances on Election Day, but the heightened interest brought by Jean Carnahan's name is giving them new hope.
• Senate Race May Raise Turnout (Columbia Missourian, 10/26/00)
• More Coverage: Mo. Senate Race

N.J. Senate: Franks Riding Wave of Momentum

Democrat Jon Corzine has poured more than $46 million into his New Jersey Senate campaign, but he can't buy the momentum in which his Republican rival, Rep. Bob Franks, is basking. After a new Quinnipiac University poll showed Franks within 5 percentage points of Corzine – and with 13 percent of voters still undecided – Republican leaders said Wednesday they would boost support for Franks in the campaign's final weeks.
• Franks Closing Gap on Rival (Newark Star-Ledger, 10/26/00)
• Latest Poll Finds Franks Narrowing the Gap (Bergen Record, 10/26/00)
• Endorsements and Poll Results Lend Momentum to Franks's Senate Campaign
(The New York Times, 10/26/00)

Also boosting the Franks campaign this week were two high-profile editorial endorsements of his campaign:
The New York Times: "If political philosophy were the only consideration, we would be for Mr. Corzine. But the more responsible way that Mr. Franks has conducted his campaign, in combination with an acceptably moderate record, has earned our endorsement. We believe Bob Franks is a candidate with greater experience and an unquestioned commitment to financial openness and to diminishing, by legislation and personal example, the influence of money in politics." (10/25/00)
Philadelphia Inquirer: "Corzine would seem to be the dream advocate for every unmet social need. ... If he wins, Mr. Corzine would enter the Senate without ever having run for a seat on a planning board, school board, county office or legislative seat. Often, he hasn't bothered to vote in such elections. ... New Jersey voters, who get to decide one of the most watched Senate races in recent history, should go with experience. They should elect Bob Franks. He is a smart, articulate, moderate lawmaker who would chart a sane path for using any surpluses." (10/24/00)
• More Coverage: N.J. Senate Race

"It's such an odd thing to do to ask people to vote for the ghost." CNN political analyst Bill Schneider, on the difficulty facing Missouri Democrats in convincing voters to vote for the deceased Mel Carnahan.
• Sympathy Boosts Carnahan in Polls
(Kansas City Star, 10/26/00)

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