A daily dose of online news from beyond the Beltway.
__ 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

New York Senate candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) and Rep. Rick Lazio (R) are distilling their campaign messages down to a single theme in the final days of the race – go vote.

Both campaigns acknowledge the race will be decided simply on which voters the candidates can convince to turnout, as well as which ones they can keep at home. Adding validity to that strategy is a series of new polls that show that show just how close and volatile the race has become. Depending on the survey, Clinton is up by six, the candidates are in a statistical tie, or Lazio leads by five.
• Polls Show Tight N.Y. Senate Race (Associated Press, 11/01/00)
• Strategy for Race: Get Out the Vote, Selectively (The New York Times, 11/01/00)
• Quinnipiac University Poll (10/31/00)
• More Coverage: N.Y. Senate Race

Mo. Senate: Ashcroft Resumes Surreal Campaign

Saying the suspension of his campaign could cost him reelection, Sen. John Ashcroft (D-Mo.) said even if he loses the race to the deceased Mel Carnahan, "it was the right thing to do." With polls showing the former governor leading Ashcroft, and with Carnahan's widow Jean agreeing to fill the seat if Carnahan posthumously won, Ashcroft and the GOP are stepping up efforts statewide to sell the incumbent on experience and leadership.
• Ashcroft Says Pause Harmed His Campaign (Columbia Tribune, 10/31/00)
• Missouri Race for U.S. Senate Becomes a Novelty (Kansas City Star, 11/01/00)
• Senate Battle Resumes (Columbia Missourian, 10/31/00)
• Ashcroft Will Focus on Experience, Leadership (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/31/00)

Wednesday, Ashcroft won the endorsement of the Kansas City Star, which argued voters could "make all the potential legal bickering" of a Carnahan victory moot be reelecting Ashcroft, "a public servant whose integrity is unquestioned."
Kansas City Star: "We believe that a seat in the U.S. Senate should be based on well-known views and a well-established platform. No matter the personal circumstances of candidates, voters in this country do not make a habit of awarding one of the country's highest elective offices out of sympathy. Jean Carnahan has never held elective office. Her views on most of the major issues confronting the country are unknown. Democrats contend that Jean Carnahan would reflect the views of her husband on every important measure, but the state's voters cannot be guaranteed of that assertion." (11/01/00)
• More Coverage: Mo. Senate Race

Mo. Governor: State's Other Top Race Still Tight

Almost lost in the media attention showered on the state's U.S. Senate race is Missouri's gubernatorial campaign between Republican Rep. Jim Talent and Democrat Bob Holden. Despite a record amount of spending by the candidates, polls show the race extremely tight, with a high number of voters still undecided.
• Many Voters Still Undecided in Missouri Governor Race
(St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 10/31/00)
• Talent Puts in 16-hour Day as Campaign Enters Final Stretch
(Columbia Missourian, 10/31/00)

Most of Missouri's large newspapers have yet to weigh in on the governor's race, though the Springfield News-Leader has already thrown support behind Talent.
Springfield News-Leader: "The governor’s race between state Treasurer Bob Holden and U.S. Rep. Jim Talent is close for a good reason. Two highly qualified men are running on intelligent, credible campaign platforms. We’ll have a good governor no matter who wins. But our endorsement goes to Jim Talent. We believe he’ll be more aggressive and creative in addressing Missouri’s challenges. ...Talent has the vision, the leadership ability and the drive to make Missouri a better place." (10/22/00)
• More Coverage: Mo. Governor's Race