Campaign Diary -- 03/24/1999

Campaign Diary

24 March, 1999

By Scott Hogenson
CNS Executive Editor

Radioactive: Dan Quayle and Steve Forbes scored radio interviews Tuesday on the Rush Limbaugh Show, getting the rare, on-air interviews courtesy of Sean Hannity, who was filling in for Limbaugh. FYI, the opening of the show was pre-empted on WMAL-Washington, D.C., which opted to run President Bill Clinton's speech to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. After cracking wise on showing up late for the event, Clinton asked the massive union to support military action in Kosovo.

Show Me the Matching Funds: Democrat contender Bill Bradley is asking the Federal Election Commission to rule on whether campaign contributions raised through the Internet are eligible for federal matching funds. Saying that the Web has "created an immense opportunity for millions of average Americans to participate in the political process," the Bradley camp is asking the FEC for an advisory opinion on matching web-raised contributions with federal cash.

Politically Incorrect? Texas Gov. George W. Bush has a trio of events through the end of this week that would make a good liberal blush. He's scheduled to visit the Bass Pro Shop in Grapevine Wednesday evening, in spite of recent attacks on the sport by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, which considers fishing a cruel pastime. Friday sees Bush at a Governor's Mansion Easter Egg Hunt in advance of a decidedly Christian holiday, and on Sunday, he joins with those paying tribute to the internal combustion engine, dropping by the Primestar 500 NASCAR race at the Texas Motor Speedway.

Parish the Thought: Louisiana Republicans will get a chance to meet Dan Quayle today and Thursday, as the former vice president visits Jefferson Parish and Lafayette. A number of GOP presidential hopefuls passed on the Bayou State in '96 because it was trying to muscle in on Iowa's and New Hampshire's first in the nation status.

Alexander On National Security: Former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander hit the Clinton Administration Tuesday on the growing threat from terrorists and rogue nations, and the need for a stronger national defense. In a speech delivered in Birmingham, Alabama yesterday, Alexander hit on the now-familiar theme of national security. Alexander was the first GOP presidential contender to call for the resignation of National Security Advisor Sandy Berger, who's shown no sign of planning to do so.

Got it Down Pat: One of the toughest quotes from the campaign trail this week comes from Pat Buchanan, who took note of the coincidental events of the China spy scandal and the saber rattling in the Balkans. Observed Buchanan, "It is the mark of an incoherent foreign policy that when Chinese Communists target missiles on Taiwan, on U.S. forces in Asia, and even on America itself, this administration pounds the drums for war--against Serbia." Go figure...

Russian Roulette: Publisher Steve Forbes set his sites on International Monetary Fund policy Tuesday, saying in a statement that "If Russian Prime Minister Primakov asks for more IMF loans, the response of the U.S. government should be a categorical 'No.'" Diary doesn't know whether Primakov visited the Forbes Internet site before leaving Moscow, but the prime minister did a mid-flight turn around and headed back for Russia en route to the aborted visit with President Clinton in Washington. You don't suppose... Nah!

Mrs. Smith Goes to Des Moines: With husband Bob Smith taking care of business in the Senate, Mary Jo Smith, the senator's wife, is on the ground in Iowa. Today, she hosts the second of two "Meet Mary Jo Smith" events in as many days at the campaign's Des Moines HQ.

McCain Cash: After launching his fundraising efforts on his home turf in Phoenix, John McCain is off to the 'Bigs,' with campaign dinners scheduled in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, D.C. before the month's end. That's four of the top ten markets in one week.

Other People's Money: While McCain hits the major metro markets for cash to fuel his campaign, Alan Keyes is kicking in time to help other causes. The campaign schedule includes appearances by Keyes at fundraisers for non-presidential candidates in Virginia and South Carolina, with a stop next week in Columbus, Ohio to help out a crisis pregnancy center.

Humble Apologies x 2: The March 18 edition of Diary inadvertently misidentified the George W. Bush Internet web site. The site is up, active and ready for your perusal at http://www.georgewbush.com The author also regrets the vowel movement in the same ish that resulted in the word 'Dairy' rather than Diary. The typo is a by-product of the author's Wisconsin roots and we plan on milking it for all it's worth.

(Send your Campaign Diary tidbits to CNS Executive Editor Scott Hogenson at shogenson@cnsnews.org or call toll free 1-877-CNS-NEWS, Ext. 126. We never close, but sometimes, we're not here.)

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