Bush hits the books

The New York Times reports that George W. Bush's team will continue to beat the education drum to reposition its candidate as a new-style Republican. According to the Economist, Bush earned bragging rights on school reform, risking "big government" slams from his own party to fund programs that boosted test scores. The magazine also says that Al Gore and the Democrats, with their cozy marriage with teachers unions and resistance to school choice, could lose their lock on the minority vote.

But where do the candidates stand on education for rich white men? NBC anchorman/would-be culture critic Tom Brokaw in the New York Times calls for a cease-fire in the Bush-Gore report card wars.

The money pit

Apparently, a once-uninterested public has begun to tune in to the campaign finance reform debate. The Washington Post reports that a survey by Public Campaign shows nearly three-fourths of voters find the $70 million Bush war chest to be "excessive," and 40 percent believe the Texas governor bought his party's nomination.

Of course, Gore has plenty of campaign finance problems of his own. Both the Washington Post and the New York Times report that Charles La Bella, former Justice Department investigator, repeated his calls for an independent counsel review of the vice president's fund-raising activities during the 1996 campaign. During an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," La Bella stopped short of accusing Gore of criminal conduct, but said it was "too close a call for [the Justice Department] to make." U.S. News and World Report highlights how Gore's relationship with Tony Coelho, his controversial campaign manager, adds to speculation about his integrity.

Unlike Coelho, advisor Naomi Wolfe and campaign manager Donna Brazile, Gore aide Michael Whouley has kept his nose to the grindstone and his name out of the papers. Sources tell the Washington Post that this "brain" of the Gore operation will soon become the vice president's point man in the Democratic National Committee.

Rudy faces another challenge

As if Rudy Giuliani didn't have enough problems handling fallout from the latest police shooting, he may soon have another challenger in his race for the Senate. Rep. Rick Lazio is "ready to run," blasting Giuliani for squandering his once mighty lead over Hillary Rodham Clinton. Though Republican leaders previously gave Lazio a clear "no-go" for a primary challenge, the four-term representative is a favorite of New York's influential Conservative Party. That group has no love for the pro-choice, pro-gay-rights Giuliani, and is threatening to give Lazio its endorsement.

Fighting for his wife

President Clinton has broken his vow. No, not that one. This weekend the president reversed his sealed-lips policy and began speaking up for his wife in her Senate race. Though the Associated Press reports he later backed down, the president accused Giuliani of being part of "the right-wing venom machine."

Look homeward, Elian

According to the Associated Press, Hillary Clinton has taken a rare
political risk, backing the decision of the courts in the case of Elian
Gonzalez. That puts her in conflict with Gore, who has abandoned the
Clinton administration position and called for Congress to grant Elian and
his father permanent resident status. William Raspberry and Bob
Herbert penned op-eds favoring repatriation, and GOP Rep. Steve
Largent broke from party
ranks to support a father-son reunion. For a dissenting view, check
Cuban expatriate Carlos
Alberto Montanerin in the Wall Street Journal.

Talking heads

(All EST and all guests tentative)