Until the Nov. 8 elections, Steve Daley will provide glimpses of developments in the nation’s top races.
Senate
– Virginia: Democratic Sen. Chuck Robb must fight voter disdain as well as controversial Republican nominee, Iran-contra figure Oliver North. There’a an independent, Marshall Coleman, in the mix as well. Too close to call.
– Massachusetts: A last hurrah for Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy, who is trying to protect his 32-year tenure in the Senate from businessman Mitt Romney, the 47-year-old son of former Michigan Gov. George Romney. A coin flip.
– California: Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein has watched a 30-point lead evaporate as GOP Rep. Michael Huffington spends $14 million of his own money. Feinstein is coming back.
– Ohio: Democrat Joel Hyatt, the legal-services entrepreneur, appears to be losing his battle to succeed his father-in-law, Sen. Howard Metzenbaum. A big lead for Republican Lt. Gov Mike DeWine.
– Pennsylvania: Democratic Sen. Harris Wofford struggles with anti-incumbency sentiment and the collapse of health-care reform in a race against conservative GOP Rep. Rick Santorum. Slight edge to Wofford.
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– Maine: Democratic Rep. Tom Andrews is trailing GOP Rep. Olympia Snowe as they pursue the seat vacated by retiring Democratic Sen. George Mitchell.
– Michigan: Another Democratic retirement-Sen. Don Riegle-has put Democratic Rep. Bob Carr against GOP activist Spence Abraham. Close.
– New Jersey: Democrat Frank Lautenberg was in big trouble a few months ago but now seems to be holding off GOP state lawmaker Chuck Haytaian.
– Minnesota: Ann Wynia is that rarest of current breeds-a front-running Democrat against GOP Rep. Rod Grams in the race for the seat held by retiring GOP Sen. Dave Durenburger.
– Tennessee: Democratic Rep. Jim Cooper tries to hold Vice President Al Gore’s old seat, with actor/lawyer Fred D. Thompson chasing him. Thompson may get the Oscar.
– Oklahoma: Two conservative congressmen, Democrat Dave McCurdy and Republican Jim Inhofe, are in a close race for Democratic Sen. David Boren’s job. He’s retiring.
– Montana: Democrat Jack Mudd is pressing incumbent GOP Sen. Conrad Burns.
House
– Washington: In Washington state, the most recent poll shows House Speaker Thomas Foley-third in the line of presidential succession-running far behind Republican George Nethercutt.
Governors
– New York: Democratic Gov. Mario Cuomo is a three-term incumbent threatened with extinction by Republican state Sen. George Pataki.
– California: Republican Gov. Pete Wilson was buried alive by an earthquake and a recession a year ago. Now, he leads Democratic state Treasurer Kathleen Brown, whose father and brother served in Sacramento.
– Texas: Gov. Ann Richards is holding a slight edge over Republican George W. Bush Jr. in a state getting more Republican by the day.
– Iowa: GOP Gov. Terry Branstad seeks a fourth term, but must beat popular Democratic Atty. Gen. Bonnie Campbell to get there.
– Florida: Another Bush offspring, Jeb, is challenging Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles. Advantage Chiles, at least for the moment.
– Minnesota: Republican Gov. Arne Carlson beat the man who cost him a GOP convention endorsement, Christian Coalition favorite Allen Quist. Now, the resourceful Carlson is ahead of Democratic state Sen. John Marty.
– South Carolina: In an open seat, Democratic Lt. Gov. Nick Theodore is locked in a tight race with social conservative David Beasley.
– Colorado: Democratic Gov. Roy Romer looked to have problems, but an ugly divorce and a couple of drunk-driving citations have damaged the chances of former state GOP chief Bruce Benson.
– Arizona: GOP Gov. Fife Symington, his administration marred by scandal, faces the self-proclaimed “chubby grocer,” Democrat Eddie Basha. The grocer leads.
– Maryland: Democrat Parris Glendening is ahead of Republican Ellen Sauerbray, who won her primary in an upset. Gov. William Donald Schaefer can’t run again.
– Pennsylvania: Democratic Lt. Gov. Mark Singel, who doesn’t get along with outgoing Gov. Bob Casey, is just about even with Republican Rep. Tom Ridge.
– Kansas: Gov. Joan Finney, an anti-abortion Democrat, is retiring, and Democratic Rep. Jim Slattery is running against Republican Bill Graves.