UPI's Capital Comment for Jan. 28, 2002

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Capital Comment -- News, notes, political rumors, and important events that shape politics and public policy in Washington and the world from United Press International.

Maybe it's warmer there -- Some Texas Republicans are grumbling about the candidacy for U.S. Congress by Phil Sudan in the newly redrawn Fifth Congressional District in Dallas. It seems that Sudan ran for Congress in 2000, spending more than $3.2 million and garnering 39 percent of the vote. They don't care so much that he lost -- it's that the 2000 race was for the 25th Congressional District, which is based in Houston. Apparently, the two cities do not translate very well.

Taking a page from Hillary -- Haley Barbour, who many GOP operatives consider the most successful party chairman of the last decade, is traveling around his native Mississippi on what some are calling a "Hillary Clinton-style" listening tour. Barbour, a native of Yazoo City, is widely rumored to be planning a race for governor of the state.

Paybacks are, well, you know -- Following the unexpected death of former Rep. Walter Capps, D-Calif., in October 1997, a pitched battle occurred inside the GOP over whom the nominees would be in the special election to replace him. Members of the House GOP leadership, fearing a revival of the political career of former Rep. Michael Huffington -- who gave up the seat in a failed run for U.S. Senate -- pushed California GOP Assemblyman Brooks Firestone, a vintner and heir to the tire fortune -- into the race. A liberal Republican, Firestone's anointing was opposed by conservative members of the state's congressional delegation who were instead backing Assemblyman Tom Bordonaro -- the eventual winner of the primary thanks to the strong support of U.S. Rep. John Doolittle, a leader of the conservative faction.

Jump ahead to 2002, where Dr. Bill Kirby is now challenging Doolittle in the GOP primary. Kirby, who is campaigning on the theme that Doolittle is too conservative for the district, is reportedly receiving strong financial backing from a group of California moderates led by none other than Brooks Firestone.

No beef here -- On Tuesday, the House will take up a resolution on the suspension calendar in honor of Rex David "Dave" Thomas, founder of and pitch man for the Wendy's hamburger chain. The House will formally express its condolences through the resolution for the man whose business made "Where's the beef?" a national catch phrase that even worked its way into politics.

Sexy over 70 -- Could the nearly 70-year-old secretary of defense be the leading heartthrob of the Bush administration? Attorney General John Ashcroft addressed the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association in Washington this week. "The good news for the young men in the audience is that today, more than ever, police officers are making young women's pulses race," Ashcroft told the many law enforcement officers present. "The bad news is you're still running a distant second to my colleague, Don Rumsfeld." In case you're counting, Rumsfeld first thrilled women's hearts in Washington during the Eisenhower administration.

Maybe not -- A well-meaning soul, who will not be named here, suggests that the case of missing Washington intern Chandra Levy is not being discussed enough these days. The same soul suggest that interested parties looking to revive the issue, should produce bumper stickers reading "If Chandra Levy could vote, she would vote for Dennis Cardoza."

Cardoza is the California Assemblyman, and former Condit staffer, who is challenging the beleaguered Congressman in the 2002 Democrat congressional primary. So far there have not been any takers and we suspect there won't be.

My dinner with Daschle -- Winning Margins PAC, a new group founded by and for Democratic activists to provide financial support to Senate incumbents and challengers in 2002, is hosting its first event on Feb. 5. For $35, attendees can enjoy food and drink at the Red River Grille restaurant in the company of Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D. and "Special Guest" Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D. who is in a tough battle for re-election against Rep. John Thune, R-S.D.

Personnel note -- Reed Galen, veteran of George W. Bush's 2000 campaign, moves to the White House as the newest member of the presidential advance squad ... Jim Lake, the veteran communications pro who has been a senior vice president at Cohn & Wolfe, has jumped to PR powerhouse Burson-Marsteller as a managing director ... In what is being called "a downsizing," the Republican National Committee has let five of its regional political directors go. Gone are Western rep. Dave Hansen, Midwest RPD Christine Dudley, New England's Charlie Arlinghous, the Southeast's Todd Reid and Michele Davis, who was in charge of the Pacific Northwest.

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