WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Capital Comment -- Daily news notes, political rumors and important events that shape politics and public policy in Washington and the world from United Press International.
Sins of the father -- When Rep. Cynthia McKinney, D-Ga., was defeated for renomination in her party primary last month her father, Georgia state Rep. Billy McKinney, blamed the "J-E-W-S" for her loss. His widely quoted analysis -- the latest in a long line of intemperate and anti-Jewish slurs -- was likely the final nail in his political coffin. Billy McKinney lost his bid for renomination to political newcomer John Noel in Tuesday's runoff election.
Both McKinneys were renowned for their inflammatory rhetoric, especially when the subject was Israel, the Middle East or Jews. A multi-racial, cross-ideological coalition of voters and supporters came together to oust Cynthia McKinney in the August primary -- throwing their support behind former state judge Denise Majette -- after she virtually accused the Bush administration of having advance knowledge of the Sept. 11 terror attack and failing to do anything to stop it in order to enrich certain political supporters.
Travel log -- An American delegation led by Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W. Va., and former Sen. James Abourezk. D-S.D., is scheduled to arrive in Baghdad on Sept. 13 for a fact-finding mission. The trip, described by participants as a "humanitarian mission," occurs just as President George W. Bush is ratcheting up the talk of war with Iraq and is preparing to seek formal authorization from Congress to launch a military strike. The delegation also includes: James Jennings, president of Conscience International, an Atlanta-based humanitarian aid and human rights organization; and Norman Solomon, executive director of the Institute for Public Accuracy, a nationwide consortium of public policy researchers.
Turnout is fair play -- The California gubernatorial race between incumbent Democrat Gov. Gray Davis and Republican challenger Bill Simon is still very much in play. A recent statewide Field poll showed Simon trailing Davis by 7 points with both candidates polling at less than 40 percent. This means that voters are still trying to make up their minds and will likely break late -- making a last minute scandal or October surprise potentially devastating -- but also increasing the importance that solidly committed voters will play in each campaign.
Therein lies some good news for Simon, according to a new poll conducted for his campaign by the Republican firm Public Opinion Strategies. The survey shows Simon has pulled ahead of Davis "among voters most likely to vote" in the upcoming Nov. 5 election. Turnout is expected to hit almost historic lows on Election Day, giving the hardcore supporters of each candidate a disproportionate degree of influence on the outcome of the race.
Among "most likely voters," Simon leads Davis 41 percent to 36 percent. The survey of 800 voters was conducted after the Field Poll and has a margin of error of +/-3.5 percent. The survey also found that 56 percent of respondents say they want the state to have a new governor, while only 39 percent want Davis re-elected.
Cocktail party tidbit -- When Sen. Bob Smith, R-N.H., lost his bid for renomination Tuesday, he became the first sitting U.S. Senator since Sheila Framm, R-Kan., to be denied renomination by his or her party. But Framm was an appointed senator, having been named to the seat from which former GOP Senate Leader Bob Dole resigned. The last elected senator to lose a bid for renomination was Illinois' Alan Dixon, defeated in the Democrat's 1992 primary by Carol Mosley-Braun. The last Republican senator to lose a bid for renomination was New York's Jacob Javits in 1980. He lost to Al D'Amato but remained in the race owing to his nomination by the Liberal Party. Javits' refusal to go quietly helped split the liberal vote and was a major factor in D'Amato's win as part of the 1980 Reagan landslide.
Signs, signs, everywhere a sign... -- A new construction standard for traffic control signs, signals and barricades is expected to reduce fatalities and injuries at roadway worksites, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has announced. "Every year more than 100 workers are killed and 20,000 more are injured at roadway construction sites," OSHA Administrator John Henshaw said. "These workers deserve the benefits of this new rule; improved traffic controls, more effective protective clothing, and the necessary information and guidance that will provide better protection from safety hazards on the job." The revised standard requires "retro-reflective and illuminated devices at intermediate and long-term stationary temporary traffic control zones; warning devices for mobile operations at speeds above 20 mph; advance warning signs for certain closed paved shoulders; a transition area containing a merging taper when one lane is closed on a multi-lane road; temporary traffic control devices with traffic barriers that are immediately adjacent to an open lane; and temporary traffic barriers separating opposing traffic on a two-way roadway." The revised "signs, signals, and barricades standard" is scheduled for publication in the Sept. 12, 2002, Federal Register and the final rule becomes effective Dec. 11, 2002.
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