WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (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.
Who's your candidate?
Former U.S. Rep. Dave McIntosh, R-Ind., says he will make another try for the governorship of his home state of Indiana. He lost badly in 2000 to incumbent Gov. Frank O'Bannon, who is term limited and cannot seek re-election. McIntosh may be in for a fight if he wants to be the nominee, as Mitch Daniels, the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, is also reportedly considering the race.
Daniels is a former Hoosier State political operative with close ties to GOP Sen. Richard Lugar and would be a formidable opponent to McIntosh. Daniels has served in senior positions in and out of government including time in the top management tier at pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly.
Democrats are circling the wagons, looking for a candidate on their somewhat weak bench. U.S. Rep. Baron Hill, from the 9th Congressional District, had been expected to make the race but his surprisingly slim victory in the November 2002 election may keep him out. Over the weekend, a trial balloon suggesting Sen. Evan Bayh would run for governor went up and is, as of now, just hanging there. Bayh served two terms as governor and, many analysts believe, chased GOP U.S. Sen. Dan Coats into retirement.
If Bayh goes for governor rather than run for re-election in 2004, then the GOP is likely to win back his seat in the Senate with McIntosh, who might switch races to avoid a primary with Daniels, former Indianapolis Mayor Steve Goldsmith or U.S. Rep. Mike Pence.
Looking for a warmer climate?
The next Bush administration senior official to depart may be Christine Todd Whitman, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. The former two-term New Jersey governor has never been a big favorite with party solons who view her as being out of step with the GOP base on too many issues. According to one source, the administration is trying to figure out a way for her to leave without losing face -- possibly by shifting her to a plum ambassadorial appointment to a European or Caribbean country with a pleasant climate.
Gloves going on in Washington...
It looks as though U.S. Rep. Jennifer Dunn, R-Wash., is at the top of the short list to head the Air Transport Association, a $700,000-per-year job representing airline interests in Washington. Republicans are confident they would retain control of her House seat in the suburbs around Seattle -- while clearing the decks for the 2004 race for U.S. Senate.
Dunn is frequently mentioned as a potential GOP challenger to two-term incumbent Democrat Patty Murray, who is fresh off a stint as head of the party's campaign committee. With her out of the race, the party is free to focus on the as-of-yet unannounced candidacy of U.S. Rep. George Nethercutt of Spokane.
Nethercutt has a reputation as a giant-killer, having beaten Democratic House Speaker Tom Foley in 1994 and survived an onslaught from well-funded term-limit activists when he opted to run for re-election in 2002 rather than quit as he had initially promised.
A bid for support...
People for the American Way, the liberal organization working against Republicans on First Amendment issues, is set to benefit from an online auction of celebrity memorabilia. Offered for sale on e-Bay are such varied treasures as handwritten lyrics for "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham, a signed, limited edition Garry Trudeau Doonesbury poster, and lunch with celebrity biographer Kitty Kelly. The sale will underwrite PFAW efforts throughout the year.
A bipartisan Christmas...
President and Mrs. Bush spent part of Saturday night at a fundraiser at the National Building Museum to benefit the Children's National Medical Center. While there, the first couple was presented with a basket full of books destined for Children's Hospital, given to them by three children dressed as elves, right down to the pointy slippers. Two of the elves are the offspring of soon-to-be-leaving vice-presidential adviser Mary Matalin and her husband, Democratic consultant James Carville. The two, Matty, age 7, and Emma, age 4, reportedly killed time before their big moment drinking grape juice boxes. Performers in the musical portion of the event included Brooks & Dunn, the Brian Setzer Orchestra and Lee Ann Womack.
Personnel notes...
Attorney Aloysius Hogan is on tap to be chief counsel for the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. A graduate of the Notre Dame law school, Hogan has previously served as an associate counsel to the Senate Rules Committee, legislative director for U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-Mich., and general counsel to Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb... The White House has announced that David G. Leitch has been named deputy counsel and deputy assistant to the president. Leitch is former chief counsel at the Federal Aviation Administration and is a former deputy assistant attorney general ... Michelle Davis, currently the assistant Secretary of the Treasury for public affairs, is off to a senior position working on regulatory issues at Fannie Mae. Davis is a former top aide to retiring House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas.
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