EW YORK - Arizona Senator John McCain scored big points yesterday in his fight to get on every ballot in the March 7 New York Republican presidential primary. He is currently on the ballot in 17 of the state's 31 congressional districts - a shortfall he attributes to rigging of election rules by New York's Republican bosses, who support George W. Bush. At a court hearing yesterday, US District Judge Edward Korman agreed with McCain, who filed a lawsuit challenging the party rules' constitutionality. Korman, who will issue a ruling next week, accused Republican leaders of running a ''meaningless primary'' designed ''to prevent anyone but the chosen person from competing.'' He outlined a new formula for how many people must sign a petition to qualify a candidate for the ballot. McCain's lawyers calculated that, if this formula were enacted, the senator would make it on the ballot in all but one district. (Globe Staff)
Bradley reports $20m in his campaign account
WASHINGTON - Former senator Bill Bradley yesterday reported that his campaign bank account is up to about $20 million. Bradley finished 1999 with more than $8.3 million in the bank and expects an additional $11.4 million in federal matching funds. Final numbers are due Monday. (AP)
Bush's `smug attitude' is assailed in editorial
MANCHESTER, N.H. - Republican front-runner George W. Bush was dubbed ''Gov. Smirk'' and derided for ''his smug attitude'' by New Hampshire's biggest newspaper yesterday. The blistering front-page editorial in the Manchester Union-Leader, which has endorsed Steve Forbes for the GOP presidential nomination, was headed ''Bush insults NH.'' The newspaper said it had become clear why Bush's ''handlers'' had kept his appearances in New Hampshire ''to a minimum. They were rightly concerned that his smug attitude and smart remarks would not do him any good,'' the editorial said. ''Some people say that Gov. Smirk comes across that way on TV because he's really just nervous.'' But the newspaper said, ''It is obvious that this is not nerves, it is nervy.'' (Reuters)
''I make a lot of mistakes because I try to be as candid as possible, and that sometimes leads to things that I say that I wish I hadn't said or had said differently.''
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN
On his comments Wednesday about abortion.
