T. PAUL - Governor Jesse Ventura and at least one of his top advisers are considering leaving the national Reform Party, which has been rocked by infighting, party officials said yesterday. ''If things continue on the path that they are, I don't think it's a matter of if, it's a matter of when,'' said a Ventura adviser, Dean Barkley, who has chafed at what he considers a top-down management style by party founder Ross Perot. Barkley said he would leave the party if national chairman Jack Gargan, who was installed with Ventura's backing, is removed at a national dissidents' meeting Saturday in Nashville. Ventura has scheduled a news conference for tomorrow to discuss a political matter, but would not elaborate. (AP)
Broken-down buses litter road to GOP nomination
UNION, S.C. - John McCain calls his campaign bus the ''Straight Talk Express.'' George W. Bush calls his ''The Victory Express.'' Yesterday, there was one phrase to describe them both: out of commission. McCain's bus was brought to a halt after the trailer hitch caught on uneven pavement. The Arizona senator got off and walked to a campaign event. The bus was towed out and put back in commission a few minutes later. Bush's rented bus, heading to the city of Union, stalled when it wouldn't move out of fifth gear. That prompted Bush to move to the only reliable form of transportation around: the press bus. (AP)
Mac vs. PC: Gore makes his preference known
TAMPA - It was a question right down the alley of techno-candidate Al Gore. At a town hall forum, 19-year-old computer whiz Michael Phillips asked the vice presdient: Which do you prefer, the PC platform or MacIntosh? ''That's kind of a high-tech, boxers-or-briefs question, there,'' chuckled Gore, who has courted both Apple and Microsoft devotees. Gore said he used Apple until ''finally the delay in the availability of the new high-tech applications software got to be so long that I finally switched over.'' (AP)
D'Amato predicts wins for McCain in S.C., Mich.
WASHINGTON - Former New York senator Alfonse D'Amato said yesterday that John McCain is gaining the kind of momentum that could topple the candidate D'Amato has endorsed, Governor George W. Bush of Texas. ''I think he's going to win South Carolina and he's going to carry Michigan,'' D'Amato said of McCain. ''And then when it gets to Super Tuesday, Katie bar the door.'' (AP)
Forbes makes it official; Gore goes on 'Tonight'
Steve Forbes holds a news conference in Washington to officially announce his decision to drop out of the race.
George W. Bush and John McCain campaign in South Carolina.
Bill Bradley discusses gun violence in Los Angeles.
Al Gore talks about education in Los Angeles and tapes a ''Tonight Show'' appearance before attending a Beverly Hills fund-raiser.
