• He's Back
• No Snub For Jackson
• Flying Home
• The Nominator
• Off The Hook

He's Back

MEDFORD, Ore. (AllPolitics, Aug. 21) -- Republicans may have have figured out a way to save themselves from the disgrace of Rep. Wes Cooley (R-Ore.). Republican Bob Smith, who came out of retirement to run for his old seat in Congress, has clinched the GOP nomination by rounding up 55 delegates going to a convention set for Saturday in Bend. Smith, who retired in 1995, will be the ballot replacement for Cooley, who quit amid probes into whether he had lied about his marriage and military record. Smith's November opponents will be Democrat Mike Dugan and Reform Party candidate Ron Robertson.

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No Snub For Jackson

CHICAGO (AllPolitics, Aug. 21) -- It's official: There will be cries of "Jes-se, Jes-se, Jes-se" from the floor of the United Center next week. The Rev. Jesse Jackson says he will speak to the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday night, noting that President Bill Clinton spoke with him about an appearance two weeks ago. The announcement ended speculation that Jackson -- sometimes a left-leaning thorn in Clinton's side -- might have been overlooked in the president's election-year rush to the center of the political spectrum.

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Flying Home

DENVER (AllPolitics, Aug. 21) -- The Rocky Mountain News reported today that Transportation Secretary Federico Pena will leave the Clinton Administration, even if his boss is re-elected. The News said Pena, who came under fire after the Valujet crash, has told friends he intends to return home to Denver so he can spend more time with his family.

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The Nominator

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Aug. 21) -- Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd gets the privilege of putting President Bill Clinton's name into the nomination in Chicago next week. Dodd said Clinton asked him last week and the senator called it "a high honor." It's not his first nominating speech; Dodd also did the honors in 1984 for former Sen. Gary Hart, who was later edged out of the party's nomination by former Vice President Walter Mondale.

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Off The Hook

WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Aug. 21) -- Ex-presidential candidate Pat Robertson isn't in trouble any more with the Federal Election Commission. FEC officials say they still believe Robertson accepted more than $1.7 million in illegal campaign contributions when he ran for president in 1988. Nevertheless, the agency has ended an eight-year probe, deciding too much time has elapsed to levy a fine. Robertson's lawyer accused the campaign finance watchdog agency of "smearing" his client because it couldn't win its case in court.

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