EDWARDS COMEBACK
Sen. John Edwards, whose presidential campaign was largely given up for dead a few weeks ago, will be revived in the opinion of Democratic insiders if he finishes no worse than third in the Iowa caucuses Jan. 19.
With former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and Rep. Richard Gephardt in a close battle for first in Iowa, Edwards is trying to move past Sen. John Kerry into third place. That conceivably could position him to be runner-up to Dean in New Hampshire. Edwards then could become the candidate of establishment Democrats fighting to block Dean's nomination.
Edwards began to blossom as a presidential candidate after he announced on Sept. 7 that he will not seek a second Senate term in North Carolina next year.
LOBBYISTS FAIL
President Bush's decision to pull back from steel tariffs was made in the face of a massive campaign by the Stand Up for Steel Coalition to retain them. The organization hired Republican super-lobbyists Charlie Black, Wayne Berman and Texas-based Tommy Loeffler.
The steel industry's successful effort to impose the tariffs in March 2002 was led by the current chairman of the Republican National Committee, Ed Gillespie. His lobbying firm, Quinn and Gillespie, is still used by Stand Up for Steel.
A footnote: Barbara Comstock, who until recently was Attorney General John Ashcroft's spokeswoman, has registered as a lobbyist for Northpoint Technology. The firm, which has five listed employees, is seeking access to the communications spectrum without a public auction.