Inside Politics

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CAPTURE THE FLAG

Georgia Democratic leaders fear that a debate over the state flag - which contains the Confederate battle flag - could cost the party seats in the General Assembly, the Atlanta Constitution reports.

"So while Georgia looms as the next battleground over the continuing use of the Confederacy's most enduring symbol, Democrats are delaying any movement toward changing the flag until after November's legislative elections. Initiating action before the elections, Democrats said, would all but ensure Republican gains in the state House and Senate."

JUDGES TARGETED

"It may be a lot to ask: persuading the public to pay attention to races other than Gore vs. Bush or Hillary vs. Rudy. Already this election season is too much with us. But voters ignore other contests, many of which are extraordinarily important, at their peril," writes Abigail Thernstrom, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute.

"In Michigan, for instance, three conservative members of the state's Supreme Court - Clifford Taylor, Robert Young and Stephen Markman - are up for election.

"All three were appointed by Gov. John Engler to finish out the terms of justices who …