Re Election

Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith Jr. formally launched his campaign for re-election yesterday, saying he wants to continue reshaping a county that was at a "crossroads" when he took office four years ago. Addressing supporters gathered in the summer heat in front of the county's old courthouse building in Towson, the 64-year-old Democrat said his work to improve schools and reduce crime make him worthy of a second term. And he promoted his program to advance the "renaissance" of older communities near the Baltimore Beltway through redevelopment.

More than 100 supporters of expelled state Sen. Larry Young gathered for a fund-raiser at a downtown Baltimore restaurant last night, but he decided to delay any announcement on running for re-election for at least several weeks.Young, a West Baltimore Democrat, said that he sold more than 200 tickets to the $50-a-head event and hoped to raise more than $15,000. But the crowd seemed to peak at about 100 people -- small compared to Young fund-raisers in the past.Several lobbyists decided to keep their distance rather than appear to publicly endorse Young, who was expelled in January for using his public office to benefit corporations he created.

WASHINGTON - Flush from military success in Iraq and riding high in public opinion polls, President Bush is mobilizing an unrivaled political machine intent on raising record amounts of cash and using every perk of the Oval Office to assure his re-election next year. Bush will begin raising money for his campaign Tuesday with a $2,000-a-person event in Washington. Other fund-raisers are scheduled this month in Georgia, New York, California and Florida. The Bush campaign's goal is to collect $200 million during the next 18 months - twice the record amount Bush raised for the 2000 race.

George has decided to run for re-election against Japan. He will win.Cheer up. Imelda Marcos is running for president.Well, if we made it to '92, we should be able to go all the way.

City Council member Mark Snyder filed Friday to run for re-election.In the May 13 election, Snyder, 36, will try for a second term onthe council. Two other incumbents who are up for re-election -- Samuel Greenholtz and Kenneth Hornberger -- have not yet indicated they plan to run again.Three other citizens -- Dennis Frazier, Rebecca Orenstein and former Councilman Kenneth Yowans -- previously have filed to run in the election.

The State of the Union is frigid, slippery and to be taken with huge gobs of salt. What happened over the weekend was a foretaste. One day the Potomac will rise up and drown Washington. Yasser Arafat is no longer an unelected terrorist rogue. He is a duly elected, legitimized rogue. Don't count Yeltsin out. He is running for re-election against the Yeltsin reforms.

Comptroller Peter Franchot, a Democrat who often posits himself as an independent voice, filed Friday for re-election to a second term as Maryland's chief tax collector. Franchot eschewed a news conference or rally and instead announced his re-election filing at the state elections board with a low-key e-mail message and YouTube video message to supporters. The comptroller, whose job also entails regulating the alcohol, tobacco and motor fuel industries, said he has been a fiscal watchdog who has cracked down on delinquent taxpayers.

WASHINGTON - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will seek a second term in 2006, her aides said yesterday, but a White House run two years after that isn't something New York's junior senator is "even thinking about." Howard Wolfson, a Clinton spokesman, said the senator is gearing up for re-election to the Senate by raising money and assembling her campaign team. "I think that her poll numbers are strong and she'll raise the money she needs to be in very good shape heading into her re-election bid," Wolfson said.

MEXICO CITY -- Officials close to President Carlos Salinas de Gortari are trying to find a way to kill Mexico's most sacred political cow -- the constitutional provision that limits presidents to a single six-year term.dTC The officials are working on a change in the constitution that would allow the 43-year-old president to run for re-election and serve as long as 14 years.Their view is that a single six-year term is not enough time for Mr. Salinas to complete his ambitious goals, especially the rejuvenation of an economy that seeks salvation in a free-trade agreement with the United States and Canada.

Anne Arundel County Republicans took back the County Council after four years of Democratic rule, cruising into office amid a groundswell of support for Gov.-elect Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. Democrats went into the election with a 5-1 majority, but by late last night the tables had turned and Republicans had control, 4-3. Few of the winners were willing to read much into how the change would affect the council. But it could hamper Democratic County Executive Janet S. Owens' ability to push through her agenda if she wins re-election.