POLITICAL BRIEFING

MECHAM’S TARGET: In both his rhetoric and strategy, former Arizona Gov. Evan Mecham has left little doubt that his independent bid for the Senate will rise or fall on its ability to tear down the Republican incumbent, John McCain. . . . Since Mecham was certified for the ballot in late September, his backers have focused on raising $200,000--enough to finance the mass mailing of a tabloid newspaper to voters. Mecham, who was impeached and removed from office in 1988, said a similar publication was key to his 1986 gubernatorial victory. This edition, he said, will concentrate on attacking McCain’s record and his ties to convicted savings and loan figure Charles H. Keating Jr. . . . Mecham’s plans have fueled the hopes of Democrat Claire Sargent that she can emerge as an upset winner in the three-way race. But the McCain campaign insists it isn’t worried. “People know Ev Mecham,” said spokeswoman Kirstin Walker. “They’ll take the tabloid with a grain of salt.”