CAMPAIGN DATELINE / PAUL FELDMAN : There’ll Be No Victuals for the Voters This Time

In recent state elections, candidates and businesses have increasingly sought to entice more voters to the polls by offering to redeem their balloting stubs for food treats.

Next week, however, there’ll be no free lunch.

That’s because when federal offices are up for grabs, any sort of election giveaway--such as an offer of free doughnuts or fish and chips--is strictly forbidden. Although such gifts are generally extended as good citizenship gestures, the feds are reluctant to sanction any practice that could be interpreted as paying for a vote.

“Nothing precludes it under state law,” said a spokeswoman for the secretary of state’s office. “But we have seen quite a few people offering this, completely unaware they are violating federal law. It’s a problem.”

Who’ll Win in the Senate?

The use of astrology in politics took on a new luster when it was revealed that former First Lady Nancy Reagan relied on the stars to make important decisions concerning the presidency of her husband, Ronald. Here is a look at what the stars hold for the four California Senate candidates on Election Day, Nov. 3:

Barbara Boxer, Democrat, Scorpio: Attention revolves around real estate, sale or purchase of property, frank discussion with family member who wants to “jump ship.” Answers found through meditation, ability to be quiet within.

Bruce Herschensohn, Republican, Virgo: Read and write, disseminate information, format previously rejected will be enthusiastically accepted. Scenario features change, travel, variety, exciting “flirtation.” Another Virgo plays role.

Dianne Feinstein, Democrat, Cancer: Diversify, keep options open, add to apparel. Check accounting procedures. Someone could be playing fast and loose with your money. Ounce of prevention worth more than “costly cure.” Investigate!

John Seymour, Republican, Sagittarius: Focus on ideas, concepts that require “seasoning.” Means time is on your side. Emphasis on organization, responsibility, strong love relationship, improved financial status. Persist!

Source: Astrologer Sydney Omarr

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Seeing stars: U.S. Senate candidate Bruce Herschensohn is sure to win the vote of at least one well-known astrologer--Joyce Jillson. A close friend of the Republican candidate, Jillson says she has regularly done his charts since they met more than a decade ago when both had radio shows on KABC in Los Angeles.

“He pays attention to what I say,” she said. “If you ask him, what he would say is, ‘I don’t know if I believe in astrology, but I believe in Joyce.’ ”

On this count, her forecast was almost precisely correct.

“I do not believe in astrology,” Herschensohn told The Times. “But I believe in her.”

“I don’t even know (the astrological signs). That’s her business,” the conservative Republican continued. “I have respect for her business and she has respect for mine.”

ELECTION SHORTS

Let Eureka be Eureka: Some things just don’t change in countercultural Humboldt County. The June primary for a Eureka Municipal Court judgeship featured a seven-candidate field, including the county’s district attorney, a former Eureka city attorney and two members of the county public defender’s office. So who won entry into next week’s election runoff? The two public defenders: W. Bruce Watson and James Steinberg.

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Editorially yours: In California’s editorial endorsement derby, Bill Clinton boasts a big lead. At last check, the Arkansas Democrat had earned the nods of the San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Examiner, Oakland Tribune, Santa Cruz Sentinel and Sacramento, Modesto and Fresno Bees. George Bush was favored by the San Diego Union-Tribune and the Sacramento Union. The Orange County Register, without endorsing a candidate, suggested two months ago that Bush should withdraw from the race.

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Who would Jesus vote for? That’s another question, posed on the cover of a striking brochure issued by a conservative Christian religious group from Pasadena. The answer, perhaps not surprisingly, is not Clinton, Bush or Ross Perot. Rather, it is a write-in candidate: the Kingdom of God. “ None of the candidates talks about leading this nation according to God’s Law!” declares the Church of God pamphlet. One sticky legal point overlooked in the brochure is that even if the Son of God were to return in the next week, he couldn’t vote. The last day to register for the fall election was Oct. 5.

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Hearing is believing: For those who would rather listen to the 13 state ballot measures than read them, a taped version of the 96-page official ballot pamphlet is available at public libraries and county election offices. The three-tape package, useful for blind voters but also for people on the go, runs more than two hours. “If you commute 20 minutes,” suggests Melissa Warren of the secretary of state’s office, “you can listen to two measures at a time.”

EXIT LINE

“When asked who he plans to vote for, Clinton Bush is noncommittal.”

From a Bakersfield Californian feature on the political predilections of Kern County residents whose last names are either Bush or Clinton. Clinton Bush, a Tehachapi resident, is a former cement truck driver who complains that condoms rather than Bibles are distributed in public schools.

Campaign Dateline appears every Monday.