Occasional morsels from Campaign 2000

Wild party

As the Democrats and Republicans work to guard their conventions against outside protesters, the fractious Reform Party may beef up security to protect its delegates as well. From each other.

“I’m concerned about security on the convention floor,” national committee member Cedric Scofield said, citing a storm of tough-talking e-mails between supporters of Reform presidential contender Patrick J. Buchanan and party founder Ross Perot.

“I anticipate some emotional, physically aggressive people confronting other people. We need more security.”

A February meeting of the party’s national committee in Nashville was so chaotic that police repeatedly threatened to shut it down.

Scofield said that since the $2.5-million convention apparently cannot be canceled, organizers should forgo showy displays and spend the money on bouncers for the convention floor.

But national chairman Gerry Moan says the real concern is maintaining safe conditions outside the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center.

He said the party has received threatening messages from militant groups opposed to Buchanan that intend to protest the Aug. 10-13 event.

Maine event

They could have sent a nice fruit basket, but instead, Al Gore’s campaign welcomed vacationing rival George W. Bush to Maine with another swipe at Bush’s home state of Texas.

Said Gore press secretary Chris Lehane, who grew up in Maine, in a news release: “It’s great that Bush is vacationing in a state that was recently ranked one of the best states to raise a child. It’s just unfortunate that other Texas families can’t afford to regularly vacation away from Texas--a state that ranks as one of the worst places to raise a family. But with any luck, maybe the governor will see how cleaner air and water, lower dropout rates and safer streets can make a real difference in the lives of families.”

Gore’s impish mouthpiece may have dictated the comments aboard Air Force Two, since, often, Lehane from Maine calls gamely from the plane.

Luthor 2000

Maybe it was inevitable in a year filled with talk about actors and even potted plants running for office: Lex Luthor, Superman’s nemesis, announced his presidential candidacy.

DC Comics, publisher of the Superman series, insists Luthor is different. Cartoon though he may be, “Luthor is a serious candidate,” said writer J.M. DeMatteis. “Donald Trump he’s not.”

The real estate tycoon Luthor has some negatives, including past attempts to assassinate Superman. On the other hand, Luthor, who has been on somewhat of a redemptive kick lately, has the distinction of being the only person to have saved both Gotham City and Metropolis.

Plus, he can afford to bypass federal campaign spending limits by financing his third-party campaign himself.

Luthor officially launched his run last Wednesday with DC Comics issue No. 581, although the company says the campaign won’t pick up steam until late August.

Bush on Bush

Yes, Vice President Al Gore is the presidential candidate who was a journalist in an earlier life. But that didn’t stop Texas Gov. George W. Bush from trying to shape the news last week.

There he was on the campaign plane en route to Ohio and helping a small clutch of reporters grapple with the difficulties of the VP pick, on which former Defense Secretary Dick Cheney is advising Bush.

“Let’s help craft the story,” the Republican suggested. Then, doing his best impersonation of a TV reporter, he intoned:

“Today, future president George W. Bush was very straightforward with the press corps when he announced that he is making progress toward picking a selection.

“He was most revealing when he said that he speaks to Dick Cheney on a regular basis, was somewhat circumspect when he would not reveal what the conversations were about. However, he did say, ‘Suffice it to say, it’s about the vice presidential process.’ ”

By the numbers

24--Number of congressional races where satirical film director Michael Moore is promoting ficus trees as write-in candidates.

$65--Cost to rent a 6-foot ficus at August’s Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles.

Quote file

“During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet.”

--Gore, on CNN, March 9, 1999

“I’m not an expert on computers.”

--Gore, on Fox News Channel, June 14, 2000

Compiled by Massie Ritsch from Times staff and wire reports