Washington Outlook: Capital Wrapup

THINKING AHEAD

The Democratic National Committee, which likes to brag about its fund-raising success this year, must have money to burn: In early September, the DNC launched an ad blitz on Phoenix television stations to boost the reelection prospects of Senator Dennis DeConcini and to praise the three-term veteran for his "courage" in voting for President Clinton's budget plan. But on Sept. 16, DeConcini announced his retirement. That wasn't the only embarrassment. The Arizona spots also praised DeConcini for "leading the fight to cut pork projects" such as the Superconducting Super Collider. Unfortunately, the Clinton Administration strongly supports the SSC, which it considers essential science, not pork.