Entry 15:

Dear Jodi,

Since our daily drama is drawing to a close, I'll keep this very brief.

The winner of the 2000 New York Senate race will be (drumroll, please) Congressman Rick Lazio. This Long Island Republican will either beat Giuliani in the GOP primary or his candidacy will prompt Rudy to drop out of the race. Then, as a bland Republican afflicted with none of Rudy's negatives, Lazio will go on to beat Hillary in a predictably ugly general election campaign.

Jodi, I'll stake my dog-eared copy of It Takes a Village on this forecast. What will you put up?

As for misquoting you, let alone "playing dirty," I apologize. I hope that you will attribute any such failings on my part to the heat of typing my responses as fast as I can. But, please, tomorrow, don't assume that my views on Hillary--or anything else--mirror those of radio talk-show hosts.

Ruefully yours