WASHINGTON (AllPolitics, Sept. 9) -- A retired dairy farmer who said he would only spend $16 on his campaign for the Republican Senate nomination in Vermont defeated a millionaire corporate consultant in Tuesday's primary.

The matchup was the highlight of primary voting in four states, including New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Arizona.

Fred Tuttle, 79, became a local celebrity after starring as himself in his neighbor's low-budget regional movie "Man With A Plan." He will face incumbent Sen. Patrick Leahy (D) in November.

Tuttle won 55 percent of the primary vote over his challenger, millionaire Jack McMullen who received 45 percent.

McMullen, 56, has been criticized as an outsider, having recently moved to Vermont from Massachusetts. He ran a big-budget campaign, using $227,000 of his own money.

In the movie, Tuttle appeared as a down-on-his-luck retired dairy farmer who runs for Congress for the money, beating the incumbent. In real life, the film's director asked Tuttle to run for Senate to promote the movie and protest against McMullen.

Leahy, who ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination for a fifth term, said he wouldn't want to face Tuttle in November. Tuttle had previously suggested that he would not campaign against Leahy if he won, but said after his primary victory that he would stay in the race.

"After everybody's voted for me, how am I going to get out?" Tuttle

New Hampshire, Wisconsin and Arizona primaries

Other incumbent senators ran unopposed in their states' primaries, including Wisconsin's Democratic Sen. Russell Feingold, who is seeking a second term, and Republican Sen. John McCain in Arizona, who is running a third term in Arizona.

Republican Rep. Mark Neumann won his party's nomination to face Feingold in November.

McCain will face Democratic environmental lawyer Ed Ranger.

New Hampshire Republican Sen. Judd Gregg did face a primary opponent, but easily defeated state Rep. Phil Weber. Gregg will face Democrat George Condodemetraky this fall in his bid for a second term.

In gubernatorial races, Arizona's incumbent Gov. Jane Hull easily beat her GOP challengers, Jim Howl, a former TV weatherman who was fired after being accused of sexual harassment, and Charles Brown, a political neophyte.

The primary was the first time Hull faced voters since replacing former Gov. Fife Symington, who resigned in 1997 after his conviction for bank fraud.

In November Hull will face Paul Johnson, a former mayor of Phoenix who was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Wisconsin's Republican governor Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin, running for a state-record fourth term, won his party's nod to face Democrat attorney Ed Garvey, a former leader of the pro football players union.

Both Democratic Govs. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Howard Dean of Vermont ran unopposed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Thursday September 10, 1998

• Supreme Court to weigh 2000 census dispute
• House to vote Friday on Internet release of Starr report
• Gingrich calls for decorum in Clinton debate
• The Starr investigation: At a glance
• White House: Clinton's conduct does not warrant impeachment
• Clinton's evolving apology for the Lewinsky affair
• Judge dismisses five counts against fund-raiser Maria Hsia
• Former Alabama Gov. Wallace in critical condition
• Retired dairy farmer wins Vermont Senate nomination over millionaire challenger

Documents
• Kendall's letter to Starr requesting advance copy of report
• Text of Starr's letter to Kendall

Transcripts
• Hyde, Conyers statements to the House Rules Committee
• Solomon's opening statement to House Rules Committee
• Daschle comments following meeting with Clinton
• Gingrich's House floor statement on decorum during Clinton debate
• CNN interview with Gingrich on Starr report
• Remarks from Hyde, Solomon on release of Starr report

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