October 14, 2002

Tensions between White House press secretary Ari Fleischer and journalists escalate; reporters claim that they cannot remember any administration that was less forthcoming or more grudging in informing press; cite paucity of presidential press conferences and lack of briefings by administration policy experts; White House claims strict adherence to own message and break from tradition of gossip-mongering; table outlines Fleischer's morning; photo (M) invocation of national security constraints since Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; photo; table (M)

Jon Pareles reviews concert by David Bowie at Snug Harbor Music Hall, Staten Island; photo (M)

Third Campaign, First Debate Gov. George E. Pataki of New York, and his Democratic rival, H. Carl McCall, after Mr. Pataki's first-ever debate as a candidate for governor. They were joined on stage by five minor-party candidates. PAGE B1 Donor Praise for Karzai Afghanistan won resounding praise from international donors for its plans to work toward self-sufficiency, positioning it to win their long-term assistance. PAGE A8

Voters take advantage of variety of early voting procedures that have swept across states and counties over last 15 years, and more than 15 percent may cast votes before Election Day; are voting in supermarkets, libraries, county clerks' offices, shopping center parking lots and mailboxes and are part of phenomenon recasting way campaigns are being conducted nationwide; evolution of procedure into Election Month is altering fundamental rhythm of political campaigns, forcing candidates and advisers to rethink every facet of how they run for office; campaigns are starting earlier and costing more, and kinds of attacks and appeals that may typically be saved for end are being raised way ahead of time; new approach, promoted as means of making it easier to vote and reversing long-time trends of less voter participation in American elections, has to surprise of many proponents produced no appreciable increase in turnout in most states that have adopted it (M)

South Carolina's governor's race, too close to call almost from start, is one of several extremely competitive races shadowed by voters' worries about economy; contest is between incumbent Democratic Governor Jim Hodges and Republican opponent Mark Sanford; incumbents or chosen successors are being held responsible for stalled economy and kept on defensive about its consequences, namely, budget deficits, squeezed spending for social services and looming tax increases; governors of both parties in several states are facing kinds of questions about pocketbook issues that candidates in Congressional races have been largely able to avoid; only 16 incumbent governors are seeking re-election in November, out of 36 races nationwide; while Republicans in several states are enjoying double-digit leads, handful of Democratic incumbents are having more difficulty; photo; chart (M)