ON THE TRAIL: Candidates Aim to Differentiate Positions

      An "issue-packed forum" in Torrance on Saturday helped to outline "some substantive differences" in the health care positions of Rep. Steven Kuykendall (R) and former Rep. Jane Harman (D) in their race for the state's 36th Congressional District. Harman "went on the attack early in the forum," criticizing Kuykendall's votes in the House against a measure that would add a prescription drug benefit to Medicare and against the House- passed Norwood-Dingell patients' rights measure. Kuykendall defended his votes, saying Norwood-Dingell would have discouraged employers from offering coverage by holding them "liable for the actions of their health insurance providers." He also said that a "better way to go" on the prescription drug issue would be to encourage private insurers to help cover the cost of drugs (Merl, Los Angeles Times, 9/24). Meanwhile, Rep. Tom Campbell (R) is focusing his campaign to unseat Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D) on campaign finance reform, refusing "to accept contributions from special interest political action committees." Positioning himself as an "unadulterated maverick," Campbell is targeting his campaign to college campuses. "I want to change politics, starting here in California, by appealing directly to young voters," Campbell said (Simon, San Francisco Chronicle, 9/25).