TNT won't pull reruns starring Thompson

NEW YORK — While Fred Thompson's "Law & Order" character disappears from NBC starting today because of concerns over federal equal-time provisions, cable viewers will have plenty of opportunities to see his District Attorney Arthur Branch.

TNT will air 23 episodes of the drama next week alone, apparently unworried about limiting Branch's airplay even as the Tennessee Republican plans to announce his presidential candidacy.

"TNT has no plans to alter its schedule," spokeswoman Shirley Powell said, a stance that could provoke a fight in the courts or before the Federal Communications Commission.

Equal-time rules require the same airtime to opponents when a candidate appears on TV. The exceptions — news shows, talk shows, interviews, documentaries — essentially mean the rules apply to entertainment programming.

Thompson's expected post-Labor Day entrance into the race triggered NBC's decision to stop airing "Law & Order" reruns featuring him starting today. The equal-time rules were written when cable was in its infancy, and it never hasbeen clear whether they apply only to broadcast stations.

3 Dems say they'll boycott early states

WASHINGTON — Democrats Gov. Bill Richardson, of New Mexico; Sen. Chris Dodd, of Connecticut; and Sen. Joseph Biden, of Delaware, on Friday became the first presidential candidates to promise not to campaign in states that hold early nominating contests in violation of party rules.

The three quickly signed onto a pledge circulated by Democratic leaders of the four states that have the party's blessing to hold early contests — Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina. The pledge says the candidates will avoid competing in any other states that vote before Feb. 5.

Aides to Sens. Barack Obama, of Illinois, and Hillary Rodham Clinton, of New York, said they were reviewing the pledge.

Party rules for this cycle had Iowa's caucuses on Jan. 14, with tests in Nevada on Jan. 19, New Hampshire on Jan. 22 and South Carolina on Jan. 29.

Florida has scheduled its primary for Jan. 29; and Michigan's governor is poised to sign legislation that would move that state's contest to Jan. 15.

Edwards' wife warns of "hatred" of Clinton

WASHINGTON — Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, said "hatred" of his rival Hillary Rodham Clinton would motivate Republicans to vote against her in the general election.

"I want to be perfectly clear: I do not think the hatred against Hillary Clinton is justified," Elizabeth Edwards told Time magazine. "I don't know where it comes from. I don't begin to understand it. But you can't pretend it doesn't exist, and it will energize the Republican base. Their nominee won't energize them, Bush won't, but Hillary as the nominee will."

Clinton spokesman Phil Singer said polls show Clinton will be a strong opponent against the Republicans seeking the presidency.

Hispanic forum postponed for GOP

First, the CNN-YouTube debate. Now, the Hispanic forum. Citing "scheduling conflicts" among the Republican presidential candidates, Univision, the country's leading Spanish-language channel, said the first Hispanic forum featuring GOP hopefuls has been postponed.

The event originally was scheduled for Sept. 16, one week after the Democrats take the stage in a similar forum at the University of Miami. Univision said the network is working with the Republicans to find a later date.

So far only Sen. John McCain, of Arizona, has signed up.

Seattle Times news services