Quixote Watch

By PAUL GRAY/

ALCEE HASTINGS

The U.S. Senate ousted the former federal judge last year following bribery allegations. He's now running for the Democratic nomination for Florida secretary of state, advocating casino gambling. His opponents: a newspaper columnist and a former Grand Dragon of the K.K.K.

EVAN MECHAM

The former Arizona Governor embarrassed many constituents by rescinding a state holiday for Martin Luther King. Then, in 1988, he was impeached by the legislature for misuse of funds. He's dusted himself off and is a long shot for the Republican nomination for his old job.

JOHN SILBER

The pugnacious president of Boston University was considered a political asterisk last January when he began his candidacy to succeed Governor Michael Dukakis. Despite a string of outrageous statements and an undisguised high opinion of himself, Silber stands a good chance to get the Democratic nod.

DAVID DUKE

The ex-Klansman won a seat in the Louisiana legislature as a Republican and is running for the U.S. Senate; in spite of recent revelations that he once used a pseudonym to co-author a book that included explicit sexual techniques, he hopes to force a runoff with Democrat J. Bennett Johnston.

RON DANIELS

An assistant campaign manager for Jesse Jackson in 1988, he announced last week that he is "seriously exploring" his own independent run for President in 1992. Daniels advocates D.C. statehood, a slowdown in prison construction to boost social spending, and reparations to descendants of slaves.

With reporting by DAVID ELLIS