Some Latinos thought state Rep. Rafael Anchía, D-Dallas, was waffling on the issue of illegal immigration, parsing his words too carefully.

But that's changing. At Sunday's immigration rally at Dallas City Hall, before he took the stage, the guayabera-wearing Mr. Anchía quickly criticized key language that some see as a top issue for compromise.

It's the "touchback" provision, and proponents use it to blunt criticism that a legalization plan amounts to amnesty. It provides that the illegal immigrant must return to his or her home country, then apply for legal re-entry into the United States.

It was first highlighted as a provision of a bill last year by two Republicans – Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson of Texas and Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana. And it is a feature in the bipartisan bill introduced this year by Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., and Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.

Mention "touchback" and Mr. Anchía shoots back, "Report-to-deport will not work." Why? "It disrupts the continuity of a lot of businesses, and I know the Texas Association of Businesses is against such a provision."

Dianne Solis

Some local folks opposed to the Farmers Branch proposal to ban apartments from renting to illegal immigrants are worked up over a Web site labeling them as supporting illegal immigration.

The Illegal Alien Hall of Shame, at www.illegalhallof shame.com, takes aim at 20 activists the Web site says "support a pro-illegal agenda."

While among them are four people who have fought similar ordinances in other states, 16 of the 20 are local folks who have spoken out against the Farmers Branch ordinance. They include three Farmers Branch City Council candidates, the attorneys who filed two of four lawsuits against the city, and others who have spoken out against the ordinance, which will go to voters on May 12

"No one in this campaign has ever said they are for illegal immigration," said Travis Carter of the Bickel & Brewer Storefront, attorneys who are fighting the ordinance. Mr. Carter is also head of the Let the Voters Decide political action committee.

"Our point is simply that Ordinance 2903 is not the solution to any problem," he said. "It's a sign of desperation that people are trying to make that case against us [saying] that we're for illegal immigration. We simply are not."

Stephanie Sandoval

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards' impressive fundraising total of $14 million for the first three months of this year set a record – until New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton broke it with $26 million.

Even so, supporters say the presidential contender is positioned nicely to compete in the critical early contests in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.

Dallas' Fred Baron is Mr. Edwards' national finance director.

"We are way ahead of our schedule on what we need to raise to meet the budget of what we are planning to spend," he said from his office in Chapel Hill, N.C. "We have exceeded our expectations."

Mr. Baron thinks it will take $35 million to $40 million for a candidate to compete in the first four primary elections.

Gromer Jeffers Jr.

About 20,000 people crammed along Austin's Town Lake to watch Illinois Sen. Barack Obama at a public rally.

Mr. Obama, a presidential contender, is scheduled to be in Dallas on April 30, but residents won't be invited to check him out.

Instead, Mr. Obama will address about 400 campaign donors at a luncheon at the Adam's Mark Hotel.

Dallas volunteers say their man of the people will return to Dallas for a public event.

Gromer Jeffers Jr.

Little-known Jennifer Gale's application to be placed on the ballot for Dallas mayor wasn't the neatest petition given to City Secretary Deborah Watkins.

But it had the 473 signatures necessary for ballot access.

If Ms. Gale, a woman with no telephone and questionable residence could get the necessary names, how hard could it be?

Ask magazine editor Zac Crain. He was booted off the ballot despite raising money and garnering significant publicity for his campaign.

Gromer Jeffers Jr.