American Notes CALIFORNIA

, Until last week it seemed nothing short of a miracle would enable a Democrat to win a state senate seat from San Diego's heavily Republican 39th District. But that was before Roman Catholic Bishop Leo Maher ordered that Democratic candidate Lucy Killea, 67, be refused Communion because of her pro-choice views on abortion. Though Maher declared that his action was "more pastoral than political," it quickly became the most important issue in the campaign. Riled by the bishop's intervention, voters gave Killea a 51%-to-49% upset victory over state legislator Carol Bentley in a special election.

Declared Kate Michelman, executive director of the National Abortion Rights Action League: "The bishop shot himself in the foot."