In honor of Labor Day, I'll cut the Welcome section short, and won't do my usual plug for letters and advertisers. (But you know what to do if you're interested!)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Labor Day is a holiday intended to provide a day of ease for the working person, but that doesn't apply to politicians: In California, Labor Day is the traditional startup for the general election campaigns, and politicians spent their day frantically scurrying across the state in a dash for votes.

Labor Day once was the Democrats' traditional kickoff, but in recent years, Republicans have gotten into the act, too. The result is that candidates from governor and U.S. Senate on down use the day to grab as much media exposure as possible in as many events as possible.

The top contenders in both major parties campaigned statewide together in a show of political unity.

But as the final eight weeks of the 1998 campaigns get under way, one of the most important figures in the races is someone whose name doesn't even appear on California's November ballot -- President Bill Clinton.

The president faces increasing disaffection in his own party and an erosion of support in Congress over his affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

Clinton's problems are two-fold: He is being criticized for his personal moral judgment in engaging in an extramarital affair with a former employee less than half his age, and he faces potential legal problems -- including obstruction of judgment -- stemming from the relationship.

The big question for Democrats around the country is what affect the president's problems will have on their own political futures. And nowhere does that question seem to be more critical than in California.

Incumbent Sen. Barbara Boxer, a longtime ally of the president whose daughter married Hillary Rodham Clinton's brother, is particularly vulnerable on the issue.

Her Republican rival, Matt Fong, has criticized her for not aggressively pursuing action against the president, as she did in sexual misconduct cases involving former Oregon Sen. Bob Packwood. Boxer also played a public role attacking U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas during his confirmation hearing, when Anita Hill accused him of harassment.

Republican gubernatorial contender Dan Lungren also seeks to link Democratic rival Gray Davis to Clinton, noting that Davis has been supportive of Clinton in the past in connection with the Lewinsky matter.

Thus far, Clinton's public approval ratings remain solid, but as the scandal continues to unfold that is all but certain to change.

Moreover, Independent Counsel Ken Starr is expected to present a 300-page report on his investigation of Clinton to Congress this month, and the document is likely to have a damaging political effect on Democrats allied closely with Clinton.

Coming just weeks before the November election, the report could prove to be a political bombshell.

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