Ballot Box: Backtracking; Brown close-up

On April 7, Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander spoke to a group of reporters, and The Washington Post quoted him as saying that education would not be a major campaign issue because President Bush and the probable Democratic nominee, Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas, generally agree on the subject.

"How can you have an issue if there is little difference?'' Mr. Alexander reportedly asked.

Two days later, The New York Times reported that White House officials were...