The American Spectator

, here it is: retired University of North Carolina coaching great Dean Smith says he likes Democratic candidate Erskine Bowles . /p>

Smith, one of the most liberal men college basketball history (assuming anyone cares), and the only man beyond Father Time who could contain Michael Jordan’s offensive game, is throwing a high profile fundraiser for Bill Clinton’s former chief of staff later in August.

While there is little doubt that Smith is a card-carrying Democrat, it is doubtful he’d be involved in the fundraiser if there weren’t some payback involved. Seems Bowles and his rich pappy raised a lot of money for the UNC Tarheels’ new basketball arena that everyone from the start knew would be dubbed the Smith Center. (The hoops haven quickly became better known as the “Dean Dome.”)

It all may be for naught. Recent polls show Dole with a commanding lead over Bowles. In one of them her favorability ratings are at 72 percent, his at 45. But Bowles has raised plenty of money and should have more than $4 million available by August’s end.

p> McCAINIANA br> Sen. John McCain recently was much in the news when even more eagerly than Democrats he imposed a hold on Bush judicial and other nominations. In fact, ask any Redskin fan and he’ll likely tell you that McCain does more holding than a typical NFL offensive lineman or defensive back. It’s surprising, then, that during the recent contretemps that saw McCain punish the White House for opposing his selection of a well-connected Democrat