81.   Constitutional issues aside, Republicans fear they will be hurt politically if soft money is banned and there are no similar curbs on the activities of labor unions.

82.   Congress has banned government money for stem cell research that destroys embryos.

83.   Daschle also said he was concerned that allowing larger donations for candidates PACs and other groups while banning soft money would give Republicans a prohibitive advantage in fund raising.

84.   GOP leaders have urged Republican lawmakers to defeat the campaign finance bill that would ban soft money.

85.   He said he would offer his original bill, which limits but does not ban soft money, as an amendment.

86.   Instead of capping expenditures, opponents said the bill should ban special interest money from organizations such as political action committees, lobbyists and unions.

87.   Latest version would only ban soft money.

88.   McCain plugged reform after leaving the presidential race, reproaching his fellow Republican, Texas Gov. George W. Bush, for refusing to ban soft money from the race.

89.   Meanwhile, an alternative proposal, sponsored by Rep. John Doolittle, R-Calif., would not ban soft money but would eliminate federal funding of presidential campaigns.

90.   That bill would ban soft money from federal campaigns, large donations that political parties and some politicians seek from corporations, labor and individuals.