"THROW THE BUMS OUT? PADRES MAY HIT THE ROAD FOR THE GOP

     The Republican Party, realizing that the San Diego
Convention Center could be a "tight fit" for its national
convention, is considering an idea to move the final night of the
convention into Jack Murphy Stadium.  Such a move would force the
Padres to take a "lengthy mid-summer road trip," just as the
Astros did in '92 when the GOP convention took place at the
Astrodome.  Even if the '96 GOP convention uses the stadium for
just one night, the Padres would be forced to play out of town
weeks before and after the event  (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE,
6/18).   The Padres, having only briefly "touched on" the subject
of their temporary ouster, "mostly surprised" by the GOP's
request.  If the team is to vacate, Hank Wesch writes, "more
contact with the powers that be is needed -- and soon" (S.D.
UNION-TRIBUNE, 6/19).