American Notes CONGRESS

Republican strategists were breathing a little easier last week after state legislator Craig Thomas won a special election in Wyoming, called to fill the congressional seat vacated by Dick Cheney when he became Secretary of Defense. In two prior contests to fill House vacancies that had cropped up since George Bush won the White House, the G.O.P. had come up embarrassingly empty-handed.

Since Wyoming had not elected a Democrat to Congress since 1976, a Thomas defeat would have been especially painful for the G.O.P. The high symbolic stakes made for a vituperative campaign. Thomas' supporters spread a false rumor that his Democratic opponent, State Senator John Vinich, had filed a falsified report about an automobile accident. Vinich may have blown the race with exaggerated ads accusing the Republican of being soft on crime.

Having finally won one, Republican leaders insist that the momentum from Thomas' victory will help them regain control of the House in 1990. But the % Democrats' 260-to-175 advantage among incumbents seeking re-election, more than 90% of whom can count on winning, seems to make that a hollow claim.