2008 Woodie Awards
Candidates stick to partisan rhetoric in U.S. House races
Aaron Hall
Issue date: 10/31/06 Section: Campus News
At the threshold of yet another election, the politicians and pundits are trying to seduce us to this side or the other with talk of how this election is "pivotal." This time they might be right, "for all sorts of reasons," according to UNCG political science professor David Holian.
"You look at Bush's low approval numbers, the unpopularity of the war in Iraq, and a number of scandals, and you see that these have worked themselves into the political dialogue. Usually Congressional races are local affairs, but every once in a while we have one that for various reasons becomes nationalized. The most comparable election would be 1994."
In November that year, voters turned on an unpopular Bill Clinton, then in his second year as President, delivering over 52 House seats to the Republicans. The Senate changed hands as well, giving them control of the legislative branch for the first time in 50 years, a control they have since kept.
Polls this time around seem to indicate an opposite scenario. Adding to the above-mentioned problems facing the party in power, the President's party tends to loose seats in a midterm election. All of this points to a GOP on the defensive, with a real opening for Democrats to regain control of Congress.
What would it matter if the Congress switched hands? Quite a bit, considering that for the last six years President Bush has had a House and Senate overwhelmingly supporting his agenda. Whether one supports his policies or not, there can be no argument that having the legislative branch in the hands of the opposition party would change the current political dynamic. Bush has set a record by only vetoing one bill his entire presidency, and that was only a few months ago. Whether he spends the last two years of his administration locking horns with the Democrats or doing a lot more compromising, President Bush's final two years could wind up much different.
Here's where the local races fit in. Guilford County has three representatives in Washington, D.C. The 6th district is currently held by Republican Howard Coble. Mostly a Bush supporter, Coble has made a 22-year career out of serving his district. He is socially conservative on gay marriage and abortion and supports the President's Iraq policy, though at times with reservations. His Democratic challenger is Rory Blake. Blake formerly owned a chain of drugstores and proposes a living wage, a "reasonable" solution to the immigration debate, and a plan for Iraq that honors "our obligations to our troops, the Iraqi people, and to the American people."
The 12th district is represented by Democrat Mel Watt, currently the only African-American in North Carolina's Congressional delegation. His main concerns this year, according to his website, are affordable healthcare and guaranteeing higher education for all. His opponent, Republican Dr. Ada Fisher, also focuses on health care issues, such as preventive care, but differs with Watt by calling for a flat tax.
Perhaps the most interesting race this year has been in the 13th district between Republican Vernon Robinson and Democrat Brad Miller. Miller has represented the district since its inception in 2002. While Miller calls for reviewing unfair trade policies and demands Bush lay out a plan for Iraq, the real show has been the Robinson campaign. Robinson's ads have created a furor over what many have called racist depictions of immigrants and inflammatory language against his opponent. While there has been a backlash against these adds, Robinsons campaign is banking on local voters appreciating the candor of his strong stance against illegal immigration and defense of traditional values.
These candidates all have websites where much more information can be gathered. From the war to healthcare, to immigration and the values debates, the choice you make on Nov. 7 matters.
As for what is in store for America on Election Day, Holian thinks it is highly likely Democrats will take the House, but because of redistricting they will not steal as many seats as the Republicans did in 1994.
"My outside figure would be they pick up 30 seats. They'll probably gain between 20 and 30 seats."
The Senate though, according to Holian, will be a tougher battle. At most he thinks they will only tie, however, "It is becoming more likely everyday that they could get the Senate."
For more information about early and absentee voting, your polling place or candidate listings, visit the N.C. Board of Elections website at www.sboe.state.nc.us.
"You look at Bush's low approval numbers, the unpopularity of the war in Iraq, and a number of scandals, and you see that these have worked themselves into the political dialogue. Usually Congressional races are local affairs, but every once in a while we have one that for various reasons becomes nationalized. The most comparable election would be 1994."
In November that year, voters turned on an unpopular Bill Clinton, then in his second year as President, delivering over 52 House seats to the Republicans. The Senate changed hands as well, giving them control of the legislative branch for the first time in 50 years, a control they have since kept.
Polls this time around seem to indicate an opposite scenario. Adding to the above-mentioned problems facing the party in power, the President's party tends to loose seats in a midterm election. All of this points to a GOP on the defensive, with a real opening for Democrats to regain control of Congress.
What would it matter if the Congress switched hands? Quite a bit, considering that for the last six years President Bush has had a House and Senate overwhelmingly supporting his agenda. Whether one supports his policies or not, there can be no argument that having the legislative branch in the hands of the opposition party would change the current political dynamic. Bush has set a record by only vetoing one bill his entire presidency, and that was only a few months ago. Whether he spends the last two years of his administration locking horns with the Democrats or doing a lot more compromising, President Bush's final two years could wind up much different.
Here's where the local races fit in. Guilford County has three representatives in Washington, D.C. The 6th district is currently held by Republican Howard Coble. Mostly a Bush supporter, Coble has made a 22-year career out of serving his district. He is socially conservative on gay marriage and abortion and supports the President's Iraq policy, though at times with reservations. His Democratic challenger is Rory Blake. Blake formerly owned a chain of drugstores and proposes a living wage, a "reasonable" solution to the immigration debate, and a plan for Iraq that honors "our obligations to our troops, the Iraqi people, and to the American people."
The 12th district is represented by Democrat Mel Watt, currently the only African-American in North Carolina's Congressional delegation. His main concerns this year, according to his website, are affordable healthcare and guaranteeing higher education for all. His opponent, Republican Dr. Ada Fisher, also focuses on health care issues, such as preventive care, but differs with Watt by calling for a flat tax.
Perhaps the most interesting race this year has been in the 13th district between Republican Vernon Robinson and Democrat Brad Miller. Miller has represented the district since its inception in 2002. While Miller calls for reviewing unfair trade policies and demands Bush lay out a plan for Iraq, the real show has been the Robinson campaign. Robinson's ads have created a furor over what many have called racist depictions of immigrants and inflammatory language against his opponent. While there has been a backlash against these adds, Robinsons campaign is banking on local voters appreciating the candor of his strong stance against illegal immigration and defense of traditional values.
These candidates all have websites where much more information can be gathered. From the war to healthcare, to immigration and the values debates, the choice you make on Nov. 7 matters.
As for what is in store for America on Election Day, Holian thinks it is highly likely Democrats will take the House, but because of redistricting they will not steal as many seats as the Republicans did in 1994.
"My outside figure would be they pick up 30 seats. They'll probably gain between 20 and 30 seats."
The Senate though, according to Holian, will be a tougher battle. At most he thinks they will only tie, however, "It is becoming more likely everyday that they could get the Senate."
For more information about early and absentee voting, your polling place or candidate listings, visit the N.C. Board of Elections website at www.sboe.state.nc.us.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
wfdude
Josh Wynne
posted 10/31/06 @ 11:21 PM EST
Hey, one quick correction. Mel Watt is not the only African American in the NC Congressional Delegation. The NC 1st Congressional district in northeastern NC is represented by G. (Continued…)
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