Jackie Calmes and Greg Hitt look at a dozen faces to watch in Can the Class of 2006 Save the Democrats? Pro-business, conservative and military candidates may be key to victory; look for tension with the left.
If the polls turn out to be correct and the Democrats rack up big congressional gains Tuesday, they will have to thank a crop of candidates who don't look like a lot of the Democrats already in Washington. . .
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The Clean-Up Crew
Democrats need a net gain of 15 seats to take over the House. In at least 20 contests, Democratic challengers are either running against Republican incumbents in ethics or legal scrapes, or against Republicans tarnished by others' scandals.
These new Democrats could form the nucleus of a reform movement similar to Republicans' own when they captured Congress in the "Republican Revolution" in 1994.
The newcomers could provide the critical mass for those old-guard Democrats who are waiting with proposed reforms. With Mrs. Pelosi's support, a so-called Gang of Four -- Reps. David Price of North Carolina, Tom Allen of Maine, Barney Frank of Massachusetts and David Obey of Wisconsin -- have a 20-point plan. It includes calls for more open debate in Congress, restrictions on lobbyists, and limits on spending earmarks for special projects. Earmarks have figured in several scandals of late.
Similarly, should Democrats win a majority, they'll confront pressure to limit their chairmen's terms, as Republicans did. That's something the old guard would vehemently oppose, having waited a dozen years to regain power.
How compromising the newcomers will be remains to be seen. Tim Walz, a high school teacher challenging Republican Rep. Gil Gutknecht in Minnesota, backs a ban on privately funded congressional trips, which won't sit well with some long-serving lawmakers. He also proposes a strengthened House ethics committee. He and other would-be members of the Class of 2006 will have allies among activists who have lent their support online: the "crashing-the-gate" crowd, as he calls them. "They're expecting us to be a voice...to speak up for real reform," Walz says.
ALBERT LEA TRIBUNE: DFL BUS TOUR DRAWS FULL HOUSE
Closer to home, the Albert Lea Tribune reports on the DFL candidate North Star Tour in Klobuchar tour stops in A.L.:
Saturday, November 4, 2006 3:47 PM CST
This election is about putting the people of Minnesota first, said U.S. Senate candidate Amy Klobuchar Friday during a campaign stop in Albert Lea.
“These are real people in the real world, and they live in Minnesota,” Klobuchar said.
She stopped at the Union Center to a full house of supporters totaling more than 100 Friday morning with Democrats U.S. Congress candidate Tim Walz, Minnesota State Sen. Dan Sparks, Secretary of State candidate Mark Ritchie and Minnesota House candidate Robin Brown.
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Walz commended Klobuchar in his introduction and told attendees she embodies everything that is good about Minnesota.
He also commended each of the other candidates in attendance.
“We have got the strongest ticket I’ve ever seen here,” Walz said. “We’re going to make history.”
After their speeches, each of the candidates socialized with the people in attendance, posed for photos and signed autographs.
During a short interview afterward with the Tribune, Klobuchar said the biggest issues she had come across during her time campaigning are the rural economy, affordable health care and a change in the course of the war of Iraq.
“People know I’m running my own campaign, and we’ve been very focused on change in Washington,” she said.
After her speech, resident Dean Means said he thinks Klobuchar’s best attribute to offer to Minnesota is her bright ideas.
“I’m just glad they came and that they’re able to give us a message of hope,” he said.
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