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Ron Paul, Kucinich, Wynn, Gilchrest…
By Alex Thurston
http://www.theseminal.com/ As Americans become more engaged in politics, they're waking up to two facts about congressional primaries: first, in heavily "red" or "blue" districts, the primary is the real race, much more so than the general. Second, primary battles have party- and nation-wide significance. The Christian Science Monitor has a well-written summary of an ongoing trend this election cycle: the polarization of congressional races. On both sides, the magazine notes, "congressional incumbents are on shaky ground." Left-wing netroots activists and labor unions like SEIU are targeting conservative Democrats like Maryland's recently-defeated Al Wynn. Right-wing groups like the Club for Growth are targeting moderate Republicans like Wynn's colleague Wayne Gilchrest, who they defeated on February 12th with a "real Republican," Andy Harris. Not only "moderates" face challenges, but also candidates like Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich, figures often considered eccentric by the mainstream of their respective parties but also kept at arm's length by hardcore party activists as well. Paul and Kucinich will probably win their primaries, but the strength of challengers is surprising in and of itself. CSM notes that the phenomenon of primary challenges is exploding: "We've already seen as many incumbents knocked off in primary elections so far this year as were defeated in all of 2006," says David Wasserman, who analyzes House races for the Cook Political Report. "It's a 'change' election, so primary challengers have more leeway to establish viability through fundraising and through messaging." In recent history, members of Congress have rarely faced credible primary opponents. Since 1980, the number of US House members defeated in a primary election can be counted on one hand, except when an incumbent faces an incumbent, as often happens after a decennial census and redistricting. But the number of incumbents with viable primary challengers is rising: In the first 12 months of the 2008 election cycle, 21 House members – nine Democrats and 12 Republicans – face challengers who have raised at least $50,000. That's double the levels of the 2002 and 2004 election cycles, according to the Campaign Finance Institute (CFI) in Washington. "Many of these are not just individual challenges to individual incumbents, they are challenges supported by organizations that are engaged in battles for the soul of their respective parties," says Michael Malbin, CFI executive director. "While the absolute numbers are small, the percentage increase is significant because it's part of a larger story." While I have tremendous sympathy for the plight of a progressive Democrat targeted by corporate interests and Bush Dogs, I do not have a huge amount of sympathy for Kucinich himself. Presenting a series of good policy papers and having a decent voting record in Congress are extremely important, but they are not the only necessary factors for being an effective progressive. It is also necessary to be smart politically, and to have an actual strategy to achieve your legislative and electoral goals. Politics is not just about sending a message, or making a statement. There will never be a progressive governing majority in this country unless we pursue effective political strategies and execute them with the proper level of organizing work. Frankly, I don't think that Kucinich is doing this, and it is really annoying that he has made himself so vulnerable to right-wing challenges because he wanted to grandstand at a few debates. "We have a great deal of admiration for him as a man, but he just doesn't vote with his party," said Mr. Peden, in a phone interview. "It's time for Republicans to be Republicans again." Here's hoping they'll get it, and if that means that some incumbents get taken down in the process, it's pretty much their own damn fault, either for voting against their parties or for taking their eye off the ball.
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Tags: Alex Thurston Ron Paul Kucinich Wynn Gilchrest Congressional Primaries
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