"No more 4-2-4" is exactly right. Only hours after the polls closed on Tuesday, 2nd Congressional District challenger Dave Magnum's jeering one-liner directed at U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin became a reality. Just not the one he wanted.
Throughout the race, this numeric slogan played as the soundtrack for the Magnum campaign. It referenced a ranking by the data assembly website Congress.org, which ordered members of Congress in descending influence. The site was unimpressed by Baldwin on a range of factors including her positions, indirect influence and legislative activity. Based on these criteria, Congress.org placed Baldwin 424th out of 435.
Baldwin disputed the survey, reminding voters they could find all kinds of crazy things on the Internet. However, if 2nd District voters were looking for crazy things on Election Day, they did not need their computers. They just needed a walk to a nearby polling place.
Here on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, voter turnout was amazing. The tradition of miserable mid-term attendance was visibly broken by lines that snaked out of the door and down the block at polling places. Many students joined a wave of Democratic voters who flooded polls nationwide. The result is that more than two dozen new Democrats will fill House seats in January and bring a power shift of typhoon-like proportions.
The subsequent tide will raise all boats as returning Democrats take their place in the majority party, something they have not experienced in more than a decade. Come January, they'll have greater control over the agenda and command more media attention. Their expectations are high, but voters' are even higher. This is especially true for Baldwin, who has had eight years in Congress to establish herself, make connections and become familiar with Congressional resources.
Many of Baldwin's supporters defended her against the "424" attacks by citing the challenges associated with minority status. But with a Democratic majority in the House, Baldwin should be vaulted to a position of significantly more clout.
Unlike many of her new class of 2006 colleagues, Baldwin can exploit this status and influence during the first 100 days — or as she said following her victory, during the first 100 hours back in Washington. Over the summer, Baldwin announced that support for important measures, like the Health Care Bill, should be more available than ever. In the bill, Baldwin calls for "creative federalism" where states can test out different types of reform, determining the strengths and weaknesses of alternative options to the status quo. If Democrats or Republicans are serious about getting work done in 2007, addressing the nation's health care crisis certainly qualifies. Baldwin's leadership should make it happen.
She has worked on the health care issue throughout her career, calling it the one that drew her to public life. Decades later, Baldwin should be capable of mobilizing not only members of Congress, but non-profits, veterans and unions — those who backed her during this election cycle. There is also great potential to line up support from big business by offering to alleviate enormous health care costs that have strained, and in some cases broken, their budgets.
A big health care breakthrough would be just what the doctor ordered here in the 2nd District. It is our No. 1 industry, which is not surprising given the presence of our very own UW Hospital. The fledgling bill made a nice campaign addition. Now it should become the make or break centerpiece of Baldwin's career.
During the campaign, I had the opportunity to interview Students for Magnum Chair Mike Hahn, whose loyalty to Magnum and perspective on the democratic process were equally impressive. Hahn admitted that the 2nd District was a tough one for any Republican, noting that it is hard to find a more liberal county in the country. Yet, Hahn worried that Democrats' strength in the district, and on campus in particular, blinded students to reality in Washington. His message was worth repeating — no one is entitled to your vote. The candidate must earn it.
Through a smart campaign and making promises to address important issues in the 2nd District, Baldwin earned herself a fifth term. Now, with the political environment set in her favor, she'll have to prove she deserved support by providing leadership, instigating reform and remaining an active advocate for Wisconsin.
Sarah Howard ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in political science and journalism.
