Dem challengers do not yet believe in Sen. Obama

Despite Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Ill.) promises, many Democratic congressional candidates in conservative districts remain unconvinced that he can redraw the general election map by competing in red states.

While Obama is popular among some challengers seeking an edge in contested primaries, other non-incumbents have shied away from endorsing him. Most are staying out of the fray, endorsing neither Obama nor Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).

{mosads}Many of those who have picked sides either have personal ties to their candidate or are running in the home states of the presidential hopefuls.

Most of the free agents who have chosen sides face difficult primaries and have picked Obama, suggesting they see his appeal as a boon in Democratic contests but not necessarily in the general election.

The situation is unusual because of how late in the cycle the nominating contest has endured and how early many races have taken shape. This has given more candidates the opportunity to offer endorsements that could affect the senators’ presidential hopes and their own congressional campaigns.

But few have taken the bait.

“It’s not as if my viewpoints ideologically align neatly with any one candidate,” said Ohio state Rep. Steve Driehaus, who is challenging Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio). “I think they all bring value to the table. We’re going to work with whomever the nominee is, but we’re focused on winning this congressional seat.”

Driehaus was unopposed in his primary March 4 — the same day as Clinton’s big win in Ohio — and he is competing for a historically GOP-leaning Cincinnati district that has inched toward the Democrats in recent years. He admitted he has a preference in the race but questioned the importance of his endorsement.

North Carolina Senate candidate Jim Neal took a different tack Tuesday, announcing his support for Obama in his state’s May 6 primary.

Neal faces an uphill battle that day against state Sen. Kay Hagan, the Democratic establishment’s choice to run against Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R).

“Barack Obama has reached across lines of race, gender, age and party affiliation — all the categories that have divided our country for too long,” Neal said.

Most of the seats Democrats are targeting this cycle are, as in the cases of Chabot and Neal, in GOP-leaning districts and states, making the crossover appeal of the top of the ticket particularly important. Without such appeal, Democrats will be relying on ticket-splitting.

But Hagan won’t be choosing sides early.

“I think it’s exciting for everybody in North Carolina that our state is in play in the presidential race,” she said. “Once the nominee is chosen, I will be, first and foremost, hand-in-hand with that nominee.”

Similarly, North Carolina congressional candidate Larry Kissell, who has a clear primary path to face Rep. Robin Hayes (R) for the second straight cycle, is staying neutral. He initially supported the former Tar Heel State Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), but he won’t make a second endorsement.

{mospagebreak}Asked whether Obama could put the state in play for himself and other Democrats, Kissell demurred.

“You know what they say: A week is an eternity in politics,” Kissell said. “I don’t want to speculate beyond my own race in my own district, and I feel really good about where we are.”

Not everybody is so unsure about the meaning of Obama’s candidacy. In fact, some are battling over the Obama mantle.

{mosads}In Nebraska, businessman Tony Raimondo said Obama’s cross-party appeal demonstrates the kind of senator he would be.

Raimondo, a former Republican who switched parties to run for the Senate, faces former congressional candidate Scott Kleeb in the primary. Kleeb has likened his own candidacy to Obama’s but has not endorsed him.

“I’ve been leading on the issue of gridlock and working across the aisle,” Raimondo said. “It’s a main part of my platform; I’m the moderate Democrat. I think most people believe my opponent is much further left.”

One of the first big battles of a hotly contested Oregon Senate primary has seen Democrats Jeff Merkley and Steve Novick fight over their support for Obama, who is expected to carry their state with ease on May 20, the same day their Senate primary is to be held.

Both initially supported Edwards and have since jumped to Obama. The winner will face Sen. Gordon Smith (R).

With Obama coming to the state last week, Merkley’s campaign shopped quotes from columns Novick wrote in 2006 that were critical of Obama, calling him a “captive-of-special interest fraud” and suggesting he would be “a complete sell-out to the military-industrial complex.”

Novick campaign manager Jake Weigler said Novick’s sentiments might have been “overly blunt.” Even when endorsing Obama, Novick noted many of their differences.

“One thing Steve has maintained throughout this campaign is that he’s going to offer a frank and honest assessment … on issues, even if that means disagreeing with people in his own party,” Weigler said.

Among the few House candidates who have endorsed are former Alaska state Rep. Ethan Berkowitz, New Jersey state Sen. John Adler, and Minnesota state Sen. Terri Bonoff, who are all backing Obama.

Bonoff, who is battling from behind in the Democratic contest for Rep. Jim Ramstad’s (R) seat, said Obama’s approach is consistent with her message of “uniting the middle.”

“I’ve always believed it’s better to be forthright and say where you stand,” Bonoff said of her endorsement.
Republicans are dubious about Obama’s actual appeal to GOP voters, pointing to polls that show GOP nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) taking more Democratic votes than vice versa.

They have also played up the recent National Journal article that ranks Obama’s voting record as the most liberal in the Senate.

“The Senate’s ‘most liberal’ member cannot hope to run well among independents and conservatives on a typical Democratic platform of higher taxes and bigger government,” Republican National Committee spokesman Alex Conant said Monday.