Friday, Oct. 31, 2008

Three incumbents for Congress

EVERY ELECTION YEAR, one category on the ballot actually seems to invite the futility that causes many to be apathetic: the congressional races.

Districts are so carefully gerrymandered to favor this party or that one that the partisan behavior we see on Capitol Hill is foreordained. Elect a candidate from a super-Democratic district, you get a super-Democrat; draw a district to be hyper-Republican, and that’s the kind of representative you get.

The 2nd District at least occasionally produces some drama. In past years we’ve seen Democratic challengers take leads in early returns from Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, Allendale, Barnwell, Orangeburg, Aiken and Calhoun counties. But as USC political scientist Blease Graham told the Columbia Rotary Club last week, if a Democrat doesn’t have a 26,000-vote lead going into Lexington County, he can forget about it.

Newcomer Rob Miller seems poised to give incumbent Joe Wilson a real contest this year. The Democrat is an ex-Marine, an Iraq combat veteran and a member of a prominent South Carolina family (his uncle used to be managing editor of this newspaper). He seemed uncertain about issues in the primary campaign, but still managed to beat a former Air Force general with an impressive resume. He has gained confidence in the intervening months with an aggressive, populist, anti-establishment message. Combine that with the Obama Effect, and you have a candidate with a chance.

But we endorse Republican Wilson, who demonstrates a greater command of the issues, and is much more attuned to the wishes of voters in the district’s gravitational center, Lexington County. Yes, he’s a hyper-Republican, and we’d like to see a less partisan candidate with competitive credentials. But Rep. Wilson is a hard-working, earnest representative who is truly devoted to serving his district and his country, and voters will be better served to re-elect him.

In the 6th District, we see both strong similarities and a stark difference. The similarity is that the incumbent, Jim Clyburn, is just as partisan as Mr. Wilson, and much more successful at it — he’s the third-ranking Democrat in the U.S. House, the majority whip. It’s his job to line up votes for Speaker Nancy Pelosi; he takes the job seriously and does it well.

Where this district, which runs from Richland County through the Pee Dee and down the I-95 corridor, differs from the 2nd is in the fact that Mr. Clyburn is strongly supported in every part of it. He is closely attuned to his district’s wants and needs, and passionately devoted to serving its people. Consequently, he faces weak opposition in Republican Nancy Harrelson, who is running on a populist platform in some ways similar to Mr. Miller’s.

We endorse Mr. Clyburn, a highly experienced and savvy public servant who is clearly better qualified.

In another race that involves a portion of the Midlands, 5th District Congressman John Spratt once again wins our endorsement, hands down. His challenger in the district — which runs from suburban Charlotte through the northern Pee Dee, taking in Fairfield and Kershaw counties on its Southern rim — ran against him unsuccessfully in 2004. Republican Albert Spencer supports term limits and takes the extreme position of having opposed Congress’ rescue of credit markets. Democrat Spratt, a leading expert on fiscal issues, is better equipped to serve the district and the nation, now more than ever.

For all of The State’s endorsements in this election, go to thestate.com/endorsements.