LJS: Democrats eye House pickup in Nebraska

Don Walton, Lincoln Journal-Star
February 2, 2010

Democrats believe they can pick up a House seat in Nebraska this year in spite of "a tough political environment" nationally, their congressional campaign leader said Monday.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said he likes the matchup between Democratic challenger Tom White and six-term Republican Rep. Lee Terry in metropolitan Omaha's 2nd District.

White is "a common-sense pragmatist in the middle of the spectrum," Van Hollen said during a telephone interview from Washington.

Terry has "a very hard right voting record," he said.

The Republican congressman needs to be held accountable for his votes against the economic stimulus package and legislation that would "hold Wall Street firms accountable for their own mistakes," Van Hollen said.

"We're seeing every day that the economic recovery bill has had an impact," he said, pointing to a 5.7 percent economic growth rate during the last quarter of 2009.

The 2nd District is "clearly a centrist district, a swing district that voted for President Obama in the last election," Van Hollen said.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which Van Hollen chairs, has named the 2nd District contest as one of the top 17 House "races to watch" this year.

Decisions about resources the DCCC will commit to White's contest will be "made much later," Van Hollen said.

But, he noted, the committee committed more than $800,000 to the 2nd District in 2008, most of it in TV advertising.

Despite Obama's win in the Omaha district, Terry defeated Democratic nominee Jim Esch in 2008.

Van Hollen was in Omaha Friday to participate in a strategy session with White and some of his key supporters.

Democrats need to draw a sharp contrast on economic policy in national elections this year, he said.

"We believe as the economy improves, people will be fair and recognize that the president and the Congress inherited a terrible mess from the Bush policies," Van Hollen said.

"They will not want to turn back the clock to the same Bush economic policies that got us into this mess."

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.