LJS: Sen. Durbin has 'high hopes' and a 'positive feeling' about White

Zach Pluhacek, Lincoln Journal-Star
May 16, 2010

La Vista - Voters need a reminder, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin said Saturday night.

A reminder about the past and what’s changed in this country since the last election, he said, shortly before addressing hundreds of Nebraska Democrats at the party’s annual Morrison Exon Dinner

“They’ve forgotten what we’ve gone through,” he said

Durbin, who represents Illinois, last came to Nebraska to stump for then-Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in his campaign for president.

Since then, Durbin said, the economy has taken an upswing and the war in Iraq is close to ending. But people aren’t quite satisfied yet

If there was excitement back in 2008, there is “roiling emotion” now, Durbin said, particularly about the economy, despite the progress his party has made with Obama as president and with a majority in Congress.

“I think people are still looking for change,” he said.

State Sen. Tom White — who looks to have the best chance of any Democrat in the state of unseating an incumbent Republican this year — hopes that’s true.

A victory against 2nd District Republican Rep. Lee Terry certainly would help the Democrats, who face the possibility of losing eats in Congress this midterm election.

Only twice in history has the president’s party gained seats in an off-year, Durbin said. But, interviewing alongside Sen. Ben Nelson, Durbin said he had high hopes for White.

“There’s a positive feeling about his campaign,” he said.

White identifies himself as a fiscal conservative. He said Saturday that he’s hoping to siphon some voters who have traditionally supported Terry—members of the Tea Party movement and others who supported Terry’s opponent, Matt Sakalosky, in the primary for the Omaha-area 2nd District.

“Unlike Congressman Terry, I won’t be a lock-step party vote,” White said Saturday.

Still, as evidenced by Durbin’s visit, Democrats in Washington have taken a supportive interest in White’s campaign in a district that supported Obama in the presidential election.

“We’re no longer a political backwater,” White said.