Democratic decision

Jason Rosenbaum

Jul. 20, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Primary elections are often about distinctions. Few races in Missouri feature candidates with such unique attributes as the Democratic primary for the U.S. Ninth District congressional seat.

One candidate -- state Rep. Judy Baker, D-Columbia -- has limited experience as a lawmaker, while three candidates -- former House Speaker Steve Gaw, former Sen. Ken Jacob, D-Columbia, and Marion County Presiding Commissioner Lyndon Bode -- have long government portfolios.

A closer look reveals many differences, with each candidate crafting a distinct message to appeal to the district's sensibilities. Baker's campaign is based on her knowledge of health care and her "courage" to challenge a sitting congressman. Gaw showcases an experienced legislative hand with rural sensibilities. Jacob presents a long legislative career and a penchant for fighting Republicans. Bode seeks to give voters an opportunity to vote for a conservative Democrat. He fashions himself like candidates who have prevailed in the district in the past.

The stakes could be higher than ever for Democrats in a district where the incumbent -- U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, R-Columbia -- commonly won election by huge margins. Hulshof is running for the Republican nomination for governor, releasing a flood of political hopefuls to succeed him. The winner of the Democratic primary could receive as much as $1 million from the national party and could ride an anti-Republican wave to a watershed victory in November.

In 2006, Hulshof defeated Democrat Duane Burghard in a landslide, snatching up large margins in the district's 25 counties, which include Columbia, Hannibal, Kirksville and portions of St. Charles County. But two candidates -- Bode and Baker -- planned to challenge Hulshof before he decided to run for governor.

Baker, the wife of a Columbia Baptist minister, worked as a health-care consultant before serving in the General Assembly. She often mentions that her plan to take on a 12-year incumbent congressman is an example of "political courage" in the face of difficult odds.

"I was the one who had the courage to make change and stand up and do that," she said. "Sometimes you have to stand up when it isn't even easy."

Citing her health-care credentials, Baker points out she provided a critical voice against the GOP majority's policies in the legislature. For example, she was deeply critical of cuts in eligibility for a health-care program for the working poor and opposed efforts to transform the program into "Mo HealthNet."

Baker's political situation parallels Hulshof's somewhat because both have limited influence as minority party members in state and national legislative chambers controlled by a majority of the other party. As a minority party member, many of Baker's priorities had trouble getting traction.

At a recent forum involving the four candidates, Baker frequently cited the times she inserted amendments into larger bills. One example boosted a program providing low-income Missourians with help paying utility bills. She said that was an example of successful legislating.

"Pro-life and pro-gun"

As a county commissioner, Bode wasn't a part of a divergent legislative body. But he attempts parlay his experience as the chief administrator of a county to champion a platform of infrastructure improvements. Asked about his most notable legislative accomplishment, Bode pointed to construction of a major road in Marion County.

While Bode's performance has received less attention, he's quick to note many effective politicians have come from the county level. He cites Harry Truman, who started of as a commissioner in Jackson County before being elected as a U.S. senator.

Bode also is banking on being an unabashedly conservative candidate. Unlike the other three candidates, Bode opposes a timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq. He also supports new regulations regarding electronic surveillance, while his opponents criticize them. He woos socially conservative Democrats by stressing his opposition to abortion, gay marriage and flag burning.

Bode invoked the name of the last Democrat to hold the seat -- Harold Volkmer of Hannibal -- in a recent debate.

"I grew up in the Harold Volkmer days, and he's from Hannibal. I worked volunteer-wise on his campaign," Bode said. "And I feel it's just a continuation and giving people an option for a pro-gun, pro-life candidate. And especially with our endorsement" from Missouri Right to Life, "we're very pleased with the way things are going."

Two other candidates seek re-entry into the legislative process after losing prior statewide elections. In 2000, Gaw fell to then-state Rep. Matt Blunt in the race for secretary of state, and Jacob was defeated in the 2004 Democratic primary for lieutenant governor. Both faded from the political scene but stayed firmly involved in state government.

Gaw, a Moberly native who lives on a farm in Callaway County, is a former House speaker. He took over in 1996 for Democrat Bob Griffin, who had ruled over the house for 14 years, a state record.

Because Democrats controlled the legislature then, Gaw handled major pieces of legislation, including the elimination of the sales tax on food and creation of the state's sex offender registry.

In 2001, after Gaw left the House, then-Gov. Bob Holden appointed him to the Missouri Public Service Commission, the state agency that regulates utility rates. Gaw opposed a proposed rate increase by AmerenUE that was eventually approved. As a commissioner, he dealt with the collapse of the Taum Sauk reservoir.

In his campaign speeches, Gaw focuses on his efforts to "build bridges" with the rural, suburban and urban parts of the district. His advertisements feature him riding on a horse, a reference to his family's history of raising the animals.

Gaw might be taking a political page from the playbooks of state Sen. Wes Shoemyer, D-Clarence, and U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill. During her 2006 campaign, McCaskill often played up her rural roots in an attempt to hold down margins in Republican areas. Shoemyer, a farmer from Clarence, often chastised his Republican opponent for not being an authentic fit for the northeast Missouri district.

For Gaw, the ads symbolize who he is and why he wants to be a congressman. "I came up with those values that I got in this district," he said. "I still live on a farm; I like that life. I hunt a lot during the year. ... It's a part of me. And I think it's an honest representation of me."

Jacob's entry into the race seemed surprising. His political career appeared at an end after he lost a 2004 primary race for the office of lieutenant governor to former Secretary of State Bekki Cook. Since leaving the legislature, Jacob briefly served on the Labor and Industrial Relations Board, worked as the executive director of the labor organization AFSCME and most recently is serving as general counsel for state Auditor Susan Montee.

A staple in Boone County's state legislative delegation for more than two decades, Jacob possesses more experience in the legislature than any other candidate running for the seat. Those years brought about legislative successes -- such as the passage of a program to provide Missouri students with college scholarships -- and controversies -- such as when he filed legislation to curtail the shutoff of a customer's water after it was revealed that a company had shut off service to his residence.

Jacob likes to highlight his final years in the Missouri Senate, when he served as the Democratic minority leader. Jacob became something of a one-man wrecking crew, doing everything in his power to kill legislation sponsored by the Republican majority. Successful at blocking bills, Jacob also put off the more socially conservative members of his own party.

Yet this campaign has been a chance to Jacob to present himself as a self-described liberal fighting the good fight. He has criticized Gaw and Baker for not being more assertive in their stances on abortion. And he has openly criticized the Democratic majority in Congress for presenting what he deems to be "weak leadership."

"For 60 years, we Democrats have been talking about health care, education, taking care of the elderly. We have not fully delivered on those promises," Jacob said. "We have an opportunity in 2009 with a Democratic president and a Democratic Congress. We must make sure that we take advantage of this opportunity. It is going to take strong leaders to make sure that these things happen."

Everything counts

Unlike the four major Republican contenders for the seat, the Democrats have apparent policy differences.

Bode has staked out conservative policy positions on such issues as the war and abortion, while the three other candidates take opposite views. Jacob and Bode support a temporary reprieve in the federal gas tax, while Baker and Gaw disagree with that. Gaw and Bode have been more receptive to drilling offshore, while Jacob and Baker strongly oppose it.

There have been some contentious moments. After Baker mentioned her sponsorship of the amendment to help poor people with their utility bills, both Gaw and Jacob criticized her vote on the entire bill that included her amendment. Also included in the legislation was a provision that allowed a power plant that was built without local authority approval to stay open in Cass County. Both Gaw and Jacob said that measure was an example of a massive utility company running roughshod over the state legislature. Baker -- who noted she voted for amendments to strip out the power plant provision -- said she stands by her vote.

Jacob also criticized a plan Baker proposed earlier this year in Hannibal that would allow individuals in the Veterans Administration health- care system to use their benefits at non-VA facilities. Baker touted the plan as a way to provide more health-care capacity in the face of a possible increase in the number of former soldiers returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. She also said it would give rural veterans better access.

Both Gaw and Bode have said they are open to examining such an option, but Jacob has said the plan could hurt the financial viability of the VA system. He also noted many veterans' organizations oppose such a plan.

The competitiveness could be an indication of the high-stakes nature of the contest. The online publication Politico reported that Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee might pour as much as $1 million to fund advertisements that would help the nominee. That's a substantial change from the past, when Democrats running for the seat were largely left out of the funding loop.

"Our initial media buy is the first act of a many-act play," said Brian Wolff, DCCC executive director. "As we have been all cycle, the DCCC is focused, prepared and organized. Watch what we do over the next four months and our aggressive strategy to expand the playing field and strengthen the Democratic majority will become clear."

Newstex ID: KRTB-0037-26790068