Tough Sledding for Incumbents in Congress

(CBS)  With so much anger in the country, a lot of Congressional incumbents are in trouble this election year, For the Democrats, those worries are big enough now that President Obama took to the campaign trail today to try to help protect some seats, as CBS News White House correspondent Chip Reid reports.

President Obama was in full campaign mode today as he tried to light a fire under the struggling campaign of Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet.

Bennet is behind in the polls in an election year that's looking more and more perilous for incumbents

With voters angry over everything from 10 percent unemployment to Wall Street bailouts, the mood in the country is increasingly: throw the bums out

"The voting public is in the mood to punish," said CBS News political contributor John Dickerson. "Eighty-one percent say they don't like the incumbent and that hurts the Democrats since they are in power in both the House and the Senate and the White House"

Even some long-term Democrats are in trouble. Tomorrow the president campaigns in Nevada for Senate majority leader Harry Reid, who's trailing his potential Republican challengers in the polls

Other Senate incumbents facing tough challenges include Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas.

In the House, about 50 Democratic seats are competitive. Some Republicans predict, or at least hope, this year could rival 1994 when Republicans picked up 54 seats and took control of the House.

"2010 will be a phenomenal year for the conservative cause and I think Barack Obama is a one-term president," Dick Cheney recently told a gathering of conservatives.

But Republican incumbents have a big problem of their own this year. Across the country, tea party activists are challenging sitting Republicans, claiming they're not conservative enough.

Even 2008 Republican presidential candidate John McCain faces a primary against tea partier and former Republican Rep. J.D. Hayworth.

"I do have some serious and profound disagreements with John about the choices he's made as our senator," Hayworth said.

With the president's approval rating now below 50 percent, it's not clear how much it helps for him to be out campaigning. In recent months he's campaigned for three Democrats - and all three lost.

[Safari1957]

If one person votes against the incumbent, its only one vote. A person on the ballot against an incumbent takes away many votes from the incumbent. In Maryland, the filing fee is $50.00 for the House of Representatives, $100.00 for the Senate. If hundreds or even thousands of ordinary citizens filed to be on the ballot to run for congress, then they would effectively take away many votes from incumbents.
If you could get 2500 citizens to run against an incumbent Senator, or congressperson, the incumbent would be one of 2500 names on the ballot, and the chances of getting 50 % majority of the votes to win would be greatly reduced. A sum of $100,000.00 would pay 2000 filing fees for the House, or 1000 candidates for US Senate. A million dollars would pay for 20,000 candidates for the House of Representatives, or 10,000 candidates for a Senate seat.
Imagine what an incumbent Senator would do with 9,999 other names on the ballot? The point is that the method is legal and would be the most effective way of eliminating all incumbents.

[peregrine3]

tough sledding....more like a train wreck. Throw the baby out with the bathwater, Democrat and Republican.

[mld678]

All I can say to J.D. Hayworth is when a corporation can draw breath like a person, then it deserves First Amendment freedom of speech protection. JD is an oaf.

[tibu987]

Yes, vote OUT of office all incumbents of both parties. They are the ones who got us into this mess.
Those arrogant, self-aggrandizing, corrupt, pork-loving parasites, must leave if anything is going to change.

Yes, their partisan actions (both parties) have done a great disservice to the very people they were sworn to represent.

Vote them OUT when possible and vote for term limits.

[bciss]

Washington and the media would be greatly remiss to consider this some sort of endorsement for republicans. While yes they will get some benefit as they are the only,, supposed,, alternative. People are in general more and more wising up to the ways of Washington. The republicans are just a loathed as they were before the last election. Their crimes and lazy selfish ways did not go unnoticed and have not been forgotten.

The dems have simply proven what many had begun to suspect. They are two sides of the same coin. They are all bought and controlled by corporate money. Which is abundantly clear as both parties continue unabated in their attack on everyday people to benefit a tiny elite.

Perhaps they should remove their collective heads from their collective rear ends (both branches of the same corporate party, rep/dem) and actually do the work of the people,for the people. Or they can continue on the path they have and get the new BMW and vacation house with tainted money and ties. Eventually probably paying a horrible price for their crimes. Once they have pushed too many to the brink. Their will be a real backlash and will likely have nothing to do with votes.

[jd2408]

Good post, you are so right. There is very little, if any, difference anymore between the two parties. I always say we have the best government Corporate America can buy, and it is. Their back room deals, earmarks, unfair trade agreements, tax cuts for outsourcing, open borders, corporate campaign contributions and lack of regulation is killing this country. It all goes on in both parties and they don't seem to care. We need to get rid of them. We badly need a 3rd party.

[afrazier1]

WAKE UP AMERICA! Do you really believe that congress makes the laws for our country? If you do then you're one of the poor saps who believe that congress is in charge of the legislature. Who's really in charge? Lobbyists are usually former congressmen that have an agenda written for them buy their supporters. Knowing their way around congress they then manipulate each congressman into corruption (as they were), they then can control them by using the power of campaign funding. Corporate America now runs the country. It's been that way for awhile and they (corporations) are not going to give it up easily.

[endurorob_5]

So rather than try to do something to quell the anger, like starting ove on health care legislation, Obama has gone back to campaign mode. Well, I guess if there is only one thing you know how to do you may as well just stick to that one thing.

[krzeaz]

Vote them OUT next election. We need a complete turnover, flush Congress and the reps.

[myopinionpal]

Thats what I've been saying get rid of all career congressmen in both houses and in both parties who have gotten filthy rich off the US taxpayer and not doing a thing. All incumbents DEM & REP should get the AX!!!

[jsachse]

I agree...being in congress shouldn't be a career. Spending too much time in D.C. causes them to lose touch with reality. I'm voting against the incumbents regardless of their party affiliation. If the new crew doesn't work out, we can replace them the next time around.

[jxknowles]

When people see some of the turkeys who are challenging incumbents (Democrat and Republican), they will probably settle for the lesser of two evils. Some of the challengers are retreads, failed business people, or CEO's no one will touch because of personality disorders. Electing these idiots would be a travesty.

There are good people in Congress and a lot of dead weight on both sides of the aisle. If they all took their jobs seriously, we'd be a lot better off.

Now if we could just run about half the Supreme Court out of town, starting with Alito and Thomas, I'd be happy.

[askagain]

jxknowles - You don't have a problem keeping your political biases a secret. For everyone with views like yours, there is someone on the opposing side hoping for the opposite of what you want. Are you telling us that you have better answers than than half of the voting population?

[jckbrn-2009]

Re-electing idiots is a travesty - - - far too many long term (self serving) politicians (not legislators) and incompetent and unresponsive seperatists are the problem that got us to this point in insolvency and dependence.
The difference between indoor plumbing and an outhouse is the flushing process.

[GenericUserDC]

Hilarious the spin that CBS is putting on the upcoming elections. The Democrats, thanks to the failed policies of Obama, are in serious trouble - so naturally the liberal media will paint a picture that both parties are going to suffer. How convenient.

[talltimber41]

You obviously haven't seen the growing throng on Facebook that wants to throw out all incumbents...all of them. This is not the liberal media, this is a POd electorate imposing voter imposed term limits.

[retiredgustav]

I never knew FOX news was liberal. Wonders will never cease.