Democrats not worried about losing congressional seats

There were no security guards, no protesters, no personal attacks.

The fourth and final debate between Rep. Jim McDermott and his two opponents in the 7th Congressional District last week was a gentle affair in front of 70 people. Introductions were made, three questions were asked and within 20 minutes, McDermott was outside Olympic View Elementary eating a scone while the Maple Leaf Community Council moved on to other pressing matters: the P-patch and the quarterly newsletter.

For McDermott, campaign season is all but over. The nine-term congressman won an overwhelming 81 percent of the vote in 2004 and is one of the state's five U.S. House Democratic incumbents who appear to be sleepwalking to victory.

The five incumbents — McDermott, Jay Inslee, Brian Baird, Norm Dicks and Adam Smith — have all but ignored their opponents, appearing at only a smattering of forums and using a majority of their campaign money, clout and time to help other candidates and causes.

They have out-raised their opponents by more than 10-1, and only one Republican had taken in more than $65,000 by mid-October, according to federal records.

Compare that with the more than $5 million raised in the highly contested 8th District race between Republican Rep. Dave Reichert and Democrat Darcy Burner.

The lack of competitive congressional races reflects the difficulties and cost to unseat an incumbent.

Inslee, who represents the 1st District, is helping Democratic candidates in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and supporting a renewable-energy ballot measure in this state.

"With all respect to my opponent, there's not a serious challenge being mounted this year," he said. "When that's the case, on behalf of the country, it's more important to help other candidates than yourself. It's the public-spirited thing to do."

That attitude doesn't sit well with the challengers, who generally favor more robust debates and want to be taken seriously.

It infuriates Donovan Rivers, one runner-up to McDermott in the September primary. Never heard of his campaign? According to Rivers, that's because — despite setting up a Web site and campaigning hard — he was never once contacted or interviewed by any media organization.

But Smith, who represents the 9th District, said the problem is that there are not better, more qualified challengers stepping up.

District 7

Independent Linnea Noreen, 29, brings a youthful edge to this race. She is up against McDermott and Republican Steve Beren.

A nonprofit director, Noreen previously worked as manager of the Rainier Chamber of Commerce. She's taken her campaign to the Internet, posting an infomercial on the YouTube Web site, as well as on KONG-TV.

McDermott's 18-year run in Congress has proved ineffective, she said, and voters have become disenfranchised by both parties. She wants to inspire young people to get more involved in politics. She mortgaged her condo and put $40,000 into her campaign.

While McDermott favors universal health care, Noreen said the federal government should encourage states to create their own health-care plans.

She rates transportation as another big problem. "I got stuck on I-5 the other night and that's completely unacceptable," she told the audience at last week's debate. "Where are our dollars for federal transportation?"

Beren told the audience he considers himself a "September 11th Republican." He was a socialist in his youth and more recently a Democrat, he said.

But after the 2001 attacks he turned to the Republican party because it was not afraid to tackle terrorism, he said. He believes the United States needs to take a tough line on terrorism and that there should be lower taxes for everyone, both wealthy and poor.

McDermott rates universal health care among his top issues. He said he also favors aggressive policies to combat global warming and an orderly withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.

District 1

Republican candidate Larry Ishmael is up against Democrat Inslee.

Ishmael, a former Issaquah School Board member, said he disagrees with many polices adopted by the Republican Party.

"The grassroots are upset about the ridiculous spending habits of our own party," he said. "In my opinion, it was a mistake to go into Iraq. Now we've done that, it's a mistake to withdraw until we've established or supplanted the government with a viable, single government."

Ishmael said he is an international consultant advising government agencies how to save money by privatizing services. He says he's traveled to more than 100 countries and has done more to curb greenhouse gases — by getting private companies to administer vehicle emission checks — than Inslee.

Inslee said he is curious to know why Ishmael is even running because they agree on many issues. Inslee said he was one of a minority in the House to oppose the Iraq war and has tried hard to introduce legislation that would invest in alternative technology to oil.

"It's great that my opponent has followed my lead [on global warming] but the worst possible thing he could do now would be to get elected to Congress and reaffirm the Republican control of the agenda," Inslee said. "They don't have a clue about global warming."

District 6

Dicks is facing a second straight challenge from Republican Doug Cloud, a former Kitsap County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney who runs a Tacoma law practice.

Cloud said he believes people need to shrink the size of government at all levels, and Congress needs to fight to lower taxes.

"We've been waiting for 30 years for Norm Dicks to make his mark on Washington, D.C., and now he's approaching the twilight of his career, he's promising to do so," Cloud said. "But all this power is related to seniority rather than skill."

Should Democrats win the House this election, Dicks would be a big winner and would likely be chairman of one of 13 Appropriations subcommittees: "I've done my apprenticeship and I'm ready to serve," Dicks joked.

Dicks said in his years in office he has worked hard to create more jobs. On issues of the environment, he's worked to clean up Hood Canal, remove the Elwha Dam on the Olympic Peninsula, and promote biodiesel.

District 9

Democratic incumbent Smith is facing Republican Steve Cofchin, who says he served in the Air Force and the Navy. He also has worked in the construction industry as a manager.

Cofchin said he wants to increase the size and clout of the U.S. military and that 20 years as a defense contractor will help him do that. He said his opponent talks a lot about supporting the military but in 10 years in Congress has taken little initiative. Cofchin said he also believes the United States must become energy independent.

Smith said that in 10 years on the Armed Services Committee, he has focused on issues such as veteran's health care and support for military families. He also wants to invest in alternative and renewable energy sources.

Both candidates consider themselves moderates who can work well across the aisle.

District 3

Democrat Baird is facing Republican Michael Messmore, a former airline pilot and small-business owner.

Messmore, an elected union leader for 21 years, said he would like to strengthen pensions and Social Security. He would like to secure U.S. borders with walls and better enforce immigration laws while allowing a guest worker program for agriculture. He favors strengthening the military and setting up a volunteer program to help out families of deployed soldiers.

He said Baird has a long record of being inconsistent on tough issues.

Baird said he is running on his record of accomplishments. He said he brought $500 million into the state by reinstating the sales tax deduction for two years. Although that deduction has now expired, Baird said he is fighting to get it reinstated. He has also spearheaded the effort to crack down on the scourge of methamphetamine, he said. He said his opponent has made many inaccurate statements during the campaign and only has a "mild respect for the truth."