Democrats' Bid to Win House Gains
Strength
By ADAM CLYMER
AKELAND, Fla., Oct. 9 — Mike Stedem,
a car dealer and community leader in
central Florida, was an afterthought as a
Democratic Congressional candidate after
bigger names turned the party down.
But the surprisingly strong run here by Mr.
Stedem, 50, in the 12th District against State
Representative Adam Putnam, 26, an eager
Republican who emphasizes his "conservative philosophy and values,"
reflects a striking change over the summer in the battle for control of the
House. More Republican seats, like the one in the 12th where a
Republican incumbent is retiring, now seem vulnerable, and more
Democratic seats seem safe.
The result is that nationally, about two dozen Republican seats seem to be
in play, while 10 or fewer are competitive on the Democratic side,
extensive interviews with politicians in Washington and around the country
show.
That change hardly guarantees the net gain of seven seats the Democrats
need for a majority. But it puts it clearly in reach.
BTW................southern democrats are usually dixiecrats and vote republican as a rule. |
