Tammy Baldwin deserves another chance.
The battle for the 2nd Congressional District comes down to an idealist with lofty aims and little possibility of full implementation against a pragmatist without articulation.
On Oct. 2 Republican Dave Magnum failed to attend the taping of a debate that set him against Rep. Tammy Baldwin. Voters were denied a chance to learn where he stands on the issues.
However, it did not end there. Magnum has not used his campaign time effectively, as it often became a succession of dodged questions, vague answers and rhetorical distractions. For a man intent on unseating his opponent, his failure to clearly articulate or assert his positions throughout much of the campaign has been alarming.
In a later debate Magnum showed his moderate stances on issues ranging from the need to enforce the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, providing contraception to African nations to combat the spread of AIDS and creating a Palestinian state. Magnum has touted his moderation throughout the campaign, noting that he is willing to disagree with the current administration despite running as a Republican.
Baldwin, on the other hand, has been called a \minority within a minority party"" by Magnum. However, her voting record shows an adherence to the Democratic party line that contradicts Magnum's statement. When asked to name a time she voted against party line in an interview, Baldwin only answered with considerable difficulty. In this, she cites her disagreement with Clinton on NAFTA, though that was over 10 years ago. If Baldwin is to pass herself off as something more than a party-line Democrat, she must note more specific and contemporary examples of her independence.
Magnum's emphasis as a father, widower and owner of a small business may have pulled him through several debates, but it did not show his qualities of leadership or highlight his positions. Often he referred to lessons gleaned from his past instead of giving succinct, intelligent answers.
Magnum beat Republican challenger Ron Greer decisively and promised that he would run a clean campaign. That promise soon dissolved into a volley of questionable statements and generalizations about his opponent's record.
Baldwin's 1998 election made her the first woman Wisconsin sent to the House of Representatives. From that point on she has been locked in struggles over her key issue: health care reform. Unfortunately that early promise has not panned out. In the past two years, Baldwin has been holding her position without making much headway.
She must reassert herself over the next two years to avoid another challenge from a moderate Republican. After her 2000 race against history professor John Sharpless went down to the wire, Baldwin should have drawn more attention to her record and should have done far more to make a more extensive record. But for now, Tammy Baldwin is the best candidate for the 2nd Congressional District and for students of UW-Madison.
