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Monday, September 17, 2012

Democrats trying to use GOP Farm Bill inaction to their political advantage with rural voters

Some Democrats are trying to turn the failure of the Republican-controlled House to pass a Farm Bill into an opportunity to pick up rural votes in November. Analysts are saying it could influence races in Indiana, Wisconsin and North Dakota, where agriculture interests are very influential, Alan Bjerga of Bloomberg News reports. And while it might affect some House races, Bierga writes, it's unlikely that it will help Democrats wrest control of the House.

Iowa State University political science professor Steffen Schmidt told Bjerga that Farm Bill inaction could weaken Republican Senate efforts in rural, conservative states such as North Dakota and Montana, which likely won't be won by Democrats in the presidential election but could be won by Democrats in congressional races. Not passing a Farm Bill has “become a very salient issue in a lot of key battleground races," Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee communications director Matt Canter told Bjerga. Canter added that Senate candidates, particularly in rural states, can localize their races around issues such as agriculture. In the Senate, Republicans only need to add three seats to take the majority. (Read more)

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