This is the year of the angry voter, we are told, and there is certainly evidence of public discontent with Congress.
Last year, we saw the rise of the tea party movement and street demonstrations against Democratic health care proposals and plenty of vows to change Congress. Brad Miller? Off with his head! Bob Etheridge? Who are you? David Price? Your days are numbered!
But a little more than three months before the Nov.2 election, it is by no means clear that there will be any wholesale changes in North Carolina's congressional delegation.
On Thursday the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced plans to invest $28 million in 40 U.S. House districts where they thought Democratic lawmakers were at risk.
Only one was in North Carolina. That was freshman Democratic Rep. Larry Kissell of Biscoe, who represents the 8th Congressional District, the one true swing district in the state. He is being challenged by Republican Harold Johnson.
That small number of at-risk seats from North Carolina is hardly surprising. Incumbents, both Democrats and Republicans, have strong advantages in winning re-election, even in years when there is anti-incumbent sentiment. Most are in friendly districts drawn to elect either Democrats or Republicans. Incumbents also have a marked advantage in raising money.
The five Republican House members have so far outraised their Democratic challengers by a 12-1 margin, according to a report released last week by Democracy North Carolina, a Durham-based group.
The eight House Democrats have raised more than three times as much as their Republican challengers.
Incumbents have a major advantage because of the money they raise from political action committees for insurance companies, banks, agribusiness, public employees, attorneys, doctors and military contractors, the report said. PACs gave incumbents $4.6 million, but gave challengers only $62,000.
"Big money from special interests has become such a dominating force that it distorts the whole democratic process," said Bob Hall, the group's director. "The tea party activist, social reformer and ordinary citizen all feel frustrated and ignored, because lawmakers in both parties are preoccupied with raising money and wealthy interests get special access to shape legislation for their benefit at the public's expense - on taxes, pollution, food safety, you name it."
So Etheridge had $1.2 million on hand on June 30, while his GOP challenger, Renee Ellmers, had $42,000 on hand. Miller had $348,000 on hand, while Bill Randall, his Republican opponent, had $5,000.
There are various proposals to change the system. Hall is a big proponent of public financing of congressional races to even out the playing field. Others support term limits. Still others would like to see redistricting conducted by independent panels.
But until something changes, the system is designed to protect incumbents.
For more on the Democracy North Carolina report, see Dome on Page 3B.
