CONGRESS

Convention RSVPs Short On Members Of Congress

An anti-Washington message coupled with tough campaigns at home prompts many to skip the convention.

by Richard E. Cohen

Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008


Many congressional Republicans--especially those in close races--will be otherwise occupied during the next week. They are skipping the convention to campaign, tend to other local demands, or conduct official travel that is taking them far away from home.

Campaign committee officials have all but given a free pass to their GOP members facing competitive contests in November. Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, has told reporters that House GOP members should not be afraid to run anti-Washington campaigns and to stay away from the convention.

Likewise, Rebecca Fisher, spokeswoman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, wrote in an e-mail, "[As] voters start paying attention to down-ballot races, many of our senators in competitive races this year have chosen to stay in their state and speak directly to their voters--exactly what they should be doing." They include Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, John Sununu of New Hampshire, Gordon Smith of Oregon, and Ted Stevens of Alaska.

A spokeswoman to Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee said that he won't arrive in Minneapolis-St. Paul until Tuesday. Over the weekend, Corker inspected damage in the country of Georgia after the recent Russian attacks.

Rep. Dave Reichert of Washington will be joining a bipartisan congressional group traveling on official business to an unspecified location. Rep. Steve Chabot of Ohio has been traveling with a congressional delegation to Chad and elsewhere in Africa during the past week, though he plans to return for the convention this week. Both face competitive re-election campaigns.

Congressional leadership sources still expect that solid majorities of their members will attend--at least 120 of the 199 House Republicans, and 30 of the 49 Senate Republicans.

And, to be fair, Democrats sent a clear message at their Denver convention that vulnerable members should also keep their distance. "Our advice to the great majority of them is to be back home with their constituents," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "Your voters are at home."

Even as some lawmakers are staying away, however, congressional GOP leaders are playing prominent roles in the Twin Cities and are seeking to use the conclave to score various partisan points. House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio, the convention chairman, has encouraged a strong congressional presence in support of John McCain. McCain himself, however, distanced himself from Washington with his selection of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.

CORRECTION: The original version of this report misstated the length of Sen. Bob Corker's trip to Georgia.

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