Pork Producers

Topped off by Don Young's (R) apparent victory today in AK, voters in '08 House races made it clear that they like their pork.

-- But while Young may be the king of earmarks, others who were attacked for bringing home federal dollars won surprisingly comfortable victories. Once believed to be politically dead, Paul Kanjorksi (D-PA 12) survived, even after GOPers attacked him relentlessly for securing earmarks for family businesses. And ret. Army Lt. Col. William Russell's (R) PA-12 promise that he'd put an end to gov't "gravy" brought by John Murtha (D-PA 12) did nothing to endear him to voters. What looked like a late-breaking barnburner turned out to be a snoozer, with Murtha taking 58%.

-- And some GOPers who promised not to bring home the cash also got in trouble. Rep.-elect Walt Minnick (D) attacked Bill Sali (R) for not voting for education and highway funds. And in MD-01, Rep.-elect Frank Kratovil (D) skewered state Sen. Andy Harris (R) for rejecting earmarks when they'd be needed for beach replenishment. Think that message resonated for Kratovil on the Eastern Shore?

-- John McCain's message against earmarks flopped, and it appears it did in many high-profile House races as well. Does this signal that it will be a non-issue in '10?