In 2008, Barack Obama's presidential campaign in Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District took on national significance as pundits and strategists mused about several scenarios in which this Electoral College anomaly might cast the deciding vote and swing the entire election. Two years later, for less novel reasons that may prove just as important to our country's future, the eyes of the nation remain on Nebraska's 2nd Congressional Distict because of State Senator Tom White's strong challenge to 12 year Republican incumbent Lee Terry.
Despite strong headwinds in the national political environment, White is surpassing expectations and continues to gain momentum at the most crucial point in this election. That's why Washington Post political reporters Dan Balz and Chris Cillizza just named White vs. Terry as one of their 25 Races to Watch in 2010.
After months of running a slow-burning campaign focused on building the fundamentals to win in November, White has come out strong in recent weeks and shown he's ready for the fight ahead. At the same time, 2nd District voters have grown tired of Lee Terry and are increasingly ready for a change after a series of continued embarrassments during his sixth term in Congress.
It's bad enough that Terry votes so out-of-step with his district in protecting Wall Street and corporate lobbyists, but having them write his speeches and get him drunk while he's shouting obscenties in the streets of Washington D.C. and getting in fights on the floor of Congress has reflected poorly on his constituents for long enough. Just as fatal for Terry is the public's growing distrust after lying on the campaign trail about his record of adding trillions of dollars to the national debt and his shameless flip-flopping on Social Security privatization. At this point, even Terry's most ardent right-wing supporters have been insulted and have lost faith in his ability to lead.
That's where Tom White comes in. White has a record as a genuine leader in the Nebraska Legislature. He's delivered on his campaign promises, and he hasn't backed down from standing up for working and middle-class families in his district, throughout the Omaha metro, and all across the state. White's independent-minded, and he gets things done. Voters are counting on him taking that attitude to Washington and finally giving them the strong voice and real representation they've missed after more than a decade of Lee Terry.
This is the one race where Nebraska Democrats and progressives can make the biggest difference in November. With Democrats facing immense challenges in their efforts to hold incumbent seats in swing districts, it's not going to be a big push from the national party that puts Tom White over the top. It's going to be Nebraskans working hard for a candidate in whom they believe - with the support of the DailyKos community - as voters finally demand a Congressman they can actually trust.
That's what Tom White offers in the 2010 election. Now, let's make it happen.