USA /IRAQ: As more than 100 American troops are killed in Iraq in October, some war veterans running for office believe public shift against war will lead them to victory

During the month of October, more than 100 servicemen have died in Iraq, a grim benchmark that has not been reached in nearly two years. With the U.S. mid-term election less than one week away, the war will likely be on the minds of many voters as they head to the polls next Tuesday (November 7). As they cast their votes, some on election day will be choosing among candidates who have actually served in Iraq. Many of these military veterans are running as Democrats and advocate a change in U.S. policy. Democratic leaders hope these candidates will be the catalyst their party needs to regain control of the House of Representatives. If the Democrats are to win a majority, they need to gain 15 more seats than they now hold. Tammy Duckworth is one Iraq war veteran who is running for office in the sixth congressional district in Illinois, just outside of Chicago. Duckworth, 38, lost both of her legs after the helicopter she was piloting was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade in November, 2004. After fighting for her life, and then undergoing extensive rehabilitation, Duckworth decided to run for Congress. Duckworth says only two members of Congress have children who have served in Iraq, and she believes there is a void between U.S. lawmakers and U.S. armed forces. "I wish our politicians would live up to the sacrifices that our troops make over there every single day. I'm one of the lucky ones. I got to come home, I've got 27 hundred other buddies who didn't make it and I'm going to stand up and fight for them," Duckworth told Reuters. A recent Zogby poll has favoured Duckworth to win. Norman Ornstein, a political analyst in Washington, said she can definitely win. "There is a reason why Democrats everywhere are talking up the candidacy of Tammy Duckworth. She is a veteran, but she's also proven to be a really dynamic candidate," Ornstein said. This political season boasts the most veterans from one party running for office since 1946. Congressman John Murtha is a Vietnam veteran and outspoken critic of U.S. policies in Iraq. He says "I've talked to an awful lot of them and I'm impressed by their dedication, and they've gotten into this because they feel that the Iraq war has gone the wrong direction. Now some of them won't win ... but an awful lot of them will win." Retired Vice Admiral Joseph Sestak, is running for Congress in Pennsylvania. He is hoping to defeat 10-term Republican incumbent Curt Weldon, who is the Vice Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. Sestak served in Iraq and Afghanistan, leading an Aircraft Carrier Battle Group of 30 ships and 15,000 men and women in combat operations. He also worked for former President Bill Clinton as Director of Defense Policy. Patrick Murphy is another veteran vying for a congressional seat. Murphy has been deployed twice since September 11, 2001. First to Bosnia, then to Baghdad. He was a professor at West Point and is now running against Mike Fitzpatrick in Pennsylvania's 8th district. Norman Ornstein said for Democrats, the war in Iraq is the largest factor in the likelihood of their success. "Americans now, by very large numbers believe the wheels are coming off in Iraq. We don't have a plan. Whatever plan we have isn't working. The country is careening out of control. The sense that this is happening, that we've made this huge investment that may not pay off at all is leading to a high level of anger in the country and a significant level of malaise," Ornstein told Reuters. If this "malaise" translates into votes for the Democratic Party, it would be the first time they have held the majority in Congress since the "Republican revolution" back in 1994.

ITN Source | November 1, 2006

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