Eight-term Representative Tom Latham survived two Democratic wave elections easily, winning the fourth Congressional district by 17 points in 2006 (when Governor Chet Culver carried his district) and 22 points in 2008 (when President Barack Obama did). As a result, Latham never looked vulnerable heading into 2010, and he hasn’t run as active a campaign as he did two years ago. Democrat Bill Maske wasn’t able to raise as much money as Latham’s previous opponents, Selden Spencer and Becky Greenwald, and he has received no help from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. However, he has campaigned hard around this 28-county district for the last ten months.

I summarized each candidate’s campaign message below.  

In 2008, Latham produced several campaign commercials that are still available on his YouTube channel. No longer a Democratic target, he’s run just one television spot, “A Better Way,” since late September.

My transcript:

Latham speaking to camera: I share your frustration and anger with Washington. [words on screen: Tom Latham]

That’s why I voted against the massive bailouts–all of them. [Voted: Against the Bailouts]

I voted against the failed stimulus. [Voted: Against the Failed Stimulus]

I voted against the government takeover of health care. [Voted: Against the Government Takeover of Health Care]

I cast those votes because I believe there’s a better way.

We must stop reckless spending and an out-of-control federal government. [Stop Reckless Spending]

We must get Iowa back to work by cutting taxes and red tape on small businesses. [Get Iowa Back to Work as hand turns sign in shop window to “OPEN”; Cut Taxes and Red Tape on Small Businesses as footage shows workers on construction site and in store or warehouse]

Latham speaking to camera again: I’m Tom Latham, and I approved this message because I’m proud to be fighting and working for you. [Tom Latham Congress on screen]

This ad could have been made by any House Republican running in any district in the country. Sometimes incumbents try to “localize” the election, but Latham says nothing about what he has done for Iowa’s fourth district during the past decade. Why should he, when the national mood is expected to produce large Republican gains?

Latham made his vote against the Wall Street bailout a central theme of his 2008 campaign against Becky Greenwald. She foolishly came out in support of the bailout, and he responded by tying her to George W. Bush’s administration. In reality, Latham has often stood with corporations rather than middle-class taxpayers. Here’s Latham’s voting record on corporate subsidies. Here’s his record on votes relating to government checks on corporate power. Here’s his record on corporate tax breaks in general (including sub-categories on tax breaks for the oil and gas industry and for the wealthiest individuals).

Although Latham serves on the House Appropriations Committee, his campaign hasn’t emphasized pork he has secured for his district. Listening to Latham’s hour-long debate with Maske on KGLO radio and the candidates’ joint appearance on Iowa Public Television, I was struck by how little Latham said about funding he had brought to the district. He’s not shy about asking for money. In 2009 Latham took credit for earmarks supporting community colleges, health care clinics, and renewable energy producers in IA-04, even though he had voted against the omnibus budget bill that funded those projects. Latham also sought stimulus funding for his district, even though he brags about voting against the “failed” stimulus package.

The Mason City Globe-Gazette endorsed Latham this year (as in the past) largely because of “highly visible projects” for which he secured funding. The Fort Dodge Messenger’s endorsement editorial reflects how hard it is to defeat a member of the House Appropriations Committee:

It’s almost impossible to exaggerate how important Latham’s role in the appropriations process is to his district and the whole state of Iowa. He is perfectly positioned to make certain that rural Iowa gets a fair hearing for projects in need of federal dollars. Grants to support community projects have a real chance to be funded with Latham’s help. A congressman who does not sit on the Appropriations Committee can plead the case for his constituents. One who is a member of that committee helps decide which of the many worthy causes being touted get funding.

Tom Latham is not a congressman who believes in wasteful federal spending. He is, however, determined that Iowa be treated fairly by the power brokers in Washington. We need to keep him on the job protecting the interests of the 4th District and the entire Hawkeye State.

Assuming Republicans take control of the House, Latham’s influence should increase, because he has been a close associate of Republican House leader John Boehner since the 1990s. (The two are said to be smoking buddies.) Latham helped Boehner return to the House Republican leadership in 2006. The Ohio Republican had lost his leadership position after the 1998 elections.

Maske has had to run for Congress on a much smaller budget than Greenwald had in 2008. I admire Maske’s willingness to campaign on progressive values instead of pretending to be “Republican-lite” in what’s expected to be a Republican year. He hasn’t had the campaign cash for television commercials, but he has several 60-second radio spots on the air. All of them feature Maske speaking with no background music or special effects. All transcripts are mine. This one is about budgets:

I am Bill Maske, your Democratic candidate for Congress. Tom Latham talks as if he understands how to run a budget. Who is he trying to fool? As the 56th wealthiest member in the United States House of Representatives, he has never had to worry about money. I grew up in a modest-income family. My wife Carol and I have first-hand experience struggling to pay the bills. We know what it is like to raise four children on a limited income. I can relate, and as a result, I understand. As a school superintendent, I helped turn a 400 thousand dollar deficit into a 1.5 million dollar surplus. I know resolving a deficit requires more than the ability to say “no.” It requires leadership. I am offering the people of the fourth Congressional district the service of my leadership and understanding. I am asking for your vote. I am Bill Maske, and I approved this message.

This one gets to the root of the salmonella outbreak: deregulation.

I am Bill Maske, your Democratic candidate for Congress. For the past year, I have been working hard to earn your vote. Recently the state of Iowa experienced the largest preventable food recall in history. The catastrophe that struck the egg industry was the direct result of deregulation and a lack of oversight. As a career politician, my opponent Tom Latham has been a part of this deregulation, which compromised our food supply and jeopardized the public health. For him to point his finger at the FDA, whose authority he has actively undermined, is shameful. As your representative, I will work to strengthen the regulations and oversight that are so critical to safe food and the public health. I am asking for your vote. I am Bill Maske, and I approved this message.

This one embraces bolder action to address climate change:

I am Bill Maske, your Democratic candidate for Congress. We must address the issues of energy and the environment. We can no longer continue to be enslaved to fossil fuels, which are economically and environmentally hazardous. My opponent Tom Latham is beholden to the oil companies. He has voted consistently against the development of renewable fuels. He has voted against legislation that would reduce greenhouse gases. This is a negligent disregard for the future. As your Congressman, I would work to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil. I would propose and support legislation to aggressively develop renewable energy. I support reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by the year 2050. I will serve the people with a vision and understanding for the future. I am asking for your vote. I am Bill Maske, and I approved this message.

Many Democrats rail against Republican plans to privatize Social Security, but Maske is one of the few with the courage to oppose benefit cuts and embrace a specific plan to shore up the program’s solvency:

I am Bill Maske, your Democratic candidate for Congress. Are you concerned about the future of Social Security? The fact is, the Republicans want to dismantle the Social Security system, and we are not going to let that happen. As your Congressman, I will fight any attempt to privatize Social Security, reduce benefits, or increase the age requirement. Social Security can remain solvent for decades to come by putting people to work, increasing the real average wage, and removing the cap on contributions so people making more than $106,800 pay into the system on all their income. As your Congressman, I will bring common sense to this issue, to ensure Social Security as it exists is available to you and your children. I am asking for your vote. I am Bill Maske, and I approved this message.

Lots of candidates claim to represent Main Street instead of Wall Street, but Maske is one of the few who makes a case against deregulation itself.

I am Bill Maske, your Democratic candidate for Congress. We are currently experiencing an economic crisis due to the abuse and predatory practices of Wall Street and large corporations, brought on by years of deregulation. Left unchecked, the wealthy have prospered at the expense of small business, consumers, and the American public. In the midst of this great recession, my opponent Tom Latham still believes in deregulation. His no vote on the Wall Street reform and consumer protection act, as well as the credit card holders’ bill of rights act, is evidence he is not representing hard-working men, women and their families. As your Congressman, I will work hard to protect you from the abuse and predatory practices of big money. I will work to control the power of Wall Street and unleash the hopes and dreams of Main Street. I am asking for your vote. I am Bill Maske, and I approved this message.

While many Congressional challengers try to avoid taking controversial positions, but Maske takes stands on many issues. He opposes the death penalty, supports women’s reproductive rights and marriage equality. He backed the health care reform bill as a “first step” while making clear that ultimately he backs “universal coverage under a single payer plan.” Not only does he favor the DREAM Act and a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, he would like to increase legal immigration to promote economic development, “innovation, cultural development, and social advancement.” Maske endorses firm caps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050, as opposed to the cap and trade approach, which he calls “a financial boondoggle for Wall Street [that] will compromise the achievement of emission reduction.” He’s also for more federal public works programs to create jobs, in addition to low-interest loans and tax breaks for small businesses. He would not only end the Bush tax cuts for the highest earners, he wants the wealthy to be taxed at higher rate on their investment income. Maske also supports bringing U.S. troops home from Afghanistan, increasing the minimum wage, and making it easier for workers to join a union.

A cynic would say it’s easy for a longshot candidate to take bold stands, but that’s not what we see from many other Democratic challengers.

During his public appearances Maske isn’t afraid to voice the same opinions. I thought he performed well during the KGLO radio debate. Maske brought up many of Latham’s votes in Congress that ignored the public interest; for instance, against extending unemployment benefits when so many people are out of work, against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Latham didn’t have much to say in defense of those votes; instead, he tried to change the subject to Maske’s alleged “personal attacks.” When a journalist asked about this year’s salmonella outbreak and nationwide egg recall, Latham tried to put the blame on lazy FDA inspectors and one “really bad actor” in the egg industry. Maske says Latham points finger at FDA, but “deregulation is at the heart of this problem,” and Republicans have pushed deregulation on many fronts. Thanks to the Bush administration and the GOP-controlled Congress, 2007 there were fewer FDA employees available to enforce laws at corporate facilities, and the federal government hasn’t kept up with the number of employees needed to ensure food safety.

This year being what it is, Maske doesn’t have a realistic chance to beat Latham, but I respect the campaign he has run. He earned the Des Moines Register’s endorsement for the fresh ideas he would bring to representing this district.

Share any thoughts about the IA-04 race in this thread.