It's a not-so-fond farewell to Representative Jim Leach, the original architect of the UIGEA attack on players' cash transfers, who has conceded defeat in the mid-terms.....
Leach concedes victory to Loebsack
Muscatine Journal
MUSCATINE, Iowa
In an extremely close race, challenger Dave Loebsack pulled off what may have been the biggest surprise of Iowas election night, unseating long-time U.S. Rep. Jim Leach for election to the 2nd District congressional seat.
Democrat Loebsack, 53, of Mount Vernon, is a political science professor at Cornell College. His campaign platforms included raising the minimum wage, health-care reform and offering more Pell grants to students. He also supported a one-year timetable to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq.
He also promised to support investigations into impeachable offenses by President George W. Bush, which he reiterated early today.
Democrats took control of the House Tuesday night for the first time in more than 10 years.
Republican Leach, 64, has served 30 years in Congress since his election as 1st District representative in 1976. In 2001 he moved to Iowa City, which is in the 2nd District.
We knew it was possible, Loebsack said. When I was going into this district talking to people, they said they wanted a change. Theyve been ready for years. Theyve seen what the Bush administration and the Republican Congress have done and they want hope restored.
Leach is no stranger to close elections. He was re-elected in 2002 with 52 percent of the vote.
Early this morning with 281 out of 326 precincts reporting statewide, Loebsack led with 51.37 percent of the vote to Leachs 48.63 percent, according to the Iowa Secretary of States office.
Leachs campaign manager, Gary Grant, said that despite the close race, and regardless of the final tally, Leach had no plans to challenge the race.
I think everyone expected a close race, Grant said. He was very appreciative of the campaign (Loebsack). He respects the integrity of the county auditors.
Grant said Leach planned to make no statements to the press this morning, outside of a concession statement he gave earlier to a Cedar Rapids television station.
Leach, viewed by many as one of the more liberal Republicans in the House, has advocated for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, abortion rights and environmental issues.
During his re-election campaign, he called Internet gambling legislation -making it illegal for banks or credit card companies or agents such as PayPal to settle an online wager - one of his proudest accomplishments.
Loebsack did not believe national issues - such as the frustration many Democrats express with the war in Iraq - played a factor in this election.
I think this was a localized a race as any. he said.
Leach concedes victory to Loebsack
Muscatine Journal
MUSCATINE, Iowa
In an extremely close race, challenger Dave Loebsack pulled off what may have been the biggest surprise of Iowas election night, unseating long-time U.S. Rep. Jim Leach for election to the 2nd District congressional seat.
Democrat Loebsack, 53, of Mount Vernon, is a political science professor at Cornell College. His campaign platforms included raising the minimum wage, health-care reform and offering more Pell grants to students. He also supported a one-year timetable to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq.
He also promised to support investigations into impeachable offenses by President George W. Bush, which he reiterated early today.
Democrats took control of the House Tuesday night for the first time in more than 10 years.
Republican Leach, 64, has served 30 years in Congress since his election as 1st District representative in 1976. In 2001 he moved to Iowa City, which is in the 2nd District.
We knew it was possible, Loebsack said. When I was going into this district talking to people, they said they wanted a change. Theyve been ready for years. Theyve seen what the Bush administration and the Republican Congress have done and they want hope restored.
Leach is no stranger to close elections. He was re-elected in 2002 with 52 percent of the vote.
Early this morning with 281 out of 326 precincts reporting statewide, Loebsack led with 51.37 percent of the vote to Leachs 48.63 percent, according to the Iowa Secretary of States office.
Leachs campaign manager, Gary Grant, said that despite the close race, and regardless of the final tally, Leach had no plans to challenge the race.
I think everyone expected a close race, Grant said. He was very appreciative of the campaign (Loebsack). He respects the integrity of the county auditors.
Grant said Leach planned to make no statements to the press this morning, outside of a concession statement he gave earlier to a Cedar Rapids television station.
Leach, viewed by many as one of the more liberal Republicans in the House, has advocated for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, abortion rights and environmental issues.
During his re-election campaign, he called Internet gambling legislation -making it illegal for banks or credit card companies or agents such as PayPal to settle an online wager - one of his proudest accomplishments.
Loebsack did not believe national issues - such as the frustration many Democrats express with the war in Iraq - played a factor in this election.
I think this was a localized a race as any. he said.
