Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Dispatch from Duckworth headquarters in Illinois
OAKBROOK TERRACE, Illinois -- I'm at the election night gathering site for Tammy Duckworth, one of the more unique candidates for Congress this year.
Duckworth is a disabled Iraq War veteran. Two years ago this month, she was a major in the Army National Guard, piloting a helicopter north of Baghdad, when her aircraft was struck by a grenade. Her co-pilot landed the chopper safely, but Duckworth was injured. Both of her legs had to be amputated. When she won the Democratic primary for Illinois' sixth congressional district, she turned the race on its head. The district had been safely Republican for a long time, held by Congressman Henry Hyde for 32 years. Her opponent in the general election, State Senator Peter Roskam, a Republican with 13 years of experience in the Illinois legislature, pushed conservative themes in a district that leans right. But Duckworth's compelling background has made this race too close to call. When she enters a room with her artificial limbs or in a wheelchair, she commands attention. Her call for a gradual withdrawal of troops from Iraq resonates with some voters. Even those who don't agree with her find her hard to ignore. Roskam has been trying hard to make this more of a local race, to change the subject from Iraq to other issues, such as taxes and immigration. He's emphasized that Duckworth was recruited by national Democrats and has tried to portray her as as an outsider who, in fact, lives just outside the district.Both sides have spent a fortune. It is estimated the race will cost $10 million, perhaps the most expensive congressional race in Illinois history. If Duckworth wins, it would be a big upset, given the longtime Republican dominance in this district. Because of that unfolding drama, even foreign TV networks and newspapers have been paying attention. The Japanese, the British, the Italians, and Arab-language networks, such as Al-Jazeera, have all been covering this race. To some media outside the United States, Tammy Duckworth's campaign is a symbol of U.S. voter discontent with the war. But as we sit in this ballroom, we don't yet know what a majority of voters here will decide: Do they believe Duckworth is capable of representing them in Washington, D.C., or do they believe in Roskam, a more experienced politician, would better stand for their beliefs? -- CNN Correspondent Keith Oppenheim
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