Iraq war vets enter US political fray

By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent Fri Feb 3, 3:17 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats have enlisted special help in the battle for Congress from a small band of Iraq war veterans, hoping their military experience turns into campaign-trail credibility with voters.

At least 10 veterans of the Iraq war are running for Congress, all but one as Democrats, in what amounts to an open challenge to both President George W. Bush's policies in Iraq and the traditional Republican advantage on national security issues.

The Iraq veterans, all political neophytes, say the call to arms in November's election is a natural extension of their military service. For many, it is also a direct result of their experiences in a war they now oppose.

"The veterans who served in Iraq have a special voice and a responsibility to continue our public service," said Patrick Murphy, a lawyer and veteran of the Army's 82nd Airborne who is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick in suburban Philadelphia.

"We've seen the truth and we're willing to stand up for it," Murphy told Reuters. "I have seen with my own eyes why we need a change in direction there, but when I came home I saw that it's not just about Iraq."

Democrats believe the war veterans will be good messengers in an election year they hope focuses on the war in Iraq, Republican corruption scandals and sagging public confidence in Bush's leadership.

The Iraq veterans, part of a larger group of more than 50 military veterans running for Congress this year as Democrats, also could be an antidote to decades of Republican attacks on Democrats as weak on defense.

"Their experience gives them instant credibility and the ability to break out and get their views heard," said Amy Walter, a House analyst with the Cook Political Report. "But it can be a double-edged sword if they get pigeonholed as one-issue candidates."

REPUBLICAN ONE

Republicans have one pro-war Iraq veteran running for Congress - in Texas - and more than 40 military veterans on the ballot in House races, but they dismiss their political impact.

"Having military experience is a great resume item, but it does not automatically make someone a good candidate," said Carl Forti, spokesman for the House Republican campaign committee. "It takes a lot more to be a credible candidate than one strong resume point."

Forti said many of the Iraq veterans are long shots running in Republican districts where local and domestic issues dominate the agenda. The Democrats point to Paul Hackett, an Iraq veteran who nearly pulled off a huge upset in a heavily Republican Ohio district last summer, for inspiration.

Hackett is now running for the Senate in Ohio in a high-profile primary clash against Democratic Rep. Sherrod Brown (news, bio, voting record). Other veterans in competitive races include Murphy, running in a Democratic-leaning district, and Andrew Horne, a Marine Reserves lieutenant colonel vying for the right to challenge perpetually endangered Republican Rep. Anne Northup in Kentucky.

Tammy Duckworth, a helicopter pilot who lost both legs in Iraq, has garnered a wave of media attention for her race in the Republican district of retiring Rep. Henry Hyde in Illinois.

The Democratic veterans all share a distaste for the war, but like the rest of their party differ on the details of how to end it. They also pledge to be more than one-issue candidates, and say their experiences in Iraq taught them bitter lessons about Bush's leadership on a range of topics.

"The current circumstances in Iraq are just a symptom of what is wrong with the administration," Horne told Reuters. "This administration acts with arrogance, doesn't get advice from Congress or allies, has difficulty acknowledging its problems and politicizes everything."

Democrats have learned the pitfalls of relying on military credentials in a campaign, most recently when decorated Vietnam War veteran John Kerry saw his record shredded under heavy Republican attack during the 2004 White House race.

The Democratic veterans have formed a political action committee to promote their cause and fight back against Republicans, and will kick off the campaign with events in Washington next week.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060203/pl_nm/veterans_dc