Dems: Clinton crisis may hurt voter turnout

While White House lawyers struggle to save the President's job, congressional candidates across the state are busy discussing the ramifications of the Clinton scandal on their political careers.

Each of Michigan's 110 House of Representatives seats are up for election this year, but Ann Arbor's two representatives - Democrats Liz Brater and Mary Schroer - said they believe the scandal will not have a great effect on state politics.

Brater, who is running for re-election in the 53rd district, said "no, I don't think it will" affect the election.

"In Washtenaw County, we have always run on the issues," Brater said. "People vote according to the issues. There is very little blind voting by party."

The report from the Office of the Independent Council was released to the public Friday afternoon, causing a feeding frenzy on television and the Internet. Clinton's growing problems have since become the hot topic of conversation, and Schroer said

AP PHOTO The President glances over at First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton during an awards ceremony Friday on the White House South Lawn.

the people she has spoken to are very disenchanted about the scandal.

"People don't want to talk about it, they have a real bad taste in their mouth," said Schroer, who is retiring from office after this term.

None of the politicians said they think the crisis will greatly affect state politics or elections, but they did say there may be future fallout in Michigan.

Voter turnout is a constant concern for politicians, and most agree the direct effect of the scandal could be even lower voter turnout than in previous elections. Schroer said the "betrayal" many people, including her, are feeling will hurt turnout.

"For Democrats, this has the potential to suppress voter turnout and hurt some candidates," Schroer said. "This election will come down to whether we can inspire our voters to come out to the polls."

Brater said her campaign is already working to solve the voter-turnout problem.

"That's probably the major concern, voter turnout. We're going to be working hard to get the voters out," Brater said.

But Julie Knight, the Republican candidate for Schroer's seat, said she believes voters care enough to show up at the polls on Nov. 3.

"I think voters will turnout. They are so concerned with the issues that they will vote," Knight said.

Knight said she is "very concerned" about the material being made available on the Internet because children will now have easy access to the lurid report.

Although citizens should see the report, there should have been more caution in its release, she said.

The 445-page report is available in any number of places, but Schroer said she does not think most people will take the time to read the report. They will instead depend upon media excerpts and reports, she said.

"People are more turned off to politics, and politicians," Schroer said. "This should not have happened."

Knight expressed similar feelings.

"I'm fearful of the reputation it will give politicians," she said.

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