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Elections: 2006 Candidate Profiles

Iowa - House (1)

District Geography | Summary | History | Outlook | Polls

Bruce Braley (Democrat)

Website: www.brucebraley.com

Mike Whalen (Republican)

Website: www.mikewhalen.com

James Hill (Pirate)

Website: www.jameshillforcongress.com

Albert W. Schoeman (Independent)

Website: N/A

District Geography:

Iowa's 1st Congressional District comprises twelve eastern counties: Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Clayton, Clinton, Delaware, Dubuque, Fayette, Jackson, Jones, and Scott.

Summary:

This is an open seat, as eight-term Republican Jim Nussle decided to run for Governor.

Mike Whalen, a restaurateur, is opposed to a withdrawal of troops in Iraq until Iraqis achieve true self-governance and their own self-defense. Whalen is also campaigning for consumer-driven health care, a flat tax, repealing the death tax, cracking down on illegal immigration through more border security and barriers, reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil, ending abortion, and opposing gay marriage.

Bruce Braley, an attorney, is campaigning to increase the federal minimum wage, lowering gasoline and energy prices, rolling back President Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy, controlling the federal deficit, expanding access to health care, securing U.S. borders and not allowing amnesty to illegal immigrants, and having Congress exercise oversight for the war in Iraq.

James Hill is running as a 'Pirate' - one who admits to many flaws (drinking, womanizing etc.) but claims he will never break his oath to uphold the public trust. Hill's campaign also states he will accept "no money from anybody." Hill vows to end earmarking and amending bills.

History:

Nussle had been elected to the House six times in what was then Iowa's 2nd Congressional District. After redistricting, Nussle was elected to Iowa's 1st Congressional District by 15 points in 2002 followed by a 12-point victory in 2004. The district, however, has a democratic tilt, voting 53-46 for John Kerry in 2004 (in a state Kerry lost).

Outlook:

Iowa's 1st District is the most high profile Congressional race in the state, and was originally viewed as one of the Democratic Party's best chances for a pick-up in the Upper Midwest. Public polls have shown big leads for both candidates - 15 points for Braley at the end of August and 13 points for Whalen at the end of September.

Polls:

Poll Date
Braley
Whalen
Other / No opinion
Sample MoE
Iowa Poll1 October 31 – November 3, 2006
56%
35%
 9%
515 LV ± 4.3
Reuters / Zogby October 24-29, 2006
49%
42%
 9%
500 LV ± 4.5
Reuters / Zogby September 25 –
October 2, 2006
34%
47%
16%
500 LV ± 4.5
Iowa Poll1 September 10-13, 2006
44%
37%
2% / 17%
439 LV ± 4.7
Constituent Dynamics2 August 27-29, 2006
52%
37%
2% / 9%
1014 ± 3.1

1 The Iowa Poll is sponsored by The Des Moines Register.

2 "I would like you to think about the race for Congress. If the election were today, would you vote for Republican Mike Whalen or Democrat Bruce Braley?"