Representative Richard Neal makes election predictions at La Salle

By Joe Gauger
Collegian Staff
November 1, 2006

Representative Richard Neal, of Massachusetts’ second congressional district, lectured to students Oct. 25 about the strategies being employed by his colleagues in the Democratic Party in the upcoming election. His party stands to make significant gains nationwide Nov. 7.

The congressman spoke for about 30 minutes and then fielded questions from the audience. After being introduced by Dr. Mary Ellen Balchunis-Harris, he gave a short autobiography. Neal is the father of four, including his son Sean, a La Salle student and member of the basketball team.

Neal worked as chairman of George McGovern’s 1972 presidential campaign. At 32, he was elected mayor of Springfield, and he entered Congress at the age of 38.

Rep. Neal listed the war in Iraq, the federal government’s response to Hurricane Katrina and Social Security program issues as the forces that have given Democratic candidates momentum in this election.

Voters in many districts feel that the Republican-controlled Congress has been too friendly towards the President’s initiatives, and they hope that if Democrats are elected to Congress they will begin to challenge the President’s proposals.

“Voters vote on their own economy,” Neal said by way of rebuttal. According to him, they do not pay attention to “big picture” statistics, which are abstract, but focus instead on concrete indicators such as gas prices, the integrity of their pensions and the continuing outsourcing of jobs to foreign countries.

“Bob Casey, Jr. will win Pennsylvania,” Neal said. He also thinks that Democrats will pick up seats in Montana, Ohio and Rhode Island. This would put the Democrats within one seat of the majority in that house.

Democrats will pick up 20-25 seats in the House of Representatives, Neal said, comfortably more than the 15 they need to take the majority. They will likely elect Nancy Pelosi, CA-8, their minority leader, as Speaker of the House.

When asked about the 2008 presidential election, the congressman confirmed the conventional political wisdom, namely that the two parties’ nominees will be Senators John McCain of Arizona and Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.

“If the convention was today, Clinton would win the nomination,” Neal said.

He has heard personally from the Democrats’ 2004 candidate, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, that he will seek the nomination a second time. The Democrats will need to win at least a few Southern states if they hope to win that election, Neal said.

He has heard personally from the Democrats’ 2004 candidate, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, that he will seek the nomination a second time. The Democrats will need to win at least a few Southern states if they hope to win that election, Neal said.

“He is a powerful political force; however, I don’t think he has the legislative record to run in 2008,” Neal said. “Maybe in 2012.”

University President Bro. Michael McGinniss was in attendance and discussed the electoral role of urban Catholics with the representative. Catholics have strayed from the party in recent elections, although they were formerly a vital component for Democrats.

gaugerj1@lasalle.edu