Customer Reviews

Against Long Odds: Citizens Who Challenge Congressional Incumbents

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"Against Long Odds" is a good read for anyone involved in or interested in elective politics. The authors understand well the advantages enjoyed by incumbents: taxpayers footing the bill for "newsletters" (really campaign literature) and for research staff while challengers either have to pay or rely on volunteers; they solicit contributions from organizations (or their employees) which are subject to their oversight powers; they utilize the "old boy" network of fellow officeholders for incestuous self-protection. Merriner and Senter explain, with graphic examples, the uphill battles faced by challengers and the arrogance of some incumbents in protecting "their" seats.

The book is composed of short, easy to read chapters on each of 14 races. One is devoted to Charlie Gerow's challenges to Pennsylvania Congressman Bill Goodling (who has been in the House for over two decades, after having succeeded his father). From my personal involvement as a friend and volunteer for Gerow, I can attest to the accuracy of reporting by the authors. They did their homework, and I assume the remainder of the book was equally as well researched, reported and documented.

In his Foreword, former Colorado Governor Lamm says "The book also tells very readable stories of courage, determination, and dedication; and treachery, cynicism, corruption, and idealism." I saw at first hand the kind of "courage, determination, and dedication" it took for Gerow to run against the formidable forces available to a long-term incumbent and the "idealism" he had to bring to such a challenge. As to "treachery, cynicism, corruption," I leave it to each reader to make his or her own determination in each chapter of the very good book.

The authors have a great understanding of the political process and the built-in advantages enjoyed by incumbents. For anyone involved in, or simply interested in, elective politics, I recommend this book enthusiastically.

The authors explore several races in which incumbents were challenged by relative newcomers or, as they might describe them, "usurpers." In virtually every case, long term office holders seem to consider the positions as "theirs" rather than the people's. Each challenger had to try to overcome the advantages which legislators had (over time) enacted for themselves -- everything from dispensing "pork," to using staff and free postage (the franking privlege), to the "old boy" network exercising fund raising and other political muscle to protect its own.

The book was brought to my attention because one of the featured challengers is Charlie Gerow, a candidate for Pennsylvania's 19th Congressional District seat. Charlie is a friend of mine who waged two campaigns against Congressman Bill Goodling (a member of the House for over two decades, after succeeding his father). Having worked in Gerow's campaign, I can attest that the authors did their homework as to events and consequences in those races. I presume the same care was taken with respect to the other chapters.

In his foreward to the book, former Colorado Governor Richard D. Lamm refers to stories "of courage, determination, and dedication; and treachery, cynicism, corruption, and idealism." I know from my experience with Gerow of the "courage, determination and dedication" it takes to run against an incumbent as well as the "idealism" which one must have to take on such a challenge. As to "treachery, cynicism, corruption," I recommend reading each of the stories and deciding for yourself.