Your Sept. 28 editorial comment that Carol Moseley-Braun was “one of the most politically vulnerable members of the U.S. Senate” troubled me–so much so that I prepared a letter challenging your evaluation. I thought your statement could not be accurate when realistically only one person–a reputedly wealthy Republican aspirant–was seriously stepping up in either party to challenge her.
Happily, I tore my letter up when I read in Bob Kemper’s analysis of the senatorial race (Page 1, Oct. 5) that Sen. Moseley-Braun is stronger than at any time since her election in 1992.
What troubles me now is that both Kemper and Michael Bakalis, who once was thinking of running as a U.S. Senate candidate in the upcoming primary election, attribute Sen. Moseley-Braun’s strength to luck. Of course, it is always good to have luck when one is running for office or engaged in any other pursuit. But much as I respect Mike Bakalis, I cannot agree with his or Kemper’s view that Sen. Moseley-Braun can thank luck for her strong position. As a former Democratic committeeman of the 40th Ward, I know that it takes more than luck, or money, to win a U.S. Senate campaign.
Carol Moseley-Braun is a front-runner with no Democratic opponent and only one Republican challenger because of her performance. Her voting record is right for Illinois. It enhances the interest of the majority of the American people. Voters realize and appreciate that she has at heart the welfare of those whose lives are not easy (and that, even in an abundant economy, includes a majority of Americans). That is why our esteemed former senator, Paul Simon, has been vigorous in her support and why only one person has stepped forward to challenge her.
True, she made mistakes. Who hasn’t? But she has acknowledged them and apologized for them, and her mistakes have not been enduring ones. More significantly, Sen. Moseley-Braun has not made mistakes in casting her votes on the Senate floor, the place where the best interests of our nation are involved and where what a U.S. senator does really counts.
