There was some head scratching when I first brought up this year's Democratic candidate in the 10th District - Judy Feder - who is challenging incumbent Frank Wolf in 2006. To rank and file Democrats, she's an unknown with a website lacking information. However, according to Roll Call, she's going to give Wolf a real fight:
Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) hasn?t faced a tough re-election race in two decades.However, if recent political trends continue in the burgeoning Washington, D.C., suburbs of the 13-term lawmaker?s district, national Democrats believe they might be able to gin one up in 2006.
Georgetown University Public Policy Institute Dean Judy Feder (D) is running against Wolf in November. While party campaign operatives are excited about her candidacy, it remains to be seen if the first-time candidate can raise the significant resources needed to compete in the area?s cost-prohibitive media market.
Feder is close to former Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), and she has already begun assembling a campaign team that includes former Daschle operatives as well as consultants involved in the 2005 victory of now-Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine (D).
Kaine?s surprising margin of victory last year in outlying suburban areas of Loudoun and Prince William counties was further substantiated last week when a Democrat won a landslide victory in a special election for a state Senate seat there long held by Republicans.
?You can?t take a look at the results of both Kaine or the special election and not all of a sudden see that this is one of the potential pickups for Democrats,? said Democratic media consultant Karl Struble, who aided in Kaine?s victory and is advising Feder. ?It just screams that. ...What you?re seeing is there is a clear shift going on in the exurbs of Washington and there?s opportunity there.?
I'm looking forward to learning more about Feder. She's certainly got a long road ahead of her. Nevertheless, the first step is to be taken seriously. Consider that step taken.