HRO, Political, Offshoring, Outsourcing, Mid-terms

On the Eve of the 2006 U.S. Mid-Term Elections

On the eve of the 2006 mid-term elections, Republicans and Democrats are pulling out all the stops in a fight for control of both houses of Congress.  While the war in Iraq and Washington scandals remain high profile, another key issue is in play on the local, state and federal level: outsourcing and trade.

Outsourcing in Local Politics: San Diego, CA

This week in San Diego, both sides in the fight over Proposition C intensified into a hot debate over outsourcing. Proposition C would allow private contractors to compete against San Diego city workers for everyday jobs. Currently, municipal jobs are performed exclusively by city and local government employees. Supporters, including Mayor Jerry Sanders, claim it will allow the financially strapped city to cut costs and increase efficiency. Opponents, including organized labor, argue that it will hurt the local economy by unfairly diverting contracts away from residents to outside interests. Opponents also argue that the Proposition could compromise public safety as those handling local 911 emergency calls could be doing so from outside the state or even overseas.

Both sides have taken to the airwaves, with the proponents of Prop C spending $350,000 over the last three weeks and opponents spending $203,000 to date on their buy, which is to include a prime time spot during Monday Night Football this evening. It will be interesting to track how this plays out on Election Day as this is the reverse of a New Jersey law, known as a “state contract ban,” referenced in last month’s article.

Trade and Outsourcing in Targeted House Races Across the Nation

According to advocacy group Global Trade Watch, in races in which the Iraq War and Congressional scandals have become more competitive, trade and outsourcing are now being used as a “substantive wedge issue” to further separate candidates. In Iowa’s 1st District, the Democratic challenger is running ads against the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and pushing for a new trade policy for American farmers and workers so that they can “win” in the global economy.

In North Carolina, opponents of Republican incumbents Robin Hayes and Charles Taylor, both of whom voted for the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), have paid advertisements regarding trade, and trade and outsourcing remains a top issue in the local news. In New York’s 19th Congressional District, the Republican National Congressional Committee chair is in a dead heat with challenger Jack Davis, according to an NBC poll featured on Meet the Press last Sunday. The template of Davis’ campaign continues to be “Save American Jobs”, and their messaging continues to focus on trade-related job loss in the factories and businesses of Western New York.

Key votes on trade are not only playing a pivotal role in Democratic campaigns against Republicans, but also for at least one Congressional Democrat hoping to hold onto her seat this year. Freshmen Illinois Rep. Melissa Bean (D-IL) finds herself in a tight race because local and national unions have pulled their support due to her vote in favor of CAFTA last year. According to the Associated Press, this has made Bean’s Chicago area district a key battleground as a Republican pickup here would raise the Democrat’s magic number to sixteen to take control of the House.

Outsourcing and Trade on the Airwaves Statewide in Ohio

In a key U.S. Senate race that could determine the balance of power in the Senate, Democrat Sherrod Brown continues to air television spots statewide featuring outsourcing and trade. The ad states: “Sherrod has led the fight in Congress to stop unfair trade agreements that outsource U.S. jobs overseas.”

Ohio has lost more than 195,000 manufacturing jobs since 2001. Ohio incumbent Senator Mike DeWine supported NAFTA, and supported CAFTA and Permanent Normalized Trade Relations with China.

DeWine has taken more than $1 million from companies that outsourced U.S. jobs, and voted for special tax breaks for companies sending those jobs overseas.”

Cleveland-area Rep. Sherrod Brown is currently leading by 6 points, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, heading into tomorrow’s election. Ohio has long been regarded as a bellwether state in American politics. True to form, Ohio was the first to see television ads featuring outsourcing, and other campaigns in key races across the nation have followed suit. This type of messaging is designed to tap into powerful emotions about trade and outsourcing among voters, not only in the Rust Belt and the South, but across the country.

Whatever tomorrow’s election outcomes, tens of millions of dollars have been spent on television, radio and print advertising featuring outsourcing and trade nationwide. It would be an interesting proposition to put a poll into the field in targeted areas of the country to quantify and measure if this effort has affected attitudes among American voters on outsourcing, and if so, how. While these mid-term elections may be characterized as a referendum on several “hot button” national issues such as scandals or the war in Iraq, they will most certainly serve as a referendum on the effectiveness of these ads.

About the Author

Ernest C. Baynard IV is a veteran of the last five election cycles who has managed numerous media and public affairs campaigns for a diverse group of corporate and political clients. He has also served in several senior level positions over the past ten years in the White House and on Capitol Hill. As President of Meridian Hill Strategies Inc., Baynard works with some of the nation’s top CEOs and political leaders to create a powerful voice for them inside the Beltway and in the national media. He serves as a guest lecturer on media and politics at the United States Military Academy and has also lectured at Georgetown University and Johns Hopkins University. Baynard has made numerous appearances on CNN, MSNBC and other networks regarding international trade issues before Congress.

Please note: The opinions and perspectives in the preceding article do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the HROA, its Board of Trustees, or its management.

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