Early Opposition to Iraq War Bolsters Moran in House Race

Tom O'Donoghue (R), left, U.S. Rep. James Moran (D) and Jim Hurysz (I) are vying to represent Virginia's 8th Congressional District, which includes Alexandria, Arlington County, Falls Church and parts of Fairfax County. (By Melina Mara -- The Washington Post)

One recent Saturday, Republican congressional candidate and Army veteran Tom M. O'Donoghue ran smack into his campaign's biggest problem, and it came in the form of Joan O'Keefe, a 52-year-old NASA contractor putting up Halloween decorations in her yard.

When O'Donoghue stopped to introduce himself as the Republican opponent of incumbent U.S. Rep. James P. Moran Jr. (D-Va.), O'Keefe's response was rapid-fire: "Jim's got my vote. He was the only guy to stand up against that war," O'Keefe said.

"I was actually there," O'Donoghue, 41, responded quickly. "I spent 12 months in Iraq . . . "

Cutting him off, she said, "Sorry you had to go." Moran, she said, "has had his ups and downs with me, but he sealed the deal when he went after the war in the beginning. . . . He locked in my vote solidly on that issue alone."

Two years after Moran grappled with his first primary challenge and national furor over his comments about Jews and the war in Iraq, the eight-term congressman finds himself in an enviable position.

He is a well-funded incumbent whose early opposition to the war plays well in the heavily Democratic 8th Congressional District, which includes Alexandria, Arlington County, Falls Church and parts of Fairfax County. And his last two years in office have been free of the headline-grabbing behavior of years past, as he married for the third time and settled into a $6 million home overlooking the Potomac River in Arlington

"Over time, people have gotten to know who I am," said Moran, 62, as he greeted voters recently at a festival in Clarendon. "They can always find some issue to disagree with me on, but what I hear consistently is that I say what I believe, and I'm outspoken. A lot of people tell me they think I get too emotional, but I think passion is a good thing. . . . They accept who I am."

On the campaign trail, Moran's two opponents -- O'Donoghue and independent James T. "Jim" Hurysz of Arlington -- have largely shied away from raising alarms about Moran's character, whereas past opponents have found a buffet of incidents from which to choose. Those include questions about his finances, a dust-up with former U.S. Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.) and a 2003 remark about the Jewish community's support for the war that some interpreted as anti-Semitic, which cost Moran a House leadership post.

"Despite all his problems and mini-scandals, Jim Moran does have a certain rapport with voters," said Mark J. Rozell, a professor of public policy at George Mason University. "That's been the most striking thing about this election: It's been a quiet time for Jim Moran. He's had none of the kind publicity that's surrounded him several years ago with his personal conduct and difficulties in office. When it's quiet for Jim Moran, it's good."

In such a climate, both challengers have struggled to raise money. O'Donoghue has raised about $40,000, and Hurysz, who eschews contributions from political action committees and other special interests, has raised about $13,000.

Meanwhile, Moran -- who has raised more than $1.2 million and probably will spend about $200,000 on his race -- has devoted much of his time and energy in recent weeks to helping tip the balance in the hotly contested Virginia Senate race. About half of his campaign tab will consist of "co-branded" signs and literature with Senate candidate James Webb. He also has added an extra staff person and more phone banks than in years past to aid Webb, said Bryan Spoon, Moran's campaign manager.

Hurysz, 59, a self-employed quality assurance consultant, is making a second attempt to unseat Moran after garnering 3 percent of the vote as an independent in the 2004 race. Hurysz has kept his focus on local issues such as the environment and transportation, favoring transit upgrades such as extending Metrorail to Dulles International Airport, installing bus rapid transit on Route 1 and expanding ride-sharing programs.

Republican supporters say O'Donoghue has impeccable credentials. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and has an MBA from Yale and a law degree from Georgetown University. He took a leave from his civilian job after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to volunteer for Army active duty in Afghanistan, and later, in Iraq, where he was awarded the Bronze Star. And he was tapped for a high-profile appearance this week on CNN's "Larry King Live" speaking opposite Illinois House candidate Tammy Duckworth (D), a helicopter pilot who lost her legs in Iraq.

But locally, O'Donoghue said he has struggled to get his message out in a largely Democratic district in a year in which antiwar sentiment runs high. When Moran invited fellow Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), an outspoken critic of the war, to a town hall meeting this year, an emotional crowd of more than 600 packed the auditorium and flowed out into the street.

Arlington County Democratic Committee Chairman Peter Rousselot, who has watched the candidates in several debates, said O'Donoghue is "soldiering on. . . . He's doing the best he can with a terrible poker hand."

Moran said he thinks that, with the exception a few special operations troops and advisers, the bulk of the troops should be brought home by next summer. O'Donoghue favors a more measured withdrawal from Iraq, fearing that a faster move could destabilize the entire region.

"In this district and in this year, being Republican is a big burden," O'Donoghue said. "I give them my literature, and they act like it's contaminated . . . just because it's from a Republican. But in terms of Iraq, they are very sophisticated on the issue and raise criticism that's legitimate. Who's got a plan? We all recognize the need for something to be done, and they're grasping for it."