Md.'s Van Hollen Goes National

"It's a different place than Maryland," Van Hollen said with a shrug. "On those issues, [conservative Democrats] may not vote any differently from Republicans they replace . . . but there are a lot of other issues, whether children's health or energy policy, where they'll be part of a new Democratic majority."

For all Van Hollen's hard work this year, he still labors in the shadow of Emanuel. Many credit the Illinois congressman with leaving Van Hollen a well-oiled machine.

"It's not a stretch to say that there's an Emanuel encore named Van Hollen," said David Wasserman, House editor for the Cook Political Report. He credits the Maryland congressman with doing "a good job, not a particularly original job."

Van Hollen, a diplomat's son, patiently lists the ways this campaign is distinct. For instance, the DCCC has 50 percent more money on hand than it did in 2006, and Democrats consider 75 races to be in play, compared with 43 two years ago.

"We have a very different challenge this time," Van Hollen said. "We have had to reinvent big parts of it."

Howard Dean, head of the Democratic National Committee, said Van Hollen has distinguished himself as a "grass-roots guy." Emanuel put more emphasis on media ads and direct mail, Democratic staff members say.

Van Hollen has made dozens of trips across the country for campaigns and fundraising since becoming DCCC chairman. In the next few weeks, he will be making stops in Florida, Minnesota, North Carolina and Ohio.

"It would be an impossible job if I didn't represent a local district," he said.

He can attend campaign strategy meetings in Washington, for instance, while handling his regular congressional duties and tending to his nearby district. And that still leaves some time for his family. Van Hollen, the father of three, lives in Kensington with his wife, Katherine, a fellow graduate of Harvard's Kennedy School.

Van Hollen's Republican opponent this fall, surgeon Steve Hudson, said in an interview that the incumbent's high-profile position was distracting him from his district, which includes much of Montgomery and some of Prince George's counties. "He's really not involved in the district right now," Hudson said.

Van Hollen countered that he is deeply engaged in local issues. He said that he helped win more than $400 million in this year's federal farm bill for cleanup of the Chesapeake Bay. Two years ago, he cruised to reelection in his heavily Democratic district, with 77 percent of the vote.

"My hand is greatly strengthened" by the party position, Van Hollen said. "When you're dealing with [House] committee chairmen, it helps to be head of the DCCC."

Van Hollen's access to Pelosi is evident. Between events in Albuquerque, he made a 23-minute call to the House speaker to discuss legislative strategy. He meets frequently with the leadership, including another Marylander, Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer. Van Hollen played a key role in his party's passage of new ethics rules this year, and he said that he was among the leaders who helped put more accountability into the $700 billion financial rescue plan approved by Congress last week.

Colleagues say that if Democrats do well in the election, Van Hollen could be in line for a senior House post, a committee chairmanship or an eventual run for the Senate.

Rep. Tom Davis (Va.), who oversaw the Republicans' House campaigns in 1998, 2000, and 2002, said he would give Van Hollen a "very, very good grade" -- so far. "But ultimately," Davis added, "what will matter is what happens on election night."