CQ Voting Studies are an annual analysis of a member's support or opposition to a given position. Interest Group Ratings are based on rankings from groups chosen to represent liberal, conservative, business and labor viewpoints.Voting Participation scores are based on the number of times a member voted "yea" or "nay" on roll call votes (not including quorum calls in the House). CQ Vote Studies Year Presidential Support Party Unity   S* O* S O 1998 77% 23% 84% 14% 1997 60 16 77 8 1996 76 23 82 17 1995 62 27 63 27 1994 68 28 64 29 1993 74 25 81 14 1992 38 58 78 18 1991 35 64 78 18 S=Support; O=Oppose
Voting Participation Year % 1998 98 1997 86 1996 98 1995 91 1994 95 1993 96 1992 97 1991 98	Interest Groups Year ADA AFL-CIO CCUS ACU 1998 95% n/a 44% 12 % 1997 85 100 33 22 1996 65 80 31 25 1995 60 73 48 36 1994 45 67 83 26 1993 60 83 27 25 1992 70 83 38 32 1991 70 92 10 15
Note on Interest Groups: ADA=Americans for Democratic Action; AFL-CIO=American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations; CCUS=Chamber of Commerce of the United States; ACU=American Conservative Union

NEW JERSEY 1 : Southwest - Camden

Across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, in southwestern New Jersey, the 1st is one of the state's most Democratic districts and one of the smallest in area. Much of the 1st's population is in the troubled city of Camden, one of the poorest cities in the nation.

For decades, Camden has been plagued by the departure of residents and businesses, a shrinking tax base, surging unemployment and crime, particularly drug trafficking. But the city appears to have turned a corner in recent years.

A new aquarium and a 25,000-capacity outdoor amphitheater have attracted more tourists to Camden's waterfront. The city also joined its port facilities with Philadelphia's to create one of the largest on the Eastern Seaboard, and EPA launched a redevelopment initiative to clean up industrial waste.

As distressed as the city is, the southern suburbs that fill out the 1st are flourishing with rapid development. Suburban towns such as Gloucester and Collingswood have benefited from urban flight, and in Vorhees the population almost doubled in the 1990s.

Overall, the district is one of the most safely Democratic in the state. The voter base in Camden is largely black and employed in the public sector. In the surrounding areas, the voters are blue-collar, economically liberal and culturally conservative Reagan Democrats.

Major Industry
Steel, education, shipping, manufacturing

Population
594,494 (1990)

Cities
Camden, 84,844 (1996); Pennsauken, 34,733 (1990)

People
95% urban; 12% age 65+ (ranks 10 of 13 in state; middle third nationally); 55% married couples, 27% married couples with children; 17% college educated (ranks 10 of 13 in state; middle third nationally); 61% white collar (ranks 10 of 13 in state; middle third nationally), 26% blue collar (ranks third of 13 in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Race
78% white, 16% black, 2% Asian; 6% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$35,250 (ranks 10 of 13 in state; top third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
Poet Walt Whitman grew up in Camden; Former Gov. James J. Florio served 15 years as the 1st's representative.

© 2002 The Washington Post Company