Related Links • Post Profile: Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.) • CQ Profile: Michigan District 12 • GOP Convention Guide • Full Post coverage: U.S. House races • Full Post coverage: Al Gore • Campaign 2000 • Live: "Free Media" • Who do you want to talk to? E-mail us

Thursday, August 17, 2000; 7 p.m. EDT

One of the states that could prove critical to Vice President Gore's hopes of wining the White House is Michigan, a swing state that voted Republican for five straight elections before going for President Clinton in 1992 and 1996.

One Democrat who understands Gore's challenge in Michigan is Sander M. Levin, the 12th District congressman and older brother of Michigan Sen. Carl Levin. Rep. Levin was first elected in 1982 and is seeking a tenth term in the House this fall.

Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.) will answer questions in a live online discussion Thursday, August 17, from the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. The transcript follows.

Free Media: Michigan Rep. Debbie Stabenow (D) is challenging Sen. Spencer Abraham (R) in a race Congressional Quarterly rates as one of the most competitive in the country. How's the race going? Will it have any impact on the presidential race -- or the other way around?

Rep. Sander Levin: I would say it's a horse race, and the lead changes periodically. One or the other is usually ahead or behind by only 1 or 2 percentage points. The Senate and presidential races in Michigan are likely to impact each other. The Stabenow campaign will add a great deal of energy, and our hope is that the presidential campaign will provide the national thrust that impacts on close congressional races.

Middlebury, Vt.: Good evening. Today, washingtonpost.com reported that independent counsel Robert Ray convened a NEW grand jury (sheesh, isn't this like the third or fourth grand jury the cons have assembled?) to investigate Clinton on the Lewinsky matter which happened nearly TWO years ago!

Do you find this timing suspicious -- that this grand jury happened to be on the same day that Al Gore is to give his acceptance speech?

Why didn't Ray assemble this jury earlier? I'm not sure what you think but I think this is a DELIBERATE attempt by the cons to overshadow Al Gore's acceptance speech. Why do they ALWAYS resort to dirty tricks?

Rep. Sander Levin: The timing is indeed suspicious, as has been true of many other such events.

Washington, D.C.: Gore seems to be including his children in this campaign a great deal whereas Chelsea was kept out of the limelight during Clinton's run. Why use this strategy and do you think it's helping Gore's campaign?

Rep. Sander Levin: Gore is doing what comes naturally. His children are adults -- unlike Chelsea at the time of the president's original nomination. We should expect children who are adults, especially those who have a political interest, to be active in their parents' campaign. My guess is that the Gore siblings would've been active in the 2000 presidential race if someone other than their father had been nominated. I think it will help.

Los Angeles, Calif.: Do you think Gore will touch on Social Security in his speech tonight? What are Democrats doing to ensure that generations X and Y actually get to see a Social Security check?

Rep. Sander Levin: I am quite sure that the vice president will discuss Social Security. What we are doing to ensure Social Security for the next generations is the most vital step -- to be sure that the surplus is not squandered. So that a portion of it can be available to ensure the 75-year security of Social Security.

Free Media: That was our last question today for Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.). Thanks so much to Rep. Levin, and to everyone who joined us.

   |       |