Braley, Loebsack have similar backgrounds, different approaches

Soon after Rep. Eric Cantor, a GOP leader from Virginia, quit budget talks last month because Democrats insisted on eliminating tax breaks for the wealthy, Rep. Bruce Braley dashed off a mocking tweet.

“Do you always leave the kitchen when it gets too hot?” the Iowa Democrat's tweet said.

Braley's quick criticism of GOP behavior is an indication of his pugnacity.

After next year's elections, Cedar Rapids may be represented by Braley in Congress, instead of its current Democratic congressman, Dave Loebsack. But since Braley and Loebsack have nearly identical voting records and positions on issues, the change may center more on style than substance.

Loebsack has been the city's U.S. House representative since 2007, the same year Braley was elected to the neighboring 1st District.

But redistricting has drawn Cedar Rapids and Linn County into the 1st District.

Loebsack has said he plans to move to the new 2nd District, which includes all but one county he represents now - his home county of Linn.

Braley said he knows his new turf and has worked closely with Loebsack on issues that affect Eastern Iowa.

He also said he and Loebsack are cut from the same political cloth and have much more than that in common.

“We come from similar backgrounds and families that taught us the value of hard work,” he said.

Both Democrats rose from modest beginnings.

Loebsack, 58, was born in Sioux City, where he was raised by a single mother in a working-class home. He taught political science at Cornell College in Mount Vernon for 24 years before his election to Congress.

Braley, 53, was born in Grinnell and grew up in Brooklyn, Iowa. After his father was severely injured at the grain elevator where he worked, his mother supported the family as a teacher. Braley worked as a lawyer in Waterloo for 23 years before his election to Congress.

Cary Covington, political science professor at the University of Iowa, said Loebsack's years as a professor give him an “academic demeanor” and a willingness to weigh all sides of an issue, even his opponent's point of view.

“Braley is more of an advocate,” Covington said. “He's someone who presses for his position, not feeling the need to validate the opposite side.”

Braley's official House biography, calls him “an outspoken voice in Congress for the people of Iowa.”

“He's really the way most politicians seem to be, he takes potshots at the opposite side,” Covington said.

While their personalities may differ, the lawmakers share a similar ideology and voting record. According to a Washington Post study, Braley voted with his party 93 percent of the time this year. Loebsack voted with his party 91 percent of the time.

“People may see our personalities as different, but we are both passionate about working together to continue to recover from the floods of 2008 and to rebuild the economy,” Loebsack said.

One rare instance where the Iowa Democrats split on an issue was the vote June 24 on a resolution that would cut funding for U.S. forces fighting in Libya.

Braley voted for the resolution, which failed, while Loebsack voted against it.

Braley said Loebsack's seat on the House Armed Services Committee made it more difficult for him to cut funding.

“But my job is to take care of veterans,” he said.

Braley sits on the House Veterans' Affairs committee.

Both the 1st and 2nd congressional districts lean Democratic. Both districts have college towns - which tend to be more liberal than other communities - and a history of unionized labor at packing houses and manufacturing plants like John Deere.

But there's a chance Braley could lose re-election next year and someone else represent Cedar Rapids in Congress. Braley and Loebsack both ran tight races last year to keep their seats.

Cedar Rapids businessman Steve Rathje, who ran unsuccessfully in the GOP primary to unseat Loebsack in 2010, may challenge Braley next year.

Dan Dolan, a Republican developer from Blue Grass said he wants to run against Loebsack.

And others may try to unseat the Democratic lawmakers.

But University of Virginia political science professor Larry Sabato said they should be able to stay in Congress.

“They're both safe,” he said. “They're not on anybody's endangered list.”

The University of Iowa's Covington is more cautious.

“If unemployment goes up beyond 10 percent, a frustration candidate may endanger one or both of them,” he said.