The names of three US politicians have repeatedly cropped up in online
gambling industry news these last few years. Goodlatte, Kyl and Leach
were the members of Congress most determined to bring about the downfall
of Internet gambling in the USA, despite their predilection for carve-outs
for other forms of gambling.
The mid-term elections this week removed one of the trio when Representative
Jim Leach was given his marching orders by Iowa voters, but Goodlatte
and Kyl remain in power.
Representative Jim Leach (64) was the US politician who originated
the idea of disrupting online gambling for Americans by attacking
the financial channels used to fund gambling accounts.
The veteran Republican politician conceded victory to Democratic Party
challenger Dave Loebsack in a close-run contest for the 2nd District
congressional seat.
Loebsack, 53, of Mount Vernon, is a political science professor at
Cornell College. His campaign platforms included raising the minimum
wage, health-care reform and offering more Pell grants to students.
He also supported a one-year timetable to withdraw U.S. troops from
Iraq, and promised to support investigations into impeachable offenses
by President George W. Bush.
Democrats took control of the House Tuesday night for the first time
in more than 10 years.
Republican Leach, 64, has served 30 years in Congress since his election
as 1st District representative in 1976. In 2001 he moved to Iowa City,
which is in the 2nd District. Leach is no stranger to close elections.
He was re-elected in 2002 with 52 percent of the vote.
Early this morning (Wednesday) with 281 out of 326 precincts reporting
statewide, Loebsack led with 51.37 percent of the vote to Leach’s
48.63 percent, according to the Iowa Secretary of State’s office.
Leach’s campaign manager, Gary Grant, said that despite the
close race, and regardless of the final tally, Leach had no plans
to challenge the race.
During his re-election campaign, Leach called Internet gambling legislation
—-making it illegal for banks or credit card companies or agents
such as PayPal to settle an online wager —- one of his proudest
accomplishments.
With little opposition, Rep. Bob Goodlatte easily coasted to his
eighth term in office, claiming a whopping 75 percent of the Virginia
6th District vote.
In Arizona, Sen. Jon Kyl had a tougher fight on his hands but ultimately
defeated millionaire shopping mall developer Jim Pederson in what
is being described as the most expensive Arizona Senate Race yet.
The contest turned on voters' attitudes about national security and
illegal immigration.
Kyl, who won his third term, moves up in Republican leadership with
the defeat of Sen. Rick Santorum in Pennsylvania. Kyl said he now
plans to run for Santorum's position as chairman of the Senate Republican
conference.
Kyl received 486 888 votes, or about 52 percent, with 95 percent of
precincts reporting. Pederson had 412 174 votes, or about 44 percent.