But Shaw has a few weapons of his own. Despite his ties to the unpopular House Republican leadership, he's largely managed to avoid being tarred as an ideological conservative. Most important, he chairs the House subcommittee on Social Security, a valuable perch in a district with more retirees than any other nationwide. In the end, most observers call the match a toss-up, with slight favor to Shaw. That's the dilemma Democrats face next fall.
Incumbency is a weapon that trumps most everything else.
And yet, if a feisty challenger like Bloom can't defeat a precarious incumbent like Shaw in a liberal district like the South Florida coast, it's hard to see where the Democrats' upset will come from. It's also the most Democratic-performing district in the country with a Republican in Congress. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced in any form without permission.