You might have a rip-roaring debate about rules for health maintenance organizations and federal money for more teachers. There would also be some debate about campaign finance reform, tobacco and guns. Because as soon as the vote is counted, the political parties and the press will rush to interpret the results in light of the coming impeachment debate. Unexpectedly large Republican gains will be read by the president's foes as the opening they need to continue their pursuit of his impeachment. But only the rare candidate is telling voters that this is the choice they face.
Incumbents tend to be the most cautious of all.
Here in Washington state, a bellwether for national political trends since 1992 and about as far from the Beltway as you can get, you can see how impeachment politics is playing out. In the Senate race it's the Democratic incumbent, Patty Murray, who is playing the high-minded evasion card. So imagine that both White and Murray win, a good possibility. And then there are races in which candidates send messages without ever saying the names Bill Clinton or Monica Lewinsky. In Texas, Gov. George W. Bush dismisses the issue as irrelevant to his election when asked about it.