The Plot Thickens

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However jumpy people in Washington are getting about the Abramoff investigation, it has yet to make much of an impact with voters beyond the Beltway. When Ney appeared at the Chamber of Commerce's legislative luncheon in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, last week, he got only one question about it, and that was from a reporter. Some in his district say the allegations against him prove nothing more than what they always knew about politicians. "Why are they nitpicking with him?" asks Edith Gibson, 77, who says she appreciates the work Ney has done for veterans. "Is every other person lily white?" But there's still nearly a year to go before the election, and Democrats say the allegations have created the potential for a competitive race in a district that was once considered a lock for Ney. "He epitomizes the corruption that people around here are sick and tired of," says Dover City, Ohio, attorney Zack Space, who is one of two Democrats so far planning a bid for the seat.

Others are also beginning to feel the heat. Over Thanksgiving weekend, Democrats began running an ad in Montana that attacks Republican Senator Conrad Burns, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that handles tribal matters. Fully 42% of the contributions to Burns' political-action committee from 2000 to 2002 came from Abramoff clients. In 2004 Burns steered a $3 million federal grant intended for tribal schools to a wealthy Abramoff client, the Saginaw Chippewas. The ad implores, "Tell Burns to work for Montana's working families, not indicted lobbyists." The National Republican Senatorial Committee immediately countered with a press release pointing out that Montana's other Senator, Democrat Max Baucus, had taken $11,000 from another Abramoff client.