By SCOTT SMITH and KEN de la BASTIDE
U.S. Rep. Dan Burton has become an adopted favorite son of sorts in Howard County, where his popularity continued unabated Tuesday night.
The same could be said for his incumbent, Democratic colleague, Joe Donnelly.
Both congressmen cruised to re-election due in part to strong showings in Howard County.
Burton came close to doubling the vote total of Democratic challenger Mary Etta Ruley here, and Donnelly’s 63 percent to 34 percent margin over GOP challenger Luke Puckett wasn’t much worse.
“The reason I wanted to be here tonight was because you are such a group,” Burton said at Howard County GOP headquarters. “There’s not a county in my district that worked as hard to make sure I was renominated. You are the best.”
First elected in 1982, Burton has represented Kokomo since 2000.
Tuesday was a special night in Kokomo, with the congressman accompanied by his wife, Sonya, and greeted by the Phan family, whom he helped immigrate from Vietnam five years ago. Chris Phan and his wife, Tina, operate a beauty salon in Kokomo. Their sons Chris Jr. and Nathan are in the Western school district.
Burton promised to keep up the conservative battle flag in Congress, no matter Tuesday’s results.
He said he expected Republican opposition to become more strident if the Democrats increase their majority in the U.S. House.
“The more you’re in the minority, the less you have a voice in Congress, but I’ll be on that floor a bunch, especially if Obama wins,” Burton said. “We’ll have to be very vocal to make sure he doesn’t come up with a bunch of new spending or new programs.”
Donnelly said he was pleased and humbled by his re-election, and a chance to serve a second term.
“What I think it says is that, for the voters in our congressional district, I promised change and I brought change,” Donnelly said.
The Democratic agenda, he said, is first and foremost to immediately create more jobs for the district and for the state.
“We want to get our financial situation back on an even keel and moving forward. We want to make sure we’re moving toward energy independence. We need to stabilize Iraq and move toward a more successful conclusion in Afghanistan,” he said.
On the issue of partisanship, which Burton indicated should increase if the Democrats take both houses and the presidency, Donnelly said he would continue to reach across the aisle.
“We have a very serious obligation to lead the world,” he said. “Everyone is looking toward America to lead the world toward financial stability and toward stability in Iraq and Afghanistan. I take that challenge seriously, and I plan to accomplish those goals.”
Puckett was unavailable for comment after the election day results, spending time with his family.
Brian Sikma, Puckett’s spokesman, said Puckett congratulated Donnelly on his victory.
Sikma said the campaign was run on issues and not personal attacks.
“Luke had conceded the election, but not conceded the principles and ideals of his campaign,” Sikma said. “These are the sanctity of life, government that sets parameters and lower taxes. His positions strongly differed from Donnelly’s. We campaigned on issues that were a concern to the voters.”
Sikma said Puckett didn’t rule out another run against Donnelly in 2010.
For Burton, winning a 14th term may have had a special feel, coming amid his (newer) admirers in Kokomo. But such a long spell in Congress naturally leads to questions of when he’ll retire.
“In 2010 — and right now I’m not making any comments one way or another — but that will be the year new districts are drawn for Congress, and I’m going to give it some very serious thought,” he said.
