The blue-dog fox in the party of donkeys

Representative Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin is a fox.  Certainly she is good-looking, but that's not what I mean. 

Rather, it implies that she has incredible cunning, a savvy for the political climate. And you can't have anything less in order to survive as a Democrat in South Dakota, a state which votes consistently Republican in gubernatorial and presidential contests.

Herseth-Sandlin is what is known in the political arena as a "blue-dog" Democrat. 

That means that, while she identifies with the Democratic party and its general platform, she tends to vote more conservatively than others in her party on key issues like abortion, national security, and fiscal policy (namely taxes and spending). 

This distinction has helped her win four terms in office. .But foxes have been known to be tricksters, and some Democrats say Herseth-Sandlin is disloyal to the party.

When, however, did she swear to stand with Democratic leaders on every vote?  She didn't, of course.  Though I too was frustrated that she failed to support a few pieces of monumental legislation during this session of Congress, she hasn't tried to trick anyone.

She votes according to what she feels is best for the state and her own political career.  It's just the nature of her (forgive the shameless wordplay) foxy moxie. 

If she expects to have a chance at winning re-election every two-year cycle, she can't vote against the wishes of her constituents, even if the rest of the Democratic caucus pressures her to do so.

Herseth-Sandlin does not take this path without risk:  in a time when incumbents are being unseated left and right by challengers farther to each party's extreme edge (though admittedly more of these upsets have taken place on the Republican side), it takes courage to go against the national party bigwigs. 

She risks attacks by her own party, and even losing the financial support of the party faithful, in her gambit to position herself as a moderate centrist.  The attacks can come, in this case, from both sides.

This election cycle, however, despite much grumbling in the Democratic party leadership about her lack of support on key legislation, she once again avoided a primary challenger.

In addition, polls of likely voters show that she is ahead, albeit by a small margin, of her Republican challenger, Kristi Noem.

That's more good fortune than can be attributed to some of her blue-dog counterparts; Representative Bart Stupak, a prominent, veteran Michigan Democrat, opted not to seek another term this fall.

It appears the fox's political cunning has kept her alive for now.