The Top Five Republican Rising Stars
Welcome back to our look at Congress' incoming freshmen class. On Wednesday, we looked at the top five incoming Republicans who, judging from their campaigns, don't look like they are ready for the bright lights -- and media attention -- of being in Congress.
We now turn to the freshmen who are poised to stand out in the very large incoming class and could become rising stars. Who, for example, will make a bee line for their party's leadership, like Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) did? And who will be good fits for the cable news circuit -- and pages of GQ -- a la Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.)?
Of course, becoming a rising star comes with a word of warning: Several Democrats who were touted as the future of the party just two or four years ago lost last Tuesday -- like Reps. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) and Tom Perriello (D-Va.).
And with that, here are our Top Five Ready-For-Primetime Freshmen:
1. Tim Scott (R-S.C.)
Scott is the first African American Republican elected from the South since Reconstruction (joining West, whose personality couldn't be more different than Scott's). Scott has already been named to the GOP's Transition Team and was featured in former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's (R) post election video. The Republican Party has been seeking to showcase its increased diversity, and Scott will be a major part of that. (Scott has, however, been unclear about whether he wants to join the Congressional Black Caucus.)
2. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.)
Noem, who unseated Democrat Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, was touted as a top recruit by the National Republican Congressional Committee and showcased her political know-how in easily defeating the state's Secretary of State in the primary. She's got a made-for-TV demeanor, she was one of the party's strongest fundraisers and she unseated one of the Democratic rising stars in Herseth Sandlin. (Check out the career trajectory of another South Dakota Republican who defeated a powerful statewide Democrat.) Noem is relatively young (she's 38), attractive and, like McMorris Rodgers, will offer needed diversity to the Republican leadership.
3. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.)
Kinzinger is shaping up to be the Republican version of Patrick Murphy, at least based on his biography. A decorated captain in the Air Force, the 32-year-old scored one of the most resounding victories of any Republican challenger, easily ousting Rep. Debbie Halvorson (D-Ill.).
He also received numerous accolades for saving a young woman who was violently attacked in Milwaukee in 2006. Republican leadership, recognizing his potential, named him to the GOP's Transition Team.
4. Stephen Fincher (R-Tenn.)
In the year he's been running for Congress, Fincher has made his small rural hometown of Frog Jump, Tennessee, famous. His gospel singing quartet and farming roots made him one of the earliest recruits du jour for the GOP, making him something of a legend at NRCC headquarters.
And by winning a seat in a region of Tennessee that had been in Democratic hands since Reconstruction (John Tanner held it before announcing his retirement), Fincher can credibly claim his victory was historic.
5. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio)
It took him two tries, but Stivers finally unseated Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (D) this year. Stivers, who has been described at the GOP's "golden boy" for his political savvy, military record and fundraising ability, is a sure bet for some plum committee assignments. Stivers will need to make a mark -- his Columbus-based district may be hard to hold in a presidential year, even it if is redrawn after the census.
Honorable Mention:
Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.): There will be plenty of pressure on Grimm to perform well in Washington. By unseating Rep. Michael McMahon (D), Grimm is the GOP's lone representative in New York City (Staten Island). As a result, he'll get plenty of exposure in the New York media market. Grimm has a compelling personal story -- he was an FBI agent for nine years -- and was endorsed by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
Sean Duffy (R-Wis.): Duffy should be accustomed to the intense media scrutiny of Capitol Hill having survived a season of MTV's "Real World" and the not-quite-as-successful "Real World/Road Rules Challenge". Duffy had the guts to get into his race this year before veteran Rep. David Obey (D) announced his retirement, and cruised to victory once he did.
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