Stakes are high in California congressional race

June 13, 2000
Web posted at: 6:22 PM EDT (2222 GMT)

By Rusty Dornin/CNN

SAN FRANCISCO (CNN) -- Voters in the land of dot-coms and microchips can't always be counted on to swing to the left, or to the right. Silicon Valley is known for its political crossovers -- one reason why the 15th Congressional District race will be particularly tight.

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"A lot of money is going to come in from around the state and around the country because it's a key seat," says Terry Christensen of San Jose State University.

Democratic candidate Mike Honda

The seat is key for the Republicans to hold power in the House - and key for the Democrats to gain control.

Moderate Republican Tom Campbell is giving up his seat to run for Senate against Democratic incumbent Dianne Feinstein.

That means Democrat Mike Honda, a longtime grass roots politician, faces Republican Jim Cunneen, a former high-tech executive who casts himself as a leader for the new economy.

"At least I'm a guy who's been to Beijing on behalf of a high-tech company," Cunneen says. "I've been to Shanghai and Taipei. I've been all over Asia in the role of high-tech worker."

"He's paid attention to the captains of the industry," Honda retorts. "I've paid attention to the people who work and support the captains of industry."

But Washington's movers and shakers are paying attention to both candidates. President Bill Clinton personally asked Honda to run. And Cunneen has gained Republican endorsements from current and former presidential candidates George W. Bush and John McCain.

"It's a wet land conversion thing," Honda says of the newfound, high profile attention.

Republican candidate Jim Cunneen

Honda has more name recognition here where Democrats outnumber Republicans by 8 percentage points. He easily won the blanket primary, where registered voters could cast ballots for any candidate.

Republicans say he is a labor Democrat, and a member of the old guard, but Honda claims to be the new face of America.

"If Latin America and Asia are going to be the two major new areas," he says, "I'm bilingual Spanish and I've got an Asian face and an Asian culture. And I'm American, so you get three in one."

Both Honda and Cunneen are state legislators. Both support abortion rights and are strong environmentalists.

Cunneen bills himself as a moderate on social issues, but a fiscal conservative who wants to create an environment where high-tech will flourish.

"Silicon Valley is a special place and whoever represents this area needs to understand its role in the new economy and the global economy," he says.

Silicon Valley, home to the new economy, may also be home to a new breed of politics -- one where party lines don't necessarily define the candidate.

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