Two local congressmen vying for re-election say they’re not taking much stock in polls and have a shared goal of creating more jobs in the state.

“Personally, I won’t be taking anything for granted,” said Congressman Joe Wilson, R-S.C, who represents the state’s 2nd Congressional District. He is being challenged by political newcomer Rob Miller.

Wilson believes the presidential race between Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama is much closer than current polling indicates.

He’s optimistic voters will elect Republicans to more congressional seats next Tuesday.

Conversely, 6th District Congressman Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., has an outlook for his party that exceeds optimism. “I think there’ll be significant gains for Democrats in the House and Senate. ... Obama will get elected president,” predicts the House majority whip.

He also thinks the once bright “red” state of South Carolina will turn “blue” by the 2010 election.

However, he will be surprised if Democrats manage to capture 60 Senate seats, the amount needed to block a filibuster.

Both say varying poll numbers undermine their accuracy.

“I’m not going to get all hung up on the polls,” Clyburn said. He faces opposition from Republican Nancy Harrelson of Marion.

He notes one poll shows Obama down by 19 points in South Carolina, while another has the White House hopeful down by just nine.

Wilson says it’s difficult for pollsters to get it right. With the rise of cell phones and caller ID, he wonders how pollsters can reach people who don’t have a home phone line.

“I just don’t know how they can reach a random selection of voters,” he said.

If they are re-elected, a priority for both lawmakers is creating more jobs while simultaneously decreasing the nation’s dependence on foreign oil.

Wilson advocates an all-of-the-above approach to solving the nation’s energy crisis. That includes everything from offshore drilling to researching alternative fuels.

“All of these energy initiatives will create jobs,” he said.

Clyburn believes a new energy plan will accomplish three goals: lessen the United States’ reliance on foreign oil, help the environment and create green jobs.

Wilson also wants to reduce capital gains and corporate taxes to provide a spark to the flat-lining economy. He points out many companies are leaving the United States because the corporate tax here is twice that of Europe. A reduction of capital gains taxes will boost small business, he said.

“It will cause significant economic growth,” Wilson said.

Meanwhile, Clyburn says affordable access to health care will reverse the financial downturn. “So many of small and large businesses are in dire straits because we don’t have a health care plan that people can afford,” he said.

The highest ranking African-American in Congress issues this caveat about physically seeing the change Obama espouses: “It won’t happen overnight.” He said it will take at least four years to undo the policies of the Bush administration.

Wilson has concerns about Obama’s recent “spread the wealth around” comment. With the economy in distress, he said raising taxes is a horrible idea. “I’m concerned that sharing the wealth is a philosophy that hasn’t worked anywhere in the world. It promotes a feeling that people don’t have to work for their income,” he said.

Clyburn dismissed recent claims by the McCain camp that Obama’s tax proposal is socialist. He questions how any tax policy can be labeled socialist.

“How can you can say they cut taxes for the middle classes and call that socialism and cut taxes for the rich and call that capitalism?” Clyburn said.

Despite their ideological differences, both men believe the divisive culture that’s presided in Washington in recent years will make an about-face.

“At the beginning, people are going to see a more cohesive, civil operation of the Congress than they’ve seen,” he said. He said citizens will be treated to a coordinated approach to problem solving that will make America proud.

Wilson cites his support of Clyburn for the inland port in Orangeburg and access ramps on I-26 and I-95 as examples of bipartisan efforts. He looks forward to working with Clyburn on the Jafza project.

In addition, he said his work with state Sen. John Matthews, D-Bowman, has helped to boost economic development in the area.

“There are examples of where we work together,” Wilson said.

T&D Staff Writer Lee Tant can be reached at ltant@timesanddemocrat.com and 803-534-1060.

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