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Respect for Gingrich's political savvy is nonpartisan: his orchestration of the Republican revolution--with its manifesto, the Contract with America--let the G.O.P. take control of the House for the first time in 40 years. But after a bruising battle with Clinton over the budget earlier this year, Gingrich lowered his profile, to the point that some began to doubt the Speaker's ability to win even his own district. Gingrich is not every Democrat's nemesis for nothing, however, and no one counts him out.
THE ISSUES Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NO Gays YES Bosnia NR NAFTA YES Welfare YES Medical Leave NO (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "I'm not a natural leader. I'm too intellectual; I'm too abstract; I think too much."
BOB BARR (R) District 7 (Northwest--Rome; part of Marietta)
BORN: Nov. 5, 1948, Iowa City, Iowa EDUCATION: U of Southern California, B.A., 1970; George Washington U, M.A., 1972; Georgetown U, J.D., 1977 FAMILY: Wife, Jeri; four children RELIGION: Methodist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Lawyer; CIA analyst POLITICAL CAREER: U.S. attorney, 1986-90; sought Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, 1992; U.S. House, 1994- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 4323, Marietta 30001. Tel.: 770-528-9444
Barr, a Republican-revolution freshman, represents a district that has become increasingly conservative. He voted against the minimum-wage bill, opposes gun control and is dedicated to upholding the constitutional right to bear arms. A large portion of Barr's moral rhetoric has been directed against gay marriages, which he calls immoral and un-American.
THE ISSUES Budget YES Medicare YES Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NO Gays NO Bosnia YES NAFTA NO Welfare YES Medical Leave NO (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
Quote of Note: "The flames of hedonism, the flames of narcissism, the flames of self-centered morality are licking at the very foundations of our society."
CHARLIE WATTS (D) District 7
BORN: Jan. 25, 1944, Gadsden, Ala. EDUCATION: Clarke Memorial Baptist College, A.A., 1963 FAMILY: Wife, Phyllis; two children RELIGION: Southern Baptist MILITARY: None OCCUPATION: Office-supply-business owner; bank executive POLITICAL CAREER: Georgia House, 1983- ADDRESS: P.O. Box 980, Dallas 30132. Tel.: 770-443-4907
Watts says he's running because he wants to protect the elderly and the children of the U.S. Critical of the Republican-controlled Congress, which he believes is jeopardizing people's security, he has lambasted incumbent Barr for voting against the minimum-wage increase.
THE ISSUES
Budget NO Medicare NO Defense NO Abortion YES Guns NO Gays YES Bosnia NO NAFTA NO Welfare NO Medical Leave YES (For an explanation of these issues, see the front of this guide.)
QUOTE OF NOTE: "Every month, all over this district, families sit around the dinner table with a stack of bills and try to figure out how to make ends meet. They know that no matter what, they cannot spend more money than they have. Government should be no different."
SAXBY CHAMBLISS (R) District 8 (South central--Warner Robins; Macon)