Voters Feel Mortgage Crisis

Wall Street Journal (02/13/08) P. A6; Hitt, Greg
The mortgage crisis has become a key issue in the congressional races. In the northwest Missouri congressional district, where many homeowners are struggling to keep up with their mortgage payments, Democrat Kay Barnes has been pushing the issue of housing since the beginning of the year and talking up a proposal to ease lending rules to make it easier for borrowers to refinance. In Michigan, state senator Mark Schauer, a Democrat, is challenging Republican Rep. Tim Walberg, who voted against toughening oversight of the mortgage lending; and he says the mortgage crisis is a huge issue. Democratic party strategists in Washington, D.C., recently circulated a memo that cited mortgages as a concern that should be addressed during campaigns in battleground districts.