Democrats could see power surge
Bay Area would gain clout if control shifts

Washington -- Although public passions have yet to be stirred, the 2002 congressional election -- just six weeks away -- will set the course for the nation's political future and will greatly determine the muscle of the Northern California representation in Washington.

The tiny margin by which each party clings to power in today's divided Congress makes any result possible, from complete Republican control of the White House and Congress -- for only the second time in a half-century -- to a return to the Democrats' pre-Newt Gingrich days of glory.

At stake is the shape of legislation governing everything from prescription drugs and logging in national forests to electricity prices and the future of Social Security.

Neither California senator is up for re-election, and just one of the state's 53 House races is regarded as competitive (the Central Valley seat being vacated by Rep. Gary Condit). However, the overall outcome will profoundly affect the balance of power in the Golden State, where several Republican lawmakers in Southern California and the Central Valley now wield considerable influence, while most Northern California lawmakers toil in the Democratic minority.

Democratic victories in a handful of races from Roswell, N.M., to Bangor, Maine, could propel the Bay Area's all-Democratic delegation into arguably the nation's most powerful. With Rep. Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., as the likely speaker, San Francisco Rep. Nancy Pelosi would be the front runner to become majority leader -- the party's No. 2 post. Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, would take over the Education Committee, while Rep. Tom Lantos, D-San Mateo, would chair the International Relations Committee.

"The stakes are huge for the American people," said Pelosi, who has been raising money and campaigning for Democrats in swing districts around the country.

Pelosi said a Democratic Congress would challenge President Bush by passing a long series of measures on issues ranging from health care and the environment to abortion rights, which Bush would either be compelled to sign, or veto at his political peril.