Rural Dems feel ignored, threaten revolt

WASHINGTON, June 17 (UPI) -- Congressional Democrats representing rural America say U.S. President Barack Obama's administration doesn't understand -- and is ignoring -- their districts.

"They don't get rural America," Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Calif., told Politico in an article published Wednesday. "They form their views of the world in large cities."

This lack of understanding could cause rural Democrats to break ranks on issues such as healthcare reform and climate change legislation, key parts of Obama's ambitious agenda, said Cardoza, who represents California's agriculture-rich Central Valley.

"I wouldn't say it's a complete strikeout, but they've just got a few more bases to it when it comes to the rural community," said Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, a moderate Senate leadership must woo to thwart GOP filibusters against legislation such as healthcare reform in the upper chamber.

In the House, rural Democrats threaten to deliver nearly 50 votes against the administration-backed climate and energy bill, the Washington publication said.

Obama made inroads to rural areas during his presidential campaign, winning 43 percent of the rural vote, exit polls indicated. Since the election, Democrats say, he hasn't paid much attention to the rural districts.

"We'd love to see him out in rural America more," Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., said.