Ron Brown, associate professor of political science, commented about how candidates who are strongly associated with a national party may approach their issues with their local constituency - especially when the national party isn\'t reflecting a district\'s priorities or viewpoints. \"It may boil down locally to the ability of the local House members, the representatives, explaining very clearly to their base why on [some] issues they supported Bush and why in the long run, it\'s good for Michigan,\" Brown says. \"The Democrats ironically may be able to overcome it by blaming Bush for the Michigan economy and bringing in the war as an issue.\"