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For members of the House, the maxim "all politics is local" is more than a cliché; it's an article of faith. It has taken on added importance in a year when Republicans are stoking voter frustration with the Obama- and Pelosi-led Democratic agenda.

For Boucher, it means pointing to his history of aiding economic development in his southwestern Virginia district, talking up his anti-healthcare vote, and deflecting criticism over the climate bill. "My focus is local — on my direct representation of this district," he said.

"It's not going to be a [Republican] wave. I've seen no signs of it," he said. "We do anticipate winning."

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A year ago, that prediction would have seemed almost heretical. The same would be true for Herseth Sandlin, who was down in the polls to charismatic challenger Kristi Noem.

Herseth Sandlin, a moderate who recently received the endorsement of the National Rifle Assn. and who voted against the healthcare and climate bills, has been painted by Noem as a loyal Pelosi ally who hasn't done enough to rein in federal spending.

"She has not been a leader for South Dakota," Noem said over lunch at a diner in Brookings, S.D. "There's bad legislation that passed that needed to be stopped. She could have helped with that."

Viewed by some as a Republican rising star, Noem has drawn comparisons to Sarah Palin. But she has been upended by a different kind of local issue: her driving record. She has racked up a bevy of speeding tickets, leading to warrants for her arrest when she failed to appear in court.

Herseth Sandlin, like Pomeroy, has benefited from the relatively strong economy in the Dakotas, which perhaps has put voters in a more forgiving mood.

"She's where most South Dakotans are — not on one side or the other of the partisan extremes, but somewhere in the middle," said a spokeswoman, Betsy Hart.

But even if Democrats manage to stem their losses, with more than 70 seats in play, the GOP could still easily secure the 40 it needs to regain control of the House.

If that does not happen, races such as the one between Herseth Sandlin and Noem will be the likely reason.

"There are always going to be benefits with being an incumbent," Noem said. "It's going to be a very tight, tough race."

joliphant@latimes.com