Farm-state members of Congress for decades have campaigned on the back of farm bills delivering election-season subsidies and other goodies to rural voters.
Not this year. The bill is stalled, primarily because House GOP leaders don't want a noisy fight over food stamps this close to the election. That poses a particular problem for some Republicans in tight races for the Senate or House who will go home empty-handed when Congress adjourns this week.
Democratic challengers are using the farm bill as an example of how they say the Republican-run House is ineffective. The issue has affected Senate races in Montana and North Dakota, along with House races in South Dakota, Colorado and Iowa.
