Sept. 27 (Bloomberg) -- For Representative James Walsh, one of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee's ``cardinals'' with control over billions of dollars in federal spending, earmark isn't a dirty word.

Walsh, a Republican seeking a 10th term in his central New York district, points with pride to his earmarks -- pet projects tucked into congressional spending legislation and approved without debate. A campaign leaflet refers to Walsh as ``The $125 Billion Man,'' the amount his House Appropriations subcommittee allocates annually.

As a ``cardinal'' -- the name given to the chairmen of the 10 Appropriations subcommittees -- Walsh has been able to deliver benefits to his constituents such as new buses and sewers, paid for by U.S. taxpayers. ``Voters relate to tangible evidence of what's being done for them,'' said pollster John Zogby, a native of Utica, near Walsh's district. ``It doesn't get any more visible, tangible, personal then earmarks.''

Earmarks were at the heart of scandals that led to admissions of guilt by Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff and two members of Congress. The House on Sept. 14 enacted rules requiring identification of lawmakers who obtain funding for local projects, a proposal Walsh opposed.

Efforts to further rein in such projects haven't gotten very far -- and may not, as long as members boast that re-electing them helps ensure the federal dollars will continue to flow.

Walsh, 59, says he has brought in $850 million for his district. That includes $48 million for housing renovation in Syracuse and $31 million to replace the region's diesel buses with ones fueled by natural gas. He also secured $7.8 million for new sewers in Fair Haven, a village about 40 miles northwest of Syracuse.

Making a Difference

``I've been able to make a qualitative difference in the economic climate here,'' Walsh said in an interview last week during a campaign swing.

Of 24 news releases his congressional office issued in August and September, 17 focused on federal funds. It may be paying off. Washington-based political analysts Charlie Cook, and Stuart Rothenberg, along with Congressional Quarterly magazine, all predict Walsh will win.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee still considers the race winnable. It is one of 40 Republican-held districts the committee is targeting. Democrats must gain at least 15 seats to win control of the House for the first time since 1995.

Strongest Challenger

Walsh's Democratic opponent, former congressional aide Dan Maffei, 38, returned to his hometown Syracuse area to run for the seat. He says he has raised about $500,000, which is more than any other Democratic challenger amassed since Walsh first went to Congress in 1989. Democrats Al Gore and John Kerry carried the district in the last two presidential elections.

Maffei says Walsh's ability to turn on the federal spigot is offset by cuts in such areas as Medicare, Medicaid and student loans that were approved by the Republican Congress --with Walsh's support -- and signed into law in February by President George W. Bush.

``This area has stayed in recession for the last 20 years,'' said Maffei, who has worked for the late New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Representative Charles Rangel of New York, the top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee. ``If Mr. Walsh's appropriations have meant that much, why are we still sliding?''

He also takes issue with Walsh's support for the 2003 Medicare prescription-drug measure that prevented the government from negotiating for lower prices, and the congressman's vote this year to permanently reduce taxes on multimillion dollar estates.

Referendum on Bush

Democrats want the congressional elections to be a referendum on the president, and Maffei is no exception.

``Jim Walsh rubber-stamps George Bush's right-wing agenda nine out of 10 times,'' says a leaflet distributed by the challenger's campaign that has a photograph of Bush and Walsh together smiling.

During a campaign swing last week, Walsh visited a senior day-care center in Syracuse that, with his help, got $546,000 in federal aid for a program that provides transportation, meals, health care and other services for infirm elderly residents who otherwise would have to live in nursing homes.

Later that day, about 15 miles south of Syracuse, he watched a harvester mow down stalks of willow shrubs that will be used to make ethanol. Walsh obtained $4.2 million for a research project to produce the alternative fuel.

In between, he made a stop among a group of inner-city minority youths who are building low-cost housing. They are benefiting from a $400,000 federal grant that Walsh helped obtain, after defeating White House efforts to cut the program.

``He's got his finger on the heartbeat of this community,'' said Rhoda Smith, coordinator of the program at Jubilee Homes of Syracuse.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jonathan D. Salant in Syracuse, New York, at jsalant@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: September 27, 2006 00:05 EDT