"They break up institutionalized incumbency protection, eliminating the career politician and the patronage system that nourishes him or her."

Although none of the signers are considered particularly vulnerable this year, the pact seems to have been driven largely by their instinct for incumbency protection.

But it is in large states with highly professional legislatures and freewheeling budgets that incumbency protection has become the most cynical of political sciences.

But none of that has kept the Legislature from indulging its appetite for pork, one of the most effective means of incumbency protection.

But regardless of cause and effect, incumbency protection raises questions of fairness that demand reform.

We've entered into an era of incumbency protection.

The Governor has said he will scrutinize the bill to make sure it is fair to minorities and does not amount to an "incumbency protection act."

But he said that overhauling the campaign finance system would have an effect similar to a term limit's by ending the "the incumbency protection racket."

Others argue that the real problem is the incumbency protection.

Will it meet the objective standards of C-Span or be used as just another tool for incumbency protection?