U.S. Sen. Harris Wofford earned a solid victory by targeting middle-class voters. Now he has the tough task of fighting in Washington to address Pennsylvanians' concerns.

National health care, tax cuts for the middle class, job protection and higher education funding -- all staples of the senator's successful Senate run against former U.S. Attorney General Dick Thornburgh -- must now take center stage for the three remaining years of his term.

"He's more important as a symbol than as an individual leader," said Robert Friedman, professor of political science. "This is an unusually intelligent man. He has had a great career . . . he's been all over the place."

No single politician can correct all the problems, Friedman said, adding that Wofford's real success might have been to help the Democrats focus a platform for the 1992 presidential election.

"The issues are linked to irritation with taxation, horrendous rising health costs and the negative state of the economy," he said. "You better believe this victory will help the Democratic majority focus on specific issues."

By addressing important issues, Wofford sent a signal to the White House, said Joel Marks, Wofford's campaign spokesman.

"It's time to focus energies to the issues at home," he said. "The White House has been neglecting domestic issues and now is the time for that to end."

But there is no way to tell if Wofford will be successful, Friedman said.

Philip Klein, professor of economics agreed, but said, "Americans need to grow up" in order to solve problems.

"We still need schools, we still need health care, we still need highways and we still need services. But they all take money," he said. "The problem is that nobody wants to pay taxes."

Wofford addressed that want, but not where the funding will come from, Klein said.

"Wofford knows what needs to be done," he said. "Hopefully, he will be a breath of fresh air in Washington."

And Wofford is also a novelty in Pennsylvania -- the first Democrat to win one of the state's U.S. Senate seats since 1962.

"It's time for change in America and in Pennsylvania," Marks said. "He's not just a man of words, but a man of action."

The 65-year-old senator's top priority will be pushing for national health coverage and lower taxes, Marks added.

"These are issues that are very close to the senator's heart," he said.