Posted on 10/06/2006 12:55:51 PM PDT by SmithL
Rep. Dan Lungren faced off with Democratic challenger Bill Durston in a spirited debate Thursday night that spanned the right and left and rarely reached the political center.
On topics that ranged from the war in Iraq to Social Security, the incumbent Republican and Durston, an emergency room physician, jousted and sparred, often in unusually harsh terms.
Opposition to the war in Iraq is what drew Durston into the 3rd Congressional District race in February, and he barely restrained his disdain for Lungren, who backs the Bush administration policies there.
The Vietnam veteran noted that Lungren had never served in the military, saying "I don't have respect for anyone" who favors the war but has never served or fought in one.
Moments later, it was Lungren's turn for the sharp rebuke.
"Dr. Durston happens to have more respect for the United Nations than the United States government," Lungren charged, raising boos from the audience.
Durston is fighting a tough campaign against Lungren, who has raised much more money in the 3rd District that is considered safely Republican. Today, Durston will pick up the endorsement of former Sen. Max Cleland, a Georgia Democrat who went on to head the Veterans Administration under President Clinton.
Thursday's debate was sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the South County Citizens for Responsible Growth. Held in a packed room at the Robert L. Trigg Education Center, it was the first of three scheduled between them before the Nov. 7 election.
The crowd seemed to be dominated by Durston loyalists. Because the questions were taken in writing from the crowd, many were worded in a fashion favorable to him.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Are there any recent polls in that district. It's not a solid GOP district, if I remember correctly. I no longer live in CA, so I don't have local resources there any more.
It's a quite strongly Republican district, if not solid. I wouldn't be concerned. Lungren hasn't committed any firing offenses. The district bears little resemblance to the 3rd district that elected a Democrat before 2002.
In 2000, it voted Bush over Gore, 54%-41%. That's great for California.
OK, thanks!
Lungren... has seen the "war thing" used against him before. Davis probably won because of those trillion "In a conflict that tested a generation..." (paraphrased; 1998 wasn't yesterday!) ads suffocating the airwaves when running for his first term as governor.
With that big a Bush vs Gore edge, and no redrawing of district boundaries, this should be safe. Best there be no further debates and crush this guy with ads.
Focus our volunteer efforts at closer races. This one is not likely to be a seat at risk.
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