Posted on 02/25/2006 5:13:57 PM PST by SolidSupplySide
The re-election campaign mounted by Rep. Tom DeLay, the embattled former House majority leader, is shaping up to be one of the most expensive in this political cycle.
DeLay faces three other Republicans in the March 7 primary, although none has been able to raise the kind of cash needed to knock off the congressman.
Waiting in the wings, though, is Democratic challenger Nick Lampson, who has raised $1.6 million, or nearly half of the $3 million that DeLay has gathered in his bid to win a 12th term in Congress.
Nationally, DeLay is the top election fundraiser among House candidates, and Lampson clocked in at No. 6 on a list that includes House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and other notables, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-San Antonio, is No. 5, but he raised $1.7 million over the past year when eyeing a possible U.S. Senate bid that dissipated when Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, abandoned a run for governor.
Altogether, the race in the 22nd Congressional District of Texas, with DeLay and Lampson, is the most expensive in the country, said the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks the influence of money in Washington.
In the GOP primary, DeLay faces Tom Campbell, Pat Baig and Michael Fjetland.
Campbell has vowed to spend $400,000 on the primary race. He could become a late threat.
"I would think they are taking Campbell very seriously," said Richard Murray, director of the Center for Public Policy at the University of Houston.
If DeLay fails to win the primary without a runoff, or wins with less than 60 percent of the vote, he would be considered vulnerable in the general election against Lampson, political experts say.
DeLay benefits from a money advantage and "a short-fuse primary" that goes off in less than two weeks.
Political experts are watching to see if disgruntled Democrats cross over in the primary to vote against DeLay, delivering a punch to the congressman who later this year faces a court appearance on charges of money laundering in a campaign scheme.
New mudbath
Meanwhile, across the state, the battle is brewing among three Democrats seeking to represent a border congressional district that stretches north to San Marcos and takes in San Antonio's South Side.
Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, faces former Congressman Ciro Rodriguez of San Antonio and Crandall schoolteacher Victor Morales, who grew up in the Pearsall area.
So far, the battle has been a mud bath, with Rodriguez and Morales accusing Cuellar of being a closet Republican and Cuellar charging that Rodriguez has violated federal laws on lobbying.
Morales, meanwhile, has been left out of a debate in San Antonio sponsored by the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and a candidate's forum held by a Democratic women's club.
While Morales claws his way into the race, late fundraising efforts by Democratic grass-roots organizations have helped Rodriguez become competitive in the race for the seat he lost in 2004.
MoveOn.org, the Daily Kos, Democracy for America and the AFL-CIO have raised money for Rodriguez's campaign, while the Club for Growth, a conservative group, and business organizations have sided with Cuellar, who still has the advantage in cash.
But the race has tightened, according to political experts.
Both campaigns began airing negative television ads this week as early voting began. Rodriguez, running from behind, went on the attack first.
"Cuellar had a significant financial advantage, but the voting could be very regional," Murray said. "I think the advantage lies with Rodriguez, despite the financial disadvantage, because Democrats are very charged."
Turnout is considered the key, and nothing that occurred last week has convinced Larry Hufford, a political scientist at St. Mary's University, that Rodriguez will get the votes in Bexar County to overcome Cuellar's support in Laredo.
"The first couple of days of early voting, the turnout, hasn't knocked the socks off of anybody," Hufford said.
Campbell has vowed to spend $400,000 on the primary race. He could become a late threat."I would think they [the DeLay campaign] are taking Campbell very seriously," said Richard Murray, director of the Center for Public Policy at the University of Houston.
I would think so, Mr. Murray.
Go, Campbell, Go!
It seems all the little rats are out trying to tear down DeLay.
I can't believe I'm rooting for a Dim, go Cuellar go.
These Dimmycrap ex-Congressmen can't stay away, can they?
Ping
More of your crap.
I don't think a Tom Campbell victory would be such a bad thing. It would give the 'Rats a little less ammo to use in the 2006 election.
It is often difficult to understand your points of view. The only opinions I offered are that (i) I agreed with University of Houston analyst Richard Murray that DeLay is taking Campbell seriously; and (ii) That I support Tom Campbell's campaign.
My support of a Ronald Reagan Republican can't be crap. It is, after all, my opinion. So you think it is crap that Delay is taking Campbell seriously? Why do you think so?
I am against you in that the Left would cheer should you succeed.
Easy, yes?
I don't care what the Left thinks. I want what is best for the GOP. Keeping CD22 Republican is what I want. Campbell has a better chance of defeating Lampson than DeLay. The politics of DeLay and Campbell are similar.
Yep. Easy Choice. Tom Campbell for Congress!
Give it up, buddy. Won't happen.
Just because Delay is a giant liberal bogeyman doesn't mean we should side with him no matter what. I'd rather have another Republican without a half dozen ethics charges around his neck.
DeLay has to make it out of the primary first. :)
Campbell may win but the MSM/Democrats will tear him a new behind nevertheless, and he'll morph into another RINO.
But whatever floats your boat....
What makes you say that? Campbell has solid GOP credentials.
Not in the 22nd District he doesn't. I lived here or in the 7th (next door) since 74 except for a couple of years. Been to six state conventions and worked in a hundred campaigns but I've never met nor heard of him before this race. I will be very surprised if he beats DeLay. A better candidate might have.
I'm sure there are many fine Republicans you've never heard of. Campbell has worked on Bush 41's campaign in 1988 and Dole's campaign in 1996. In fact, Campbell was one of Bush 41's political appointees.
That's all well and good, but if the people in the district (myself included) haven't heard of him, then he is not going to win.
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