Posted on 09/24/2007 6:56:24 PM PDT by GQuagmire
The nation's top Democrats are paying attention to Dracut farmer and Republican candidate for Congress, Jim Ogonowski. On Sunday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi hosted a fundraiser for Niki Tsongas, the Democrat running against Ogonowski, in the race to represent the Fifth Congressional district. The seat opened when Democrat Martin T. Meehan stepped down to become chancellor of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. A special election is scheduled for Oct. 16.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Tsongas, who suspended her campaign after the death of her sister, did not attend the event, which raised an estimated $75,000. She was represented by Meehan's wife, Ellen Murphy Meehan, who chairs the Tsongas campaign committee.
One recent poll showed Ogonowski within 10 points of Tsongas. Given Tsongas' name recognition - she is the widow of former US Sen. Paul Tsongas -- that is unexpected strength for a Republican in the blue state of Massachusetts. Ogonowski is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel whose brother, John Ogonowski, died during the September 11 terrorist attacks.
During remarks to Tsongas supporters, Pelosi stressed Tsongas' commitment to withdrawal of troops from Iraq. "The biggest ethical challenge we have before us is the war in Iraq," she said. "That's why we need Niki Tsongas." She also said the election was "a referendum" on the administration of President George W. Bush.
Tsongas supports a timetable for troop withdrawal. Ogonowski says the invasion of Iraq was wrong, but believes American troops must remain in that country until it is stabilized.
Even with Democrats in control of Congress, no timetable for troop withdrawal has been set. "This is a big fight for us," Pelosi said at the fundraiser. "I'm disappointed myself."
Last week, only 56 senators supported an amendment by US Sen. Jim Webb, a Virginia Democrat, to guarantee troops more time at home. Specifically, the legislation would have required that troops spend as much time at home training as they do fighting in Iraq or Afghanistan. In an interview after the fundraiser, Pelosi said that the public does not understand the political logistics -- that 60 votes were needed for the United States Senate to take action. "It's an inside baseball thing," Pelosi said, ".Last week was a moment of truth.... We have to make it clear to the American people."
Asked if the anti-war left is making it difficult for Democrats in Congress, Pelosi said that if MoveOn.Org asked for her advice, she would have told them not to run the ad which referred to Gen. David Petraeus as "Gen. Betray US." "General Petraeus is a four star general who served his country well, " she said. Even so, she accused Republicans of shedding "crocodile tears" over the ad, given their own attacks on the patriotism of Democrats such as Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts and former Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia.
The quest to change Iraq war policy is a key reason why Tsongas must win, Pelosi said. "She will be the voice and vote of her district... Look what it says on her brochure -- end the war, bring the troops home safely and quickly. "
On Sept. 30, former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to stump for Tsongas in Lowell.
From savewrko.com (a blog,not me).........
Watch Ogonowki’s first TV ad, and you’ll see that this is no fluke. The man has as compelling a biography as any I’ve seen in politics: a 28-year veteran of the Air Force and Air National Guard, a family that goes back in the district over 100 years, and a connection to September 11th that first brought him to the attention of Massachusetts and the nation.
On that day, Jim’s brother John Ogonowski was the pilot of hijacked American Airlines Flight 11. Jim Ogonowski would speak on national television that afternoon. After the tragedy, Ogonowski took over his brother’s family farm, which he runs to this day. Today, Ogonowski says he’s running in large part because of what changed that day.
*Bump*
BUMP!
The Democrats wouldn’t be doing this if they weren’t concerned about losing this race.
There’s an outside chance for a pickup here, and in MA to boot! We definitely take the chance!
(Pelosi’s comments are shallow and transparent politics.)
I thought Pelosi would be holding a fundraiser for her ally, the President of Iran, aka Hitler Jr.
Granted he is not as conservative as I would prefer, but in MA, you take what you can get. Unfortunately, this is not my district, we are stuck with the DSA’s own Olver.
It’s nice to think of a GOPer winning in the anti American’s home base, but a Catholic priest winning in China is more likely.
Who would come to campaign? Bush would do more harm than good I’m sorry to say. Romney’s name is mud around here.Maybe Giuilani would be the best bet.Or possibly Bush the elder.Other than that I can’t think of anyone else.
Massachusetts is a lost cause.A LOST CAUSE! (sorry for yelling but this is an important point).The only good news that we might hope for from the state in the next few years is that we lose **two** House seats after the 2010 census as some are suggesting might happen.
You’d think Cellucci, Weld, or even G.H.W. Bush would come for him. Someone should.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.