Another Hackett?
On August 3, 2005, I posted the following after learning that Paul Hackett had lost the special election in Ohio by a narrow version:
First, Howard Dean was right: we need to contest every election at every level. No more campaigning in just "battleground states. ..."
Second, the Democratic's national organization has to kick into gear earlier so that the candidate doesn't have to worry about finances when it comes to such things as polling. ...
We may have a chance to see whether Democrats have learned anything from the exciting Hackett race come October (and hopefully December) when a special election in California's 48th Congressional District is held. Christopher Cox, the incumbent in this very conservative Orange County district, has resigned to accept a federal appointment. The LA Times had a fairly brief story on it August 23.
Five parties are represented for the Oct. 4 vote for the 48th Congressional District. If no one gets a majority, a runoff will be Dec. 6.
The district includes Irvine, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, Newport Beach and Tustin.
Of interest in the rest of the article is that there are two Republicans vying for the seat, one of whom has received support from Senator John McCain, the other of whom has been endorsed by the California Govinator, Arnold Schwartzenegger. That means it is entirely possible that a run-off will have to be held because these two will split the vote.
There are a couple of Democrats running, as well as a Libertarian and some 'Independents.' The article didn't give much information on the candidates beyond their current occupations.
Only one of the Democrats has a web site that I could locate, John Graham. Bea Foster may have one up soon, but it is early in the campaign.
In any event, Mr. Graham's web site is pretty well done, and has a list of issues he intends to campaign on. He is concentrating at this point on one issue:
This election is more an opportunity for the people of Orange County to voice directly their displeasure with George Bush’s “bring ‘em on” foreign policy and particularly his blunder in attacking Iraq based on false intelligence reports and his personal vendettas.
The theme of my campaign can be summed up in three words: “Stop the bleeding.”
We are currently spending $7 billion dollars a month in Iraq. On average the lives of 60 American soldiers and Marines are sacrificed, and some 500 are wounded every month. Tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis have also been killed. It’s time to bring our troops home.
That kind of direct talk, besides being refreshing, is very reminiscent of the kind of approach Paul Hackett used. Mr. Graham is not a veteran of the Iraq War, but he does have a service record.
This race may very well play out the same way Ohio 02 did, so I hope the DCCC and other Democratic leaders are paying attention. I know I will.
First, Howard Dean was right: we need to contest every election at every level. No more campaigning in just "battleground states. ..."
Second, the Democratic's national organization has to kick into gear earlier so that the candidate doesn't have to worry about finances when it comes to such things as polling. ...
We may have a chance to see whether Democrats have learned anything from the exciting Hackett race come October (and hopefully December) when a special election in California's 48th Congressional District is held. Christopher Cox, the incumbent in this very conservative Orange County district, has resigned to accept a federal appointment. The LA Times had a fairly brief story on it August 23.
Five parties are represented for the Oct. 4 vote for the 48th Congressional District. If no one gets a majority, a runoff will be Dec. 6.
The district includes Irvine, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, Newport Beach and Tustin.
Of interest in the rest of the article is that there are two Republicans vying for the seat, one of whom has received support from Senator John McCain, the other of whom has been endorsed by the California Govinator, Arnold Schwartzenegger. That means it is entirely possible that a run-off will have to be held because these two will split the vote.
There are a couple of Democrats running, as well as a Libertarian and some 'Independents.' The article didn't give much information on the candidates beyond their current occupations.
Only one of the Democrats has a web site that I could locate, John Graham. Bea Foster may have one up soon, but it is early in the campaign.
In any event, Mr. Graham's web site is pretty well done, and has a list of issues he intends to campaign on. He is concentrating at this point on one issue:
This election is more an opportunity for the people of Orange County to voice directly their displeasure with George Bush’s “bring ‘em on” foreign policy and particularly his blunder in attacking Iraq based on false intelligence reports and his personal vendettas.
The theme of my campaign can be summed up in three words: “Stop the bleeding.”
We are currently spending $7 billion dollars a month in Iraq. On average the lives of 60 American soldiers and Marines are sacrificed, and some 500 are wounded every month. Tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis have also been killed. It’s time to bring our troops home.
That kind of direct talk, besides being refreshing, is very reminiscent of the kind of approach Paul Hackett used. Mr. Graham is not a veteran of the Iraq War, but he does have a service record.
This race may very well play out the same way Ohio 02 did, so I hope the DCCC and other Democratic leaders are paying attention. I know I will.
posted by Diane at 4:13 AM
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