San Diego Union Tribune: Seekers of Cunningham seat shun GOP's record

SPECIAL ELECTION 50TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Running the other way for Congress

Seekers of Cunningham seat shun GOP's record

By Dani Dodge
STAFF WRITER

March 5, 2006

In their battle to replace former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, Republicans are embracing their party's ideals while distancing themselves from its record in Washington.

As deficits balloon and scandals multiply under a Republican-controlled Congress, these candidates are touting independence over party loyalty and lashing out at the GOP as often as they criticize Democrats. Setting the tone is millionaire businessman Eric Roach, whose television commercials ask, “When did Congress begin losing touch?”

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Political scientist Gary Jacobson, an expert on Congress at the University of California San Diego, said what makes this election different for Republicans is that to win, they must campaign against their party's problems. “So they can't pretend to be the most vigorous Democrat-basher,” Jacobson said. “They can't blame Democrats for the budget or Cunningham.”

Until the April 11 special election, the rhetoric is likely to get more fervent as 14 Republican candidates try to differentiate themselves from each other and Congress. Roach has already spent more than $750,000 – mostly his own money – on his campaign. Two Democrats are in the race: Cardiff school board member Francine Busby and law student and retired bank executive Chris Young... One Libertarian and one independent are also running.

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In the April 11 special election, voters will select someone from the full slate of candidates to finish Cunningham's term, which runs through Jan. 3. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent, the top vote-getter from each party will be in a runoff election June 6.

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GOP candidates across the nation are striking similar independent poses, said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. In Ohio, for instance, Republican candidates are shying away from being associated with Republican Gov. Bob Taft, who was convicted of violating ethics laws, Sabato said.

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http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060305/news_1n5elect.html

is there not much interest in doing so? I would think that Democrats would be going after the corruption, Cunningham, War profiteering, Abramoff. What an opportunity for an anti-war candidate! Imagine if it was a Democrat who had just gone to jail?

And getting that seat would be one less to go after in November ~