The start of the New Year also signals the start of the 2006 election season. The first federal race of 2006 will be right here in San Diego County to replace disgraced representative Duke Cunningham. This election will be a chance for voters to voice their level of frustration with the Republican culture of corruption and will be the start of a larger national campaign for change in the country.
Some beltway observers have noted the Republican registration advantage in the district saying that it is unwinnable - we strongly disagree.
We want to share a few facts about the district Francine Busby is running in and why it is the perfect place for the first Democratic victory of 2006:
Relying only on registration numbers as a determination of viability is both lazy and wrong. It is the easy way out for pundits who won't take the time to analyze voting trends and political climate. It is this attitude that keeps Democrats in the minority in Congress. If we accept the pundits' knee-jerk response to congressional contests based solely on registration numbers, Democrats will remain in the minority. In 2004, President Bush received only 55% of the vote in this district. Across the country there are 23 congressional seats that are currently represented by a Democrat where Bush performed better than he did in this district. More than one of out ten members of the Democratic Caucus in the House represent districts where Bush performed better than he did in CA50.
Additionally, past Democratic performance in the district is very strong. Senator Dianne Feinstein consistently wins this district and Senator Barbara Boxer who has a record that is more liberal than many state politicians, came within 300 votes of winning. This district also identifies as 60% pro-choice according to polling done in 2004.
The most important part is, of course, the political climate. The stink of Duke Cunningham's scandals is stuck on the Republicans candidates running to replace him both because of the actual monetary ties between Duke and his would-be successors and because the Republican candidates way of `conducting business' is similar to their political hero's. Across this district, we are hearing again and again that voters do not want more of the same Duke Cunningham style of pay-to-play politics and Francine is committed to bringing change to the representation for the Fiftieth District and to Congress.
Here's to fighting in every district in 2006 and making CA-50 the first Democratic victory of the New Year. Happy New Year!
Team Busby
www.busbyforcongress.org