It looks like the June Primaries in the Bay Area will be no snoozer at all. First, we an attempt by the Republicans to steal electoral votes from the Democratic presidential nominee via ballot initiative, a state senate primary between incumbent Carole Migden and Assemblyman Mark Leno and now a huge potential congressional primary. I appears that, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, rumors of a run by former state sneator Jackie Speier (that I discounted) were not rumors. She's seriously looking at getting in.
Looks like former Peninsula state Sen. Jackie Speier is indeed gearing up for what promises to be a big-money and highly charged Democratic primary run next June against 13-term Rep. Tom Lantos.
"It's Time!" declares an e-mail circulated by supporters to "friends" and "fans" this past week, announcing the first organizing meeting of the Jackie Speier for Congress Exploratory Committee on Tuesday at a home in Hillsborough.
Speier has been consulting with friends and supporters about a run since a poll conducted by allies in January showed her a 2-1 favorite among voters in the 12th Congressional District, which covers northern San Mateo County and parts of San Francisco.
Speier has since hired at least one staffer to start gearing up. Nonetheless, she told us late Friday that she hasn't made a final decision - and that when she does, we'll be among the first to know.
By the sound it, there will be no love lost.
"The good news is Congressman Lantos has finally come back to the district," she said, a digging reference to his trip home this week for the holidays and to attend a congressional subcommittee hearing on the Coast Guard's role in the big bay oil spill.
Let me begin by saying that, if she decides to run, I will back her 100% and do anything I can to help her get elected. When I arrived to California last year, she immediately won me over with her life story and public service record. And when she lost her primary for Lt. Gov., I was heartbroken. That race meant more to me than even the primary for governor. But the question is...
Should she run?
If she has hired a staffer, I would have thought she filed papers by now. Assuming the story is true, I would also caution her to think about what she will be up against. Tom Lanots will have the backing of Nancy Pelosi, her Bay Area collegaues, the DCCC and the San Francisco political establishment. She may be able to raise the money but it's never easy to beat a longtime incumbent, and it may be the better part of valor to let the 80-year old Lantos retire in two years. Perhaps she is trying to push him out early? Why generate ill will with Pelosi who would surely raise money for her in the future? What's more is the question regarding a poll that was supposedly done.
Speier has been consulting with friends and supporters about a run since a poll conducted by allies in January showed her a 2-1 favorite among voters in the 12th Congressional District, which covers northern San Mateo County and parts of San Francisco.
Was it a straight preference poll, or did it involve pushing respondents with "would you support candidate A if" type questions? Whatever she does, she has my support. I just hope she makes the right decision.