Up here in the Bay Area, there has been considerable debate as to whether former State Senator Jackie Speier would challenge incumbent Tom Lantos in the June Primary. Well, by the looks of this article at Talking Points Memo, it looks like she's ready to step in.
Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA) might be on the verge of facing a really tough primary challenge. Former state Sen. Jackie Speier claims she has an internal poll that shows her beating Lantos in the primary by a 57%-27% margin. Speier has some name recognition built up after she ran for Lt. Governor in 2006, narrowly losing the Democratic primary, but she has not yet officially announced a campaign against Lantos.
Speier's pollster also told Roll Call that her poll did not include any push questions, but simply asked, "Who would you most likely support in the Democratic party primary for United States Congress, if the choice was..." and then the two candidates' names given in rotation.
I’ve written about this potential fight a number of times and, in this diary, I questioned the wisdom of challenging Lantos.
I would also caution her to think about what she will be up against. Tom Lantos 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?
I guess the time for those questions is over because I think she's in. And with that conclusion I pledge my support and promise to do whatever I can do to help her win. Tom Lantos has had a distinguished career, but no one owns, is owed or entitled a seat in Congress. That’s why we have elections. So now I say Go Jackie, Go.