In the midst of all the talk of trying to keep the House and Democratic losses this fall there is at least in Northern California one district where the tide is turning in the opposite direction, Sacramento-area CA-03 and Democratic Challenger Dr. Ami Bera.
Ami Bera Act Blue Page
Dr. Bera is mounting a serious, aggressive campaign against loathsome Dan Lungren and while I haven't seen any polls on this race, Bera has consistently out-raised Lungren and is not being timid in his campaigning, calling out Lungren on his double-dipping state pension,
Dr. Bera is clearly one of the few races in the country that can turn a Red district to Blue. Lungren won by a surprisingly small margin in 2008 and received less than 50% of the vote. The district even went slightly for Obama. Pair that with the anti-incumbent feeling among much of the electorate and a energetic committed Democratic candidate and there is a real feeling that this can be won.
Dr. Bera has released his first Ad:
Narrator: The LA Times says Dan Lungren is plagued by ethics issues. And criticized for being a Washington insider. There's more...listen to this:
TV Announcer: The former California attorney general spiked his state pension just before leaving office.
Narrator: Double dipping ...nearly 230-thousand dollars a year with taxpayer funds. And if that wasn't enough...In Congress, Lungren supported raising his pay six times. Dan Lungren...Spiking his pension, raising his pay and "plagued by ethics issues." Heard Enough?
Dr. Bera: I'm Ami Bera and I approve this message.
Here is how he spiked his state pension. He accepted a 25% pay increase in his last month as Attorney General, creating an additional $11,000 annually for Lungren's pension.
Dr. Bera is not above the humorous publicity stunt,like when he delivered a blue tooth headset to Lungren's Sacramento office after Lungren had gotten pulled over, while doing a phone interview with a radio station:
Bera even started a website that savagely (yet all too honestly) attacks Dan Lungren's lack of ethics during a trip to Hawaii he took on the dime of the Aviation industry.
Dr. Bera is charismatic and smart As a Doctor, he certianly knows his way around the Heatlth Care debate. And just as important he isn't Dan Lungren.
Loophole Lungren
If you do a google search of 'House Races to Watch" Dr. Bera is consistently on those lists, one of the scarce Red to Blue candidates.
Dr. Ami Bera for Congress, CA-03
Dr. Ami Bera on YouTube
DONATE: Ami Bera Act Blue Page
We can make this happen!