CA-11: Sac Bee endorses McNerney

The Sacramento Bee (the largest and most influential paper in the district) has finally weighed in on the race for CA-11 - and not only did they pick the right guy, they framed the race just right.

It's primarily a smackdown on Pombo:

...[Pombo] has amassed a dubious list of financial supporters -- development interests, Indian gaming tribes, oil companies, foreign mining concerns and some of the most corrupt people in Washington, D.C. [...] He has taken money from admitted political fixer Jack Abramoff, and he was a protégé of disgraced House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. [...] He is at the diseased heart of the quid-pro-quo process that defines Washington politics today.

But they identify a few of Jerry's qualities that may help conservative-leaning voters to come around: that he went to West Point, has "a more practical approach" to environmental issues, and that he's taken no corporate contributions whatsoever.

I wish they had mentioned his son's military service or the fact that Jerry's commitment to energy independence has important (positive) consequences for our long-term national security. But overall it's a big win. Jerry's district is sort of schizophrenic, with the western half in the suburbs of Silicon Valley and the eastern half in the more rural and small-town area outside Sacramento. Getting both papers' endorsements is an indication that Jerry can bridge the gap.

Jerry's huge infantry of canvassers: keep your head up and bring it home for us! We're all in Richard Pombo's district. Those outside the district: it's not too late to throw him some scratch or spread the word - but do it today!

The race hasn't been polled in a while, but the last time it was it was nearly tied, with Jerry steadily closing. I think this is one of those races that is winnable, with the national momentum and a lot of local work. This is ever more clearly the year that can take down Pombo and stop his never-ending assault on the Endangered Species Act.