Burnt Orange Report

Kos Profiles Richard Morrison

By Byron LaMasters

The Daily Kos profiled Richard Morrison today. I swear, you get a competent, talented candidate to run against Tom DeLay and you get national attention even if your chances are marginal at best (ie. DeLay gets indicted). Morrison is not only a member of the Kos 8, but of the Dean Dozen. Anyway, here's some of what kos has to say about the race:

Some of us may donate based on nothing more than Morrison's opponent. Sometimes, making a statement can be all the satisfaction one needs. But crazy as it seems, Morrison has an outside chance of success. We're talking maybe a 5 percent chance, so not to build expectations too high. But giants have been slayed before. And the shifting national mood could put even the most marginal Republican seats in play.

(Partisan) polling of the district shows a surprisingly unpopular DeLay. His Approval/Disapprovals are 44/48. On the reelect question, 36 percent would definitely vote for him, 27 percent would consider someone else, and 27 percent would definitely vote for someone else. DeLay's redistricting efforts, designed to give the GOP 4-7 new seats in the district, ironically made his own district slightly more Democratic (he was feeling mighty secure).

The biggest wild card in this race is DeLay's legal problems. There's a possibility he will be indicted over the next few months, while a host of other scandals swirl around him. But at worst, a strong Morrison candidacy forces DeLay to pay attention to his own backyard, rather than spending time and fundraising energy directing resources at some of the closer battleground district.

Anyway, you can check out Morrison's webpage here and donate here.