Burnt Orange Report

Cheney in Texas to Help Neugebauer

By Byron LaMasters

Dick Cheney is in Texas this afternoon for a rally and fundraiser for Republican Congressman Randy Neugebauer. The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reports:

Vice President Dick Cheney arrives in the Hub City today to support Lubbock Republican Congressman Randy Neugebauer's District 19 bid.

Neugebauer's campaign expects the sold-out event to draw more than 1,000 participants and raise about $415,000, setting national records for attendance and fund raising at a vice presidential congressional campaign event this election year.

Neugebauer has been paired with longtime Democratic Rep. Charlie Stenholm in a new district that favors Neugebauer. While Neuebauer will spend much of the campaign wrapping himself around the Bush / Cheney ticket, Stenholm made an appearance at the Democratic National Convention last week in Boston. This was a surprise to many as the other four embattled Texas Democratic incumbent congressman chose to skip the convention. Still, Stenholm used the convention to show independence from the Democratic Party on several issues. The Dallas Morning News reported last week:

The four other incumbents scrambling for re-election in GOP-dominated districts stayed home to campaign. Mr. Stenholm opted for a cameo appearance in Boston.

The 13-term leader of the conservative Blue Dog caucus arrived Monday afternoon and returns to Abilene first thing today. He spent a couple of hours Monday in the convention hall, catching part of former President Jimmy Carter's speech but none of Bill or Hillary Clinton's.

"Al Gore was on good behavior," he said, referring to the former vice president's speech.

He attended a few receptions sponsored by agribusiness. As top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, he said, he felt duty-bound to show up, especially for a dinner Tuesday night in his honor.

"A lot of folks pay a lot of good money to be part of this," he said.

Tuesday morning, Mr. Stenholm gave an interview to televangelist Pat Robertson's 700 Club and spoke at a rally held by Democrats for Life, an anti-abortion group with only a handful of delegates.

"It's who I am and what I am, and this is part of West Texas values as I see it," said Mr. Stenholm, who faces GOP freshman Rep. Randy Neugebauer of Lubbock.

*cringe*. Democrats for Life is one thing, but talking to the devil? Err.. Pat Robertson? Oh well. The guy has got to do what he's got to do. Even before redistricting, Stenholm represented the most Republican district of any Democratic congressman. The new district isn't much more Republican, but instead of the rural counties Stenholm has represented for decades, he must win over voters in Lubbock - a nearly impossible for any Democrats, even a reliably conservative one. Still, Stenholm is a good Democrat when it matters, and on leadership votes, he's a solid D. His experience on agriculture and other issues clearly would make him the best advocate for west Texas in Congress, but that's for the voters to decide.

The latest poll that I've seen (about a month old) shows Neugebauer with an eight point lead:

In a Neugebauer poll of 500 registered voters; 49% Republican, 29% Democrat, and 19% independent, both Stenholm and Neugebauer scored 51% when it came to favorable name recognition. But when asked if the election for congress were held today (June 28-29) Neugebauer scored 8 points higher.