Here is a look at the three biggest federal races. We'll include more races later on, if they're close, as the night develops. The Republican primary race in CD-22 to run against Congressman Nick Lampson is below the fold.
Veteran Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle yesterday endorsed foreign policy expert Dan Grant in his race for the Democratic nomination in the 10th Congressional District, saying he is uniquely qualified to step into the seat once held by Lyndon B. Johnson and J.J. 'Jake' Pickle.
"Dan Grant has the wisdom and experience that we need to face the challenges of the future," Earle said. "He is too good an offer to pass up."
Earle, who last month announced his retirement after 31 years as the county's top prosecutor, announced his endorsement during a news conference at the Travis County Courthouse.
Grant, campaigning in Austin on the last day of Early Vote, said he is proud to have Earle's backing.
"Ronnie Earle has held a generation of public figures accountable, including the man who engineered the mid-decade redistricting scheme that put the seat I'm running for into Republican hands," Grant said.
CD-10's boundaries were redrawn in 2003 under pressure from then-U.S. Majority leader Tom DeLay, who has since been forced to resign in disgrace.
Grant spent much of the past decade working as a civilian under contract to the U.S. Government in trouble spots around the world. He returned to Texas last March from Iraq, where he served as part of the international civilian team in Baghdad. He helped the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq prepare and conduct the historic elections of 2005 and, as deputy director of Iraq's largest out-of-country voting program, oversaw the effort to register eligible voters in major U.S. cities for Iraq's Transitional National Assembly election.
A graduate of Georgetown University and the London School of Economics, Grant has put forward a detailed plan to help working families find economic security during the current downturn. He has called for universal health care, significant steps toward energy independence, an expansion of the pro-work, pro-family Earned Income Tax Credit, micro-lending programs to help local companies and entrepreneurs, and new investments in education to help the U.S. compete with China, India, and other emerging global economies.
Grant grew up in Austin and interned for legendary Congressman Jake Pickle while attending McCallum High School.
To view all of BOR's endorsed candidates, click here.
Change vs. Experience. Experience vs. Change.
This year, this seems to embody our debates for choosing Democrat candidates. We will not worry now about which of the two qualities is better in a candidate, because that is not necessary. The Burnt Orange Report endorses Dan Grant for Congressional District 10 because his candidacy embodies both.
Dan Grant initially attracted the eyes of activists with a resume worthy of a Congressman. Spring-boarding off a Bachelor's of Foreign Service from Georgetown and a Master's of Science in Government Administration and Public Policy from the London School of Economics, Dan Grant began his post-collegiate life as a global civilian helping the world. In the late 1990s he monitored elections in Bosnia-Herzegovina, in 2001 he was an election supervisor in Kosovo, he then helped plan Afghanistan's post-Taliban constitutional convention, and more recently helped the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq prepare its historic 2005 elections.
In a year where the rest of the world is wearier of the United States than during any other time of my parent's lifetime, Dan Grant knows foreign policy and has the experience to help Congress remedy the issue. Mr. Grant, however, knows that experience alone fails in solving problems. This is why he titles his "On the Issues" page of his website "Agenda for Positive Change." When Texas on the Potomac gave Grant an open forum, he insisted "We need a change in Washington -- now. We can't afford more of the same." We believe that he has the youthful energy to act on this declaration.
The United States of America calls for change by disapproving of both Congress and the Presidency. America did the same in 2006, and the government's standing with the people remains the same (if not worse) because "Democrat" alone does not represent change. The problem can be remedied in only one way: in 2008, the President and the Congress must contain the energy ready to reform while simultaneously holding the knowledge and experience to do so efficiently. Dan Grant can help this country on each count.
(Dan Grant is a BOR endorsed candidate in the TX-10 Congressional Primary. - promoted by Burnt Orange Report)
Yesterday, we received yet another major endorsement. Increasing our list of endorsers to 42, the Houston Chronicle wrote:
U.S. Congress, District 10, Democrat Dan Grant - A graduate of the London School of Economics and Georgetown University, Grant has deep foreign policy experience earned as a U.S. Agency for International Development official in Afghanistan and Iraq. He favors an immediate pullout of the bulk of American troops from Iraq. Closer to home, Grant says his domestic priorities will be supporting policies geared to economic recovery and health care reform.
Our current TV spot has also received great response:
The people have spoken and believe I am the candidate for the voters in CD-10. Here is a complete list of our supporters:
In the hotly contested CD10 race, both Larry Joe Doherty and Dan Grant are up with new spots.
Grant's spot focuses on the contrasts between the two candidates. The ad focuses on Grant's experience versus that of what the ad calls a "tv personality," referencing Doherty's time on the program "Texas Justice."
Doherty's spot does not mention Dan Grant by name at all. Doherty connects the congressional "revolving door" to the rising costs of health care.
With everyone (including myself) focusing on the presidential race, races like this can be overlooked. They shouldn't be. Democrats in CD10 have an important choice and the distinctions between the two candidates go far beyond these two ads.
(Another perspective on the NAIS issue in the TX-10 race. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
Right here at BOR we have a great case study in "drive by blogging," where a small myth gets spun as truth, before being perpetuated into something uglier through irresponsible blogging.
Mark Duncan's attack today on Larry Joe Doherty is a great example. Instead of a responsible examination of the facts, the use of evidence, and a fair presentation of two opposing sides, a bunch of unfounded and unsupported claims are put forward as truth. While it may be fun to try take a whack at someone you don't like, it does readers no good to not practice a little due diligence before attacking someone.
As an avid Larry Joe Doherty supporter & volunteer, I feel compelled to try to set the record straight. Let's take a look at facts, and then go from there:
This whole squabble traces back to a simple little online bio of LJD over at KUT. In the middle of it was a claim that LJD supports an NAIS system, and that Dan Grant opposes it. At the time, there was no source to back this up. However, McBlogger picked up on this and ran with it.
Larry Joe's campaign contacted KUT, and asked them to back up on that, since he's against NAIS and there aren't any credible sources proving otherwise. So KUT corrected the bio and issued a retraction:
A spokesman for Mr. Doherty said the candidate is not in favor of the National Animal Identification System. An earlier version of his biography posted on this site reported that he supported the program. KUT regrets the error.
In case you've missed the back and forth involving KUT, Larry Joe Doherty, and Vince over at Capitol Annex in the last 24 hours, here is a quick recap.
Earlier this month, KUT published profiles on Dan Grant and Larry Joe Doherty. In Doherty's profile, KUT highlighted his support of the NAIS (National Animal Identification System) program. In response to Doherty's support of NAIS, Grant released a press release covering the fact that Doherty and McCaul agree on this "Big Brother Program."
McBlogger then ran a great piece on why NAIS is bad for the constituents in District 10:
Doherty supports the National Animal Identification System. Opponents of the program claim it is designed to benefit major agricultural software campaign donors. His opponent, Mr. Grant, is fighting against it.
This is interesting because CD10 is composed of a lot of rural area and a large number of farmers and ranchers, none of whom support NAIS. Not to mention that one of the main reasons people in the rural areas are interested in supporting a Democrat in the general is that McCaul (R - Clear Channel Communications) loves him some NAIS. The fact that it will cause small farmers and ranchers to go out of business and drive up the cost of food at the store is irrelevant to a millionaire like McCaul. Apparently, it is to Mr. Doherty as well.
Doherty's camp then called KUT, demanding they remove this, stating that Doherty had not stated in an interview that he supports NAIS.
When Vince noticed that KUT's story changed, he called in to investigate. KUT confirmed that when they were researching the story, Doherty's website stated that he supports NAIS. Here is Vince's story, and some highlights:
It appears as though Larry Joe Doherty (D-Brenham) is running away from a statements which were formerly on his website that enunciated his unequivocal support for NAIS-the National Animal Identification System.
Via McBlogger, Austin station KUT-FM reported on Doherty's thoughts, which the station culled from his website:
Doherty supports the National Animal Identification System. Opponents of the program claim it is designed to benefit major agricultural software campaign donors. His opponent, Mr. Grant, is fighting against it.
Dan Grant (D-Austin), Doherty's opponent in the March 4 Democratic Primary, even released a statement in response to his opponent's position.
Late this afternoon, Doherty's camp issued a press release calling on fellow Democrat Dan Grant (D-Austin) to "apologize" for misrepresenting Doherty's position on the National Animal Identification System in the TX CD 10 race:
This morning, KUT retracted an erroneous description of Doherty's position on a National Animal Identification System (NAIS).
This is a lie and Doherty knows it. Capitol Annex called KUT and was advised that Doherty did in fact make the statement attributed to him. However, it was on his website and not in an interview, which he evidently never returned calls about conducting. The description not erroneous. It was on Doherty's website! While Doherty is correct in saying it wasn't in an interview, everything else is 100 percent false. Doherty is just trying to run from his support from NAIS.
The only person who should be apologizing is Doherty.
My only commentary on this is - why is an Attorney that prides himself on high ethical standards apparently lying? You be the Judge.
(While Grant has garnered more endorsements, Doherty has a wide lead in fundraising. This will be definitely be a race to watch. Here, Grant adds another impressive endorsement. - promoted by David Mauro)
State Representative Senfronia Thompson, the dean of women lawmakers at the Texas Capitol and one of the state's leading champions for civil rights, today endorsed Dan Grant in his race for the Democratic nomination for Congressional District 10, saying that Washington needs a fresh voice to help strengthen economic security for middle-class families, end the war in Iraq, and restore protections for consumers, children, senior citizens, and other ordinary Texans whose values have been largely overlooked by the current administration.
"Dan is the best candidate to get the job done in Washington," Rep. Thompson said. "His vision is broad enough to encompass the entire district, and he has the energy and expertise to represent us all, from Northwest Austin to Northwest Houston."
From what I understand, the candidates are not "required" to release their fourth quarter 2007 numbers until 1/31/2008. Also, a candidate can report money recieved in January 2008 as fourth quarter 2007 if the money was "pledged" in December 2007.
Larry Joe Doherty's campaign reported his numbers in the 1st week of January. Dan Grant's campaign reported their numbers 1/31/2008. Here are the fourth quarter fundraising numbers for the two candidates.
