Burnt Orange Report: - Larry Joe Doherty

Who is our TX-10 Candidate?

txdem10 — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:13:54 GMT

Has anyone read the latest posts about the Jack McDonald vs Michael McCaul race for the Texas 10th District? We deserve a strong, progressive Democratic candidate in a district which is trending Blue. Increasingly, it looks like McDonald has the same "I'm not really a Republican" problem plaguing Tom Schieffer's candidacy.

I have found a few documents that I find very surprising and require some answers. A short ten years ago, Jack McDonald was registered as a Republican in New York City where he worked for a prominent Wall Street law firm. See the link below:

http://www.keepandshare.com/do...

Okay, so he was once registered GOP - I'd like to know why and what changed his heart and I'm sure I can accept those answers. What deserves a little more explanation is why he was repeatedly donating to George W Bush - one big contribution coming as late as 2003. See the link below:

http://www.keepandshare.com/do...

Our last TX-10 candidate, Larry Joe Doherty recently put his support behind Jack McDonald, but is anyone asking any questions about McDonald's past political affiliations, his donations, and his positions on key progressive issues? I think it is very important that we know who he is, what he stands for, and where he is going to lead our Congressional District, if elected.

TX-10: Larry Joe Doherty Endorses Jack McDonald for Congress

Phillip Martin — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:28:48 GMT

From an e-mail (copy and pasted):

“I enthusiastically endorse Jack McDonald for Congress in the 10th Congressional District of Texas,” said Doherty. “I have gotten to know Jack very well over the last several months and believe that Jack is exactly what our District needs. He's a self-made man who has experienced and understands the struggles that Texas families face, a businessman who values fiscal responsibility and knows how to keep Texan workers competitive in our global economy, and an involved citizen with real-world experience who has created jobs and improved healthcare and education opportunities for Texans. Jack is the kind of principled, responsible leader we need in Congress. We expect him to win and Joanne and I look forward to actively supporting his campaign."
“I’m proud to have earned Larry Joe’s support and endorsement, ”said McDonald. “As we travel throughout the District, we continue to hear from Texans of all backgrounds and political affiliations that they want in Congress independent, fiscally-responsible leaders.”

The Hill Marks 2 Texas House Seats a "Dark Horse Races"

Karl-Thomas Musselman — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:27:21 GMT

In Texas, we have a distorted view of what a "swing seat" is for Democratic targeting. Given our multiple rounds of redistricting, true marginal seats in the traditional sense are hard to find. Texas Democrats either hail from incredibly safe districts, districts that are safe due to demographic trends but not ideology, or Republican districts where great Democrats make an exception (Chet Edwards).

That said, it's encouraging to see not one, but two Republican Congressional seats listed among the top 10 potential "dark horse" breakout races that are causing buzz in the Beltway. And not only that, but they are at the top of the list.

From The Hill...

1. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas)
McCaul was technically a lower-tier Democratic target in 2008, but that was really only because his opponent, former TV judge Larry Joe Doherty (D), was raising money like gangbusters. Doherty really didn't have the right profile, and he wound up losing by a pedestrian 11 points - the exact margin of the presidential tally in the district. Now, Democrats have another big-money candidate, with businessman Jack McDonald raising $300,000 in the first quarter. We'll see if he has the right profile, but the fact that he is vice chairman of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce suggests he might. The party has already put McCaul near the top of its target list.
4. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas)
Democrats tried to mount a late charge in 2006 against National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Tom Reynolds (R-N.Y.), and they could do it again in 2010 against current NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) only took this suburban Dallas district 53-46 in the 2008 presidential race, and the heavily Hispanic areas have grown at a faster pace than the white areas. Sessions's district is actually probably more fertile ground than McCaul's, but Democrats might not have as good a candidate. Attorney Grier Raggio (D) has an exploratory committee, but it's not clear who else might emerge.

In TX-10, Democrat Jack McDonald expressed earlier today that there is good reason to be paying attention to the 10th yet again, having raised over $634,000 to date with over half a million on hand, even while in exploratory mode and having yet to roll out campaign staff or field. While there isn't a equivalent Democratic response in TX-32 up in Dallas as of yet, the more competitive nature of the district and county coordinated campaign there provides a bit more breathing room for a top notch candidate to get settled.

TX-10: Mike McCaul's Bad Fundraising Numbers

Matt Glazer — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 01:00:00 GMT

On March 31, Jack McDonald announced he had raised over $300,000 in 5 weeks.

Our own David Mauro wrote:

This is clearly an impressive start and is probably going to make any other Democrats who were considering jumping in this race think twice. Perhaps the report may even inch incumbent Mike McCaul towards a bid for Attorney General.
District 10 encompasses two media markets and is among the most expensive districts in the state. Larry Joe Doherty raised over $1 million last year and still lost by double digits. We are going to need a lot of money (and a great candidate, of course) to have a good shot at winning this district. It is early, but I think McDonald has the potential to provide both.

Almost exactly 1 week later, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) released radio ads discussing Republican Mike McCaul's vote against tax breaks for the middle class.

Seems like a good investment.

Congressman Mike McCaul raised only $ 97,795 this reporting period and spent $ 81,515.80 leaving him with just $ 62,431.80 left in the bank. Wait, wait, it gets better. McCaul still has $ 511,252.56 in debt.

Mike McCaul is looking more and more vulnerable every campaign season.

TX-10: Bill Clinton Records Robocall for Larry Joe Doherty

David Mauro — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 15:33:36 GMT

President Bill Clinton has recorded a robocall for Larry Joe Doherty that will be used on Monday.

In the call, Clinton reminds voters that, "Tuesday is the day. It all comes down to who shows up to vote."

Clinton calls Doherty, the Democratic nominee against Republican Mike McCaul,"a real Democrat who's standing up for health care, education, and fighting to get our economy back on track."

The call, presumably sent to Democratic leaning households, could also provide a slight boost in turnout in the district that could benefit candidates like Donnie Dippel along with all of our statewide candidates.

A robocall from Bill Clinton is further proof that Mike McCaul is in trouble and national Democrats are starting to smell blood in TX-10.

TX-10: Fact Checking the First Larry Joe Doherty/Mike McCaul Meeting

Matt Glazer — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:00:00 GMT

The Houston Chronicle has a great article today with play-by-play of the first meeting between 10th District foes for Congress: Democrat Larry Joe Doherty and Republican Incumbent Mike McCaul.

The articles sub-headline cuts right to the chase: Doherty slams McCaul on taxes, health care and his voting record.

It is time McCaul (TX-Rubberstamp) is exposed for the partisan politician he is:

"I've been an independent voice up there, and that's important to me," said McCaul."

Fact: According to Congressional Quarterly , McCaul has voted with his party 95% - that is hardly and independent voice.

"McCaul said he had schedule conflicts on dates offered by debate sponsors."

Fact: Doherty issued a release saying he would agree to a debate at "a time and place that will work best for [McCaul's] schedule."

"McCaul did not respond to Doherty's charge that the congressman voted to cut Medicare reimbursements, then switched his vote when he saw it would make no difference to the outcome of the legislation."

Fact: McCaul's initial decision was to vote against doctors and Medicare beneficiaries who need critical health care, but when he realized he could avoid a PR disaster before the final bell, he flipped.

The McCaul campaign is running scared and trying to hide behind false facts and an empty record for the voters of Texas' 10th Congressional District.

TX-10: Michael McCaul Worried about Early Vote

Karl-Thomas Musselman — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 02:56:47 GMT

It's not often that Republican incumbents or their staffs muse openly about being worried about their re-election changed. Especially not if they are Texas Republicans.

But that's what's happening in the 10th District according to the Statesman.

The campaign of U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, wasn't exactly thrilled with the first few days of early voting.
McCaul campaign manager Jack Ladd told supporters on Wednesday night that, according to past primary history, Democrats in Harris and Travis counties outvoted Republicans two-to-one in early voting.
"This is very bad news," McCaul campaign manager Jack Ladd said in an email to supporters. "If you think your friends are volunteering, they are not. I know I'm not going to sit down and die, and I know you will not either. There are only 12 days left, and this is not a lifelong commitment, we are asking you just give part of a day or days and help keep CD10 Republican."

For a more in depth overview of the race, be sure to check out this article.

In addition a new Research 2000 poll has the race tightening with McCaul up just 46-42. As was noted in the write up...

McCain wins the district 48-41. Bush won the district 62-38 in 2004. That augurs well for Noriega, and maybe even Obama.

On the Web: Larry Joe Doherty

Help Us Shut Down MikeMcCaul.com!

ReTortionist — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:19:09 GMT

(Xposted at TexasKaos)

We've been intermittently publishing the McCaul Retort for almost two and a half years. That's like fifteen years or something, in Interwebz time!

The Doherty campaign sent out the following quote from a McCaul communique:

I wish that I could email you under better circumstances, but today we received shocking news. After receiving numbers from the Travis and Harris County elections offices, we have determined that Democrats are out-voting Republicans 2:1 in both major counties in Congressman McCaul's district. This is based off of voters that have voted with primary history. This is very bad news.

THIS
IS
GOOD
NEWS
FOR
TEH McCAUL RETORT!!!!

Please, won't you help us shut it down? A vote for Larry Joe Doherty is a vote to shutter this opposition website forever.

Wouldn't the world be a better place with one less political website?

Vote for Larry Joe Doherty today!

Daily Texan Endorses Mostly Democrats (so far)

Michael Hurta — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:46:48 GMT

In 17 general election endorsements so far, the Daily Texan has endorsed 13 Democrats. Of half the endorsements going to non-Democrats, no Democrat is running (CD 21, CCA 9).

Here are the endorsed Democrats:

Rick Noriega, US Senate

Larry Joe Doherty, US Congressional District 10

Lloyd Doggett, US Congressional District 25

Brian Ruiz, US Congressional Districct 31

Valinda Bolton, TX House District 47

Donna Howard, TX House District 48

Mark Strama, TX House District 50

Diana Maldonado, TX House District 52

Eddie Rodriguez, TX House District 51

Jim Jordan, TX Supreme Court Chief Justice

Linda Yanez, TX Supreme Court Place 8

Susan Strawn, TX Criminal Court of Appeals Place 3

Jim Coronado, 427th District Judge

Perhaps the oddest endorsement is Criminal Court of Appeals, Place 4. With a Republican incumbent and a Democratic challenger, the Texan decided to endorse the Libertarian, Dave Howard. Apparently he "has strong criticisms of the court with which we could not agree more."

TX-10: Larry Joe Doherty Releases New Ad

Matt Glazer — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:40:57 GMT

Newly minted "red to blue" candidate Larry Joe Doherty has released his new ad for the final days of the election. It's a hard hitting piece that focuses almost entirely on the economy.

Lee Nichols at the Austin Chronicle appears to be entertained and stunned to see ads for the 10th Congressional District.

This is a major development - to my knowledge (and I've been covering the modern District 10 ever since Tom DeLay personally drew it up in 2003) there have never been general election television buys. This is because there has never been a Democrat in CD 10 capable of buying one, and thus McCaul has never needed to buy one, either.

What a difference a few years makes.