CALIFORNIA: New lawmaker already battling to keep seat {McNerney}

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 1/22/7 | Rachel Gordon

[SmithL]

Rep. Jerry McNerney, the first-term Democratic congressman from Pleasanton who unseated seven-term lawmaker Richard Pombo in November, is a marked man -- targeted by his own party and the Republicans with the next election almost two years away.

McNerney, a wind energy expert by training and a newly elected official by will and circumstance, is a prime beneficiary of what could be called the Democratic Party's Freshman Protection Act.

Party leaders have given him prime committee assignments, coveted floor time during legislative debates on ethics and renewable energy in the opening weeks of the 110th Congress, and plenty of strategic advice.

"Part of our agenda is to make sure that he has the tools he needs at his disposal,'' said Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, who recently assumed the chairmanship of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for the 2008 election cycle. "Jerry McNerney has been front and center during the first 100 hours.''

And Republicans are hoping he won't be around for the first 100 hours of the 111th Congress.

"There's no way the Republicans are going to concede that seat,'' said Assemblyman Guy Houston, R-San Ramon, whose district has some overlap with McNerney's 11th Congressional District, which cuts across parts of Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Joaquin counties.

Houston, who is contemplating a challenge against McNerney in 2008, will be in Washington next month to talk to GOP leaders. Pombo, 46, a Tracy cattle rancher who was chairman of the House Resources Committee when he was defeated in November, has not ruled out running again.

[SmithL]

McNerney

[philsfan24]

the republicans need to storm back in '08. its unlikely theyll win the house back, but they need to take at least 7-8 seats back.

[Mr. Jeeves]

There is no way the Republicans should have lost this race. It speaks to the total incompetence of the RNC that it was even close.

That said, Guy Houston would be a good candidate, if Pombo decides not to run again.

[italianquaker]

The enviros made pombo enemy number one and it worked.
Pombo country just wasnt enough

[BigBobber]

Houston would kick this guy's butt.

[glorgau]

...a marked man -- targeted by his own party and the Republicans with the next election almost two years away.

The "professionals" don't want any "amateur" citizens messing around with their livelihood.

[fieldmarshaldj]

If we don't take the 16 seats back to win the House in '08, we may not get it back for a very long time. 7-8 is completely unacceptable and would be a complete failure.