Rep. Jerry McNerney has good competition in David Harmer

Contra Costa Times ^ | 1/17/2010 | Tim Hunt

[usflagwaver]

Rep. Jerry McNerney's re-election bid changed dramatically in the new year when San Ramon attorney David Harmer jumped into the Republican primary.

McNerney has benefitted from gale-force tailwinds pushing Democrats in both his upset win over longtime incumbent Richard Pombo in 2006 and his re-election campaign against Republican Dean Andal in 2008.

The winds have shifted with the country's increasing discontent with the extreme leftist agenda and radical spending pursued by the Democrat-dominated Congress.

McNerney has done little to separate himself from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her henchmen, such as longtime Congressman George Miller of Martinez.

With a group of little-known (being charitable) Republicans competing for the opportunity to run against him, it didn't matter. Harmer changes the game.

The San Ramon resident challenged Democrat John Garamendi for the 10th Congressional seat vacated by Ellen Tauscher when she accepted a State Department appointment heading arms control. Garamendi won by a comfortable 10 points, but that was eight points less than the Democratic edge in voter registration — a real clue to how the electorate was feeling in early November.

With the secret health care negotiations now ongoing — directly contradicting the president's campaign promises of open and televised debate — those opinions likely are even more negative.

Given the party-line vote after Senate leader Harry Reid bought off reluctant Democrats with special gifts — polling shows the majority of Americans regard the health care bill as coal left in their stockings on Christmas Eve.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Harmer jumps into the race against McNerney in CA.

[AuH2ORepublican]

Yes, I got three e-mails from Harmer’s campaign within a few days of each other explaining (i) why he ran in the CA-10 special, (ii) how people were urging him to run in thd CA-11 (which takes in most of his home town and is where he works, goes to chuech, takes his kids to school and activities, etc., and (iii) that he was officially seeking the GOP nomination for the CA-11, respectively.

I think that Harmer will be able to raise enough money to challenge McNerney and will beat him soundly (in 2010, McNerney’s only hope for survival was an underfunded GOP opponent).

[fieldmarshaldj]

Part of me wishes he’d challenge Garamendi in a rematch. With some leadership and support from Steele, which has been largely non-existent to date, I think we’d have won the seat in the special. Too bad he wouldn’t put half the effort into electing Harmer as he did depleting the party treasury trying to elect a DIABLO while bashing a Conservative in NY.

[SierraWasp]

I seem to remember a recent flash on local TV news that Pombo was seriously considering a comeback. Wonder if he’ll battle with Harmer in the primary... Hmmmmmmmmm. Pombo certainly has the experience and the solid record!!!

[Impy]

I hope he’s not harmed by the appearance of seat shopping. though since McClintock was elected from a totally different part of the state I guess it doesn’t matter.

[AuH2ORepublican]

As Harmerl said in his e-mail, Garamendi’s out of touch views cost him plenty of votes, but his carpetbagging cost him close to none.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Pombo is running, but not in his old district, he’s running in the 19th for George Radanovich’s vacated seat. Personally, I don’t think he’s the best one to be running here and the Abramoff connections are partly what resulted in his losing his old seat.

[Political Junkie Too]

Interesting that Harmer is running in the 11th this time. He may win here.

The trade-off is that the 10th has the Lawrence Livermore Labs and Travis Air Force Base, but the 11th has the Bishop Ranch Business Park where Chevron is headquartered and AT&T has a big office complex.

-PJ