Cheney may visit Waco to raise money for Wohlgemuth

Waco Tribune-Herald ^ | 5/7/04 | Miguel Liscano

[SwinneySwitch]

Vice President Dick Cheney is expected to attend a general election campaign kickoff rally for Republican congressional candidate Arlene Wohlgemuth in Waco later this month.

The vice president's press office said it could not release his schedule until 48 hours before an event because of security reasons. The Wohlgemuth campaign said it could not "confirm or deny" his anticipated attendance at a rally in opponent U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards' hometown. But a fund-raiser invitation e-mailed to the Tribune-Herald Thursday alerted Wohlgemuth supporters that Cheney would be featured at the event.

Todd Smith, a Wohlgemuth spokesman, said he could only confirm that the document, printed on campaign letterhead and sent by a supporter, was produced by the camp.

"That was a letter that was being distributed by supporters and volunteers of the Wohlgemuth for Congress campaign," Smith said without elaboration.

The Edwards campaign said it would not comment on something that hasn't officially been confirmed, but questioned the Wohlgemuth campaign's reluctance to speak up even though President Bush and Cheney last year attended multiple events nationwide supporting Republican candidates.

"It is bizarre that the Wohlgemuth campaign cannot confirm an event for which they have apparently sent out an invitation," said Edwards spokesman Chris Turner.

The rally is scheduled for May 21 at the Waco Convention Center. It would be the first time Cheney has campaigned for a congressional candidate opposing Edwards, a 13-year incumbent Democrat.

"There's a whole lot being said by that," said McLennan County Republican Party Chairman M.A. Taylor. "Obviously, I don't think the administration is going to back somebody they might consider a loser.

"It should be a wakeup call to local voters that the folks in Washington who are running the place think she would be a good congressman."

Cheney would visit an area where the political climate was changed by last year's controversial GOP congressional redistricting plan. Republican state leadership, prompted by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, said Texas' 32-member delegation to Congress should reflect Texas' increasingly GOP-leaning voting patterns. The delegation to Washington is currently split 16-16.

Edwards was one of seven Democratic representatives targeted in the redistricting battle, and his current district was reshaped in hopes of his ouster. Now Edwards and Wohlgemuth are campaigning in a 180-mile-long district stretching from Burleson to College Station.

Wohlgemuth, who hails from Burleson, has said she anticipates a tough fight against Edwards. The incumbent congressman goes into the race with a political fund about 16 times larger than Wohlgemuth's. She spent most of her funds on hard-fought primary election and runoff campaigns where she defeated two GOP opponents to face Edwards.

Miguel Liscano can be reached at mliscano@wacotrib.com or at 757-5735.

[SwinneySwitch]

http://www.arleneforcongress.com/home.aspx

[sharktrager]

I hope she can win.

Edwards is a twit.

[COEXERJ145]

I have a feeling that Edwards will manage to squeak out a win. Too many people around here see him as a "conservative Democrat" and they will vote for him over someone they don't know and who's name they cannot spell or pronounce. Why too many senior citizens will be voting for Edwards for just these reasons.

[MeekOneGOP]

Cheney may visit Waco to raise money for Wohlgemuth

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Texas ping list!. . .don't be shy.
No, you don't HAVE to be a Texan to get on this list!

[deport]

I have a feeling that Edwards will manage to squeak out a win. Too many people around here see him as a "conservative Democrat" and they will vote for him over someone they don't know and who's name they cannot spell or pronounce. Why too many senior citizens will be voting for Edwards for just these reasons.

---

So you feel that with the President at the top of the ticket in 2004 along with the fact that the new district voted an average of 64% Republican in 2002 for statewide candidates isn't enough to defeat Edwards...... I guess we'll see come Nov. 2.

[Pippin]

Being a bit of a Cheney fan, Thanks for posting this picture.

[MeekOneGOP]

You bet. I'm a Cheney fan too. ;^)

[DoughtyOne]

Waco... there's unfinished business concerning Waco. I wish someone would raise money to fix that problem.

[COEXERJ145]

I think the problem is there are too many old people who are going to vote for Edwards even though they normally vote Republican. There are even some houses around here with Bush/Cheney and Chet Edwards signs side by side. I'm not saying Edwards is going to win with 70% of the vote but a 50.1-49.9 win is possible. Edwards is a graduate of Texas A&M (big plus in Bryan/College Station), is well known since he represented the area once before, and the TAMU faculty is just having orgasms over him. All of these things help him big time.

I have yet to see one commercial for Wohlgemuth but Edwards is running commercials every day about how strong he is on defense, how he will help seniors (the group he knows he has the most pull), how he wants to help the "middle class", keep jobs in Texas, and bring more federal more for District 17. He has been speaking every few weeks at Texas A&M which gives him lots of free media coverage by the local TV stations and papers.

Wohlgemuth better get off her butt and start firing back or it will turn into an Edwards runway by November.

[Pippin]

:O)

[deport]

Yep..... sometimes the forest is hard to see for the trees. We'll know soon enough. Edwards may walk away with it but my guess is he's got a fight on his hands or the Bush/Cheney campaign wouldn't be investing time and energy into it..... How's he doing up district like McClennan and Johnson Counties?

[COEXERJ145]

I don't know. I've only talking about what I see down in Bryan/College Station. I'm sure there are some Freepers up in those areas who can give a report.

[deport]

I don't know.

---

Thanks......

[Vigilanteman]

Edwards is only 28% lifetime, making him a pretty bogus conservative, compared to Chuck Stenholm, who pulls 70%.

[Texagirl4W]

Is this a picture that VP Cheney sent you? It's a good one.

[COEXERJ145]

Unfortunately, perception is more important than reality. Edwards is seen by many to be a conservative Democrat whether or not he actually is one. Unless someone actually checks the facts on Edwards, all they have to go on is the media spin and whatever double talk Edwards is spewing.

[MeekOneGOP]

hehe ! It's a good one alright, but no, it's one that I found
via Google Search and uploaded to my website.

[Holden Magroin]

Edwards voted against the ban on partial-birth abortion. For this guy to keep getting elected in a Bush landslide district is appalling. Republicans had better get with the program, or this guy will be in office for the rest of his life.

[SwinneySwitch]

"Edwards voted against the ban on partial-birth abortion."

Lloyd Doggett did too! A lot of democrats were even opposed to that barbaric practice! Letters to the Editors!

[Dubya]

Arlen will make an outstanding Congresswomen. She will win.