Cheney stumps for GOP hopeful in Bush country

Waco Tribune-Herald ^ | 5/21/04 | Miguel Liscano

[SwinneySwitch]

In a high noon visit to Waco, Vice President Dick Cheney today officially backed GOP congressional candidate Arlene Wohlgemuth, underscoring new dynamics at play in the fight over who will personally represent President Bush in Congress.

Cheney's appearance helped the Wohlgemuth campaign raise more than $300,000 and marks the first time a member of the Bush administration has endorsed a candidate running against U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco.

In one of three campaign stops in Texas today, the vice president praised Wohlgemuth's work as a state lawmaker and assured about 400 Republicans at the Waco Convention Center that Wohlgemuth would help the president in Washington while representing the congressional district that includes Bush's adopted hometown of Crawford.

That theme surfaced several times during the vice president's stump speech. Cheney mentioned that while he supports Wohlgemuth for the congressional District 17 post, the president can do something that Cheney, who lives in Wyoming, cannot.

"She's got his vote," Cheney said.

Edwards, who has held the Central Texas congressional seat for 13 years, said he respects the president and supports Bush on many issues, but is not afraid to oppose him on issues he feels would prove harmful to his constituents.

"I respect Mr. Cheney," Edwards said after the vice president's visit to his home turf, "but I believe the support of the average working family is more important in this election than big-name endorsements."

Cheney's visit provided a significant fund-raising boost for the Wohlgemuth campaign. The Burleson Republican went into the general election in April with little money left following a bruising primary election campaign in which she spent more than $600,000.

Meanwhile, Edwards began the general election cycle with $816,000 on hand for his campaign at the end of March. Wohlgemuth had only $52,000 for her general election bid before Cheney's visit.

Wohlgemuth officials said today's fund-raiser was the most money Cheney has helped raise for a congressional challenger in one day.

The visit, too, pointed to a central theme that is likely to play out during the election — the contrast between her backing of President Bush in Congress and the perception Edwards will not do the same thing.

Outside of today's luncheon stood a campaign sign that read "BUSH, CHENEY, WOHLGEMUTH: A winning team for Texas."

Wohlgemuth said the Cheney visit highlights the stakes involved in the congressional race.

"His visit helps underscore the importance of this congressional race to the president and his administration and should send a strong signal to voters that I am the candidate for Congress in this district who has and who will continue to work with George W. Bush to enact his conservative vision for America," Wohlgemuth said in a press statement just prior to Cheney's visit.

Cheney today also visited other Republican congressional hopefuls — Ted Poe of Houston and Louie Gohmert of Tyler — who are also running against Democrats targeted by last year's reshaping of congressional lines.

Wohlgemuth's campaign said today's visit and its location — in Edwards' hometown — was meant to show the support she has stirred up in the congressman's backyard months before the Nov. 2 general election.

Edwards said he doubted his opponent's conclusions.

"Republicans in McLennan County and our polls show that I am stronger in McLennan County in this election than in any race I've had," Edwards said.

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

[SwinneySwitch]

VP Dick Cheney and congressional candidate Arlele Wohlgemuth. (Duane A. Laverty/Waco Tribune-Herald)

[jf55510]

I am going to donate money to Wohlgemuth I hope everyone donates a little as well. She is a great lady and would be a great advocate of conservative causes in DC.

[AuH2ORepublican]

""Republicans in McLennan County and our polls show that I am stronger in McLennan County in this election than in any race I've had," Edwards said."

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Well, even if he's right, it won't be enough, because 63% of the district's voters are new to him, and he's going to need to run 15% ahead of the average Democrat in the district if he's going to win (the district's GOP performance in 2002 was 64%). Edwards ran 15% ahead of Democrats in McClennan County in 2002, but even if he increased that to 20% he would still lose unless he runs 12% ahead of the typical Democrat in the rest of the district even though he's a liberal who has never represented them before. Chet Edwards is toast.