Posted on 02/15/2006 9:40:33 AM PST by SolidSupplySide
DeLay campaign lashes out at a primary foe Campbell called an 'outsider,' but an aide says he's a 'citizen politician'
U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, forced onto the political defensive by ethical and legal charges, went on the offensive Tuesday, claiming one of his Republican primary opponents has overstated his GOP credentials.
DeLay's campaign said challenger Tom Campbell, a lawyer, has not been active in local party politics and has not voted regularly in Republican primaries.
"Every day he proves he's nothing more than an outsider who isn't concerned with conservative issues or fighting for the priorities of Texas taxpayers," DeLay campaign manager Chris Homan said of Campbell.
Campbell's campaign countered that no pure GOP insider would dare challenge the powerful DeLay, even if he has been weakened by a Travis County indictment relating to campaign finance and a federal investigation into his relationship with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
"The fact is that Tom Campbell is like you and me. He is not a career politician like Tom DeLay. He is a citizen politician," said Michael Stanley, Campbell's campaign chairman. "Tom Campbell calls on Tom DeLay to get beyond the negative, immaterial distractions and get back to the real issues that are important to the people of the district."
Republican Party officials in Fort Bend and Harris County, who have close ties to DeLay, said they had neither seen nor heard of Campbell before he filed for office.
"We wouldn't have called him a conservative as far as being a Texas Republican," said Michael Wolfe, chairman of the Harris County Republican Party's candidate's committee.
Campbell is not in agreement with the Texas Republican Party platform, Wolfe said, citing Campbell's stance against a plank to abolish the Internal Revenue Service and another that states children born in the United States of illegal immigrants should be barred from citizenship.
DeLay, who was unopposed in the 2004 primary and won with 80 percent of the vote in 2002, has said he takes all political challenges seriously. His campaign's attacks on Campbell suggest that he wants to head off any groundswell of support for the challenger, an analyst said.
"Is Campbell a threat to DeLay? I find it hard to believe Mr. Campbell is going to win a primary against DeLay. But he doesn't have to win to do damage to DeLay," said Rice University political scientist Bob Stein. "DeLay needs to win with a substantial number of votes, so he can demonstrate that he is the standard-bearer for his party."
The other Republican primary candidates in the 22nd Congressional District are former school teacher Pat Baig and lawyer Michael Fjetland.
No he doesn't need to bow out. He needs to fight back. If Republicans allow the Dems to destroy their leaders with false charges, and dirty politics, they don't deserve to lead. They did it to Newt Gingrich, and they've tried to do it to Frisk. The Dems play dirty and we never fight back. Well, it's past time. This guy running against DeLay is a RINO. He has no history with the Republican Party, and I hope the people of DeLay's district stand behind him and return him to office with a resounding victory. Ronnie Earle needs to be run out of office. He is a prime example of the Old Boss Tweed Dem machine, only in Texas.
Huh? Campbell was a political appointee of 41. You must have been reading some of DeLay's lies.
I do. DeLay is polling at 22% vs. Lampson's 30%. If the conventional wisdom of an incumbant polling below 50% are true, DeLay has a lot to worry about.
If Campbell wins the primary, he's going to morph into another House RINO. Campbell lacks the leadership and the in-your-face conservatism that DeLay does. DeLay is one of just a handful of Republicans who isn't afraid of the MSM/DNC complex, hence the reason why they had to tear him down and drag his name through the mud. Campbell is going to get eaten alive.
Just what the democrats want --- Tom DeLay defeated.
Gingrich has very true character accusations against him (extramarital affair). If Republicans don't hold their candidates to higher standards of character, then we're no better than the Democrats.
If I remember correctly did not Clinton plead guilty to the charges and that was why he had his lawyer's license revoked in Ark?
Did Delay plead guilty to something?
To compare Clinton's character to that of Delay is really a bit of context dropping.
Lampson is not conservative by any means, but he is not a moonbat either. I have several friends and coworkers who lived in his old district who liked him. Delay better bring his a game if he wants to win. Lampson can play the moderater to conservate democrat well.
Let me guess who is taking these 'polls'-the Houston Chronicle?
How is Campbell polling vs the Lampson?
So in a solid Republican district the Democrat is polling better then the Republican?
Your recollection is faulty. Clinton never faced criminal charges for his false statements. He "corrected" them after settling with Paula Jones.
Yep. Unfortunately that's the case. Lampson is outpolling DeLay. Haven't seen any Campbell-Lampson polls.
See post #48
I am sure some of the other guys running against DeLay are RINOs, but you're obviously not referring to Campbell with that comment.
Anyone except Tom Delay is a RINO...what kind of a joke is that?
This is an infuriating charge. It reminds me of DeLay's accusation that Campbell is not a real Republican because he hasn't voted in every GOP primary. Well, I'm not active in any GOP organizations and I've missed a GOP primary from time to time. But I am part of the GOP base and I wonder what you and DeLay would say about me? At any rate, my vote in the GOP primary counts, and it's going to Campbell.
FWIW, Campbell does have RNC support. That is, some members of the RNC support Campbell. He has a solid Republican pedigree.
Delay is not going to lose his seat to a Democrat, the 22nd is a solid Republican district.
OK. Now how is that relevant to anything at this point? No one is arguing that a democrat should or has a hope in hell at winning it. Tom Campbell won't lose to any democrat in that district either.
I guess DeLay supporters don't necessarily support all Republicans. I hope that gives them reason to understand that not all Republicans support DeLay. Character is the issue that will determine my vote for Congress. Campbell has the character.
You're right. Most Delay supporters are conservatives, and won't just support anybody with an R after their name.
What kind of joke crap are you talking about?
On one hand you say:
what do we know about him?
On the other you accuse him of being a RINO or a liberal or not conservative.
Its just an ignorant attack coming from you and Tom DeLay. Negative politics as always.
The fact is Tom Cambell is Republican and is conservative. Get over it and live with it. Its a non issue.
Now lets just say Campell wins the primary...and its between him and a democrat for the seat. Who do you vote for then?
Nice guys finish last, just remember that.
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