Posted on 08/08/2006 11:57:22 AM PDT by SolidSupplySide
WASHINGTON — Dogged by scandal, former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay intends to withdraw as a candidate for Congress, a Republican strategist said today, a step that would allow the party to field a write-in candidate in hopes of holding his seat.
The development came one day after Texas Republicans lost a court battle in their bid to name a replacement candidate for DeLay on the November ballot.
The strategist described DeLay's intentions on condition of anonymity, saying the former majority leader intended to make his own announcement.
DeLay resigned his Houston-area seat in June and said he was switching his legal residence to Virginia. He had already won a primary in Texas, and Republican officials there moved to name a replacement candidate.
Democrats went to court to block the switch, and prevailed.
The maneuvering underscored the intensity of the battle between the two national parties as they vie for control of Congress in the midterm elections.
DeLay had held the House seat for more than two decades, but yielded his power — first surrendering his post as majority leader, then resigning his seat — at the urging of party leaders who said he risked defeat this fall and that his presence on the ballot could hamper other incumbents.
He is awaiting trial in Texas state court on money laundering charges alleging that illegal corporate cash helped pay for legislative campaigns in 2002. DeLay also had close ties to Jack Abramoff, the lobbyist at the center of a congressional corruption investigation.
DeLay has not been charged in that investigation, although two former aides who later developed ties to Abramoff have entered into plea bargains.
Former Rep. Nick Lampson is the Democratic candidate in the race, and had amassed more than $2 million in his campaign treasury as of June 30 in preparation for a race against DeLay.
Texas Republicans on Monday abandoned their court fight to replace DeLay on the November ballot, conceding defeat after Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia ruled against them.
"I think all our legal avenues are exhausted in terms of affecting the ruling prior to the election," said Jim Bopp Jr., the attorney who argued the Republican Party's case to allow party officials to substitute another candidate for DeLay.
In a statement late Monday, Bopp warned Democrats, "Be careful what you ask for."
The lawyer said Democrats "insisted he run for Congress, now it's up to voters to decide if Democrats are going to be happy" on Election Day.
Democrats were undaunted by the prospect of facing DeLay in November and claimed victory.
"Given the choice between facing the voters and facing the courts, DeLay chose the courts and lost handily," said Bill Burton, spokesman for the national Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
That's an impressive compilation but I continue to believe a write-in campaign would be an uphill battle.
I am more hopeful that the AP story is wrong, in whole or in part.
Look, in that case, just trust me. Whoever you talked to did not know what they were talking about. DeLay has announced that he's not running, he's moving to Virginia. What I posted above is an email from DeLay. FOX News is reporting it. Everyone is reporting it.
Oh, it wouldn't be easy.
But there is no reason to believe that the story is wrong. It is all true.
Have you read post #71? DeLay has released a statement confirming his intentions.
This is very old news, he has stated repeatedly his intention is not to run, this is merely an affirmation of what he would like to do. The actual disposal of finality is still being considered. You once again apply minutia and instability to this process. The ballot in Nov. will be clear and distinct, a choice will be available. And by the way promoting Libertarians and fringe Republicans does not improve your bonafidies.
You are in deep denial. DeLay issues a statement that he will withdraw and you still don't believe it. I've accepted this situation, so if it makes you feel better to attack me, go ahead.
By now it is obvious that Toms constituency will either vote Republican or may not vote at all. These types of situations alos cause violence at the polls.
I am very surprised the courts have taken such a partisan position on the issue of Tom's withdrawal, as if in some kind of bizarro revenge for the success of Toms redistricting efforts, which BTW the Dems did repeatedly ( e.g. Philedelphia to increase minority votes) and Republicans still beat the Dems.
Now if the Dems do win Tom's seat, they truly are guilty of the very thing they have so repeatedly accused of George Bush: Stealing an Election.
And if I know anything about Texans, they will not stand for that for as long as it takes to light a match and put it to a touch hole.
This battle, not solved in our courts ,will likely be solved in the streets of Houston, a price that the Texas judges have stupidly not forseen would be paid.
Has a write-in candidate every won a national election?
We are handing this to the Democrats on a silver platter.
Nope not in the least. Once again it's not personal but if you continue to degrade and put forth negative articles I will respond in kind.
Because the poster has an agenda, and is trolling for the Dims.
I voted for the most conservative candidate.
Now, I will support the next Republican they put up, who I am sure, if it is not Campbell, will still not meet your 'high' ethical standards.
Amen!
When is the last time a major party went to court to keep a candidate on the ballot that didn't want to be there
Amen.
If he kept his name on the ballot and campaigned and won, he could then refuse to serve and a special election would be held, with another Republican candidate.
I admire your passion, but you are missing a key point. The RATS have won this battle in the courts; there will be no Republican on the ballot once DeLay withdraws his name. The only way that Lampson can be defeated is a write-in candidacy.
My understanding is that this seat has been given to the RATS on a silver platter. If DeLay did not want to server another term, he should have withdrawn before the primary.
DeLay's statement today is nothing but whistling past the graveyard.
There will be no violence; no outrage; no upheavel; it will be old news in 96 hours.
"This is very old news, he has stated repeatedly his intention is not to run, this is merely an affirmation of what he would like to do. The actual disposal of finality is still being considered. You once again apply minutia and instability to this process. The ballot in Nov. will be clear and distinct, a choice will be available. And by the way promoting Libertarians and fringe Republicans does not improve your bonafidies."
Bad News: A local Fort Bend County blog (conservative one) just posted exerpts from a Delay statement indicating he will withdraw from the race.
For example, the following is quoted: “As a Virginia resident, I will take the actions necessary to remove my name from the Texas ballot. To do anything else would be hypocrisy.”
It appears that Republicans do not have a candidate listed on the ballot. The winner of CD22 will need approximately 150,000 votes, and I do not see a write-in having a chance. Many voters just vote “R” – how can a writ-in get 150,000 votes? Unfortunately, I would think the race is effectively lost.
Well lets see how crediable YOU ARE! He shared his email, where is yours.
Perhaps, the best would be for the local GOP to rally around the Libertarian candidate?
Get bent. I was kidding. Anyone can make up an email. Only difference is he bothered to actually spell his out. Doesn't make it any less made up than mine.
Why'd he only release it to this guy? How come it's not anywhere else???
This whole thing stinks to high heaven.
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