Posted on 09/06/2006 3:33:21 PM PDT by SolidSupplySide
A poll conducted by the campaign of Republican Shelley Sekula-Gibbs shows she is the leader of the Congressional District 22 race by more than 10 percentage points, she said on Tuesday.
Several Democrats have disputed the validity of the poll, labeling it a "push" poll designed to influence the outcome. Nevertheless, Sekula-Gibbs, who appeared at the grand opening of the Republican Party headquarters in New Territory on Tuesday, announced the poll's results to applause from about 50 attendees.
Sekula-Gibbs, who by circumstance seeks the 2006 term as a write-in candidate, referred to her Democratic opponent, Nick Lampson, as "you-know-who."
Tom DeLay in March won the Republican nomination for Congressional District 22, but he withdrew his name in August and left the party without a candidate.
Lampson now enjoys the most funding of candidates in District 22. Sekula-Gibbs, however, faces the challenge of persuading voters to write her name into the electronic ballot.
Lampson has been considered the front-runner since DeLay's withdrawal, but Sekula-Gibbs on Tuesday announced as "good news" the fact that the New York Times has called the district a "toss-up."
"He may be high on money, but he's low on conservative values," said Sekula-Gibbs on Lampson.
A number of other candidates for positions on the Fort Bend County ballot appeared Tuesday. Fort Bend County Republican Party Chairman Gary Gillen said the headquarters, located at a shopping center close to Ellis Creek Boulevard on U.S. 90A, will have resources for candidates and will also be a place for individuals to sign up to volunteer and to acquire campaign materials.
"So much concentration has been faced by the 22nd Congressional district, which is important, but we also have candidates for courts, and state representative seats and a lot of other races," he said.
Since the 1994 election, Republicans have won elections for every county-wide office. Democrats this year point to the low approval ratings for President Bush and Gov. Rick Perry, as well as legal troubles looming over DeLay as signs the Democrats could win this year.
"I don't see that," said Gillen. "Remember, two years ago, people said the President's numbers were low and he won. We're going through a very painful time in the history of this country - we're at war. And I think what you're seeing is the Republican Party rallying around candidates and reelecting them," said Gillen.
Jeff Council, the Republican candidate for the open Fort Bend County Treasurer seat, said he looks to run a positive campaign. Democrat Neeta Sane also seeks the office.
"We'll get our campaign going full swing now through the election, and we'll be emphasizing the fact that we need a good business person to run the county treasurer's office," Council said.
Brady Elliott, the incumbent candidate for the 268th District Court, seeks election against Democrat Albert Hollan.
Other contested candidates at the event Tuesday included District Clerk candidate Rebecca Annie Elliott, who is running against Democrat Veronica Torres, and Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 candidate Ken Cannata, who is being challenged by Farhan Shamsi of Katy.
My sources tell me that this poll shows that Sekula-Gibbs has 50% name recognition in the district. I don't know if that exceeds expectations or not.
Of course he's low on conservative values. He's a Democrat.
Duh.
I read somewhere that the way the Diebold machines are set up makes it difficult to write in a candidate. House Republicans should have a plan to refuse to seat the RAT nominee if he's elected, since it was obviously not a fair election.
Terrible precedent. Just accept that the Republicans fouled this race up and hope for the best for Sekula-Gibbs.
Wow, that would drive them crazy. I like it!
Such an action would destroy the House. Besides, 2/3 of the House Republicans would never go for it. Besides besides, TX law mandated DeLay or a write-in.
Bump
I wonder if a study has been done on the pros/cons of a political candidate having a hyphenated name. It's harder to remember than a single name, has elitist connotations, etc. One female candidate in my town has such a long hyphenated last name that she had to reduce the font on her campaign signs to fit it all in and now you can't read her name.
Houston PING
House Republicans should have a plan to refuse to seat the RAT nominee if he's elected, since it was obviously not a fair election
Please Lord, let this be true! I, along with thousands of other conservatives, will be devastated if Nick Lampson wins. This seat belongs to a conservative republican.
she may have a feminist style hyphen name, but I don't trust ANY poll released to the public.
I think everything the MSM does at this point is to depress conservative turn out. More votes equal conservative victory.
IOW democrats are through with that every vote counts theory.
You can do what you want over there, but a better strategy would be to get behind the Libertarian candidate who is already on the ballot. Doing so would show good faith to a process that was intended to discourage exactly what the Republicans are trying to do. Doing so would also show good faith to Libertarians whom you have tried to persuade to vote for Republican candidates in tight races. I realize that the Republican hierarchy won't do this because they want someone that they feel they can control, but given the way they've muffed this situation, they don't deserve to control the representative from this district.
Bill
Will Bush be doing any fundraisers for her?
Hyphenated names smack of feminism, especially when one of the names is so clunky and unusual. Not good. Asking the voters to do some work (this district's voting machines don't permit easy voting for a write-in), also not good.
As for this poll, it's either phony or S-G is describing it in a phony way. Internal polls, if released to the public, are always crap.
I think this seat is a goner.
Undoubtedly.
Sheila Jackson-Lee (democrat)
At one time, I had heard rumblings to the effect that GWB would come down to support Sekula-Gibbs' campaign. Haven't heard them repeated in a while. Let's wait and see.
My dad says President and Mrs Bush 41 will be here and the First Lady. W will come later if we have a chance of winning.
The eSlate, not Diebold is used. It is somewhat difficult to write in someone's name, but Texas law provides that the "intent of the voter" is all that is required, not typing in the whole name.
Shelley used Sekula-Gibbs after she married Robert Gibbs because 30,000 of her medical patients know her as Dr. Shelley Sekula (her maiden name).
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