Posted on 12/09/2006 6:20:10 AM PST by SwinneySwitch
Former President Bill Clinton will stump Sunday in San Antonio for Democrat Ciro Rodriguez, ratcheting up the profile of his runoff challenge to U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla in Congressional District 23.
“The president expressed an interest in coming out to support Ciro and to energize Democratic voters,” said Vanessa Gonzalez, Rodriguez's spokeswoman.
Though campaign officials were still nailing down details of Clinton's visit late Friday, Gonzalez said he would speak at a get-out-the-vote rally at the Palo Alto College in Rodriguez's South Side stronghold.
Clinton, who made a campaign swing through San Antonio in 1996, is still hailed by many Democrats and reviled by many Republicans six years after leaving the White House. He campaigned for Democratic candidates around the country in the run-up to the Nov. 7 general elections in which his party won control of Congress.
“This is a guy who can have the biggest impact in getting voters out, especially among Hispanics and African Americans — he's proven that over and over,” said Andy Hernandez, a political scientist at the University of Texas at San Antonio and former Democratic National Committee staffer. “I think it would be a huge boost to Ciro's campaign.”
The District 23 contest is one of only two congressional runoffs, and the other — in Louisiana — will be settled Saturday.
Bonilla, a San Antonio Republican, landed in a runoff with the former congressman after falling short of a majority of ballots in Nov. 7's seven-way special election. He mustered 49 percent to Rodriguez's 20 percent.
Late Friday, the 14-year incumbent's campaign greeted news of Clinton's visit with a chortle.
“Bill Clinton is so out of touch with the residents of the 23rd Congressional District that his presence in San Antonio will do wonders to turn out our base,” Bonilla spokesman Phil Ricks said. “This is really very good news for us.”
But Clinton's campaign swing follows an outpouring of money by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The organization reportedly has spent $871,000 in the race since Nov. 29, mostly on television advertising.
Still, Bonilla reported last week having 10 times more cash on hand than Rodriguez, or $955,000 to his challenger's $94,000.
A court-ordered remap in August pulled South Bexar County into Bonilla's district and removed several Hill Country counties, making Democrats more competitive.
gjefferson@express-news.net
Its going to be Clinton/richardson in 08. Bet on it.
BJ ping!
I saw that in SA they will have polling places open for early voting on Sunday. Does anyone know if all the towns that District 23 encompasses will have early voting locations open on Sunday?
Our first "Latino" President?
Have you seen any polling data on the race?..... My guess is that it will be close but turnout is the key for either candidate.
A Survey USA poll conducted 12-1 to 12-3 has it as follows:
Bonilla ..... 53%
Rodriguez..46&%
Undecided.. 1%
The Hispanic vote split being about 72-27 in favor of Rodriguez. Bonilla has 94% of the GOP vote, Rodriguez 89% of the Dem and 51% of the Independents.
http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport_main.aspx?g=e66c6e0f-0e47-43e4-82b8-955e2b96df23
From Bonilla's website.
http://www.henrybonilla.com/earlyvoting.html
I think that Bexar County democrats are pretty much doing whatever they want to in this election.
Clinton campaigned for Rodriguez? Bonilla is as good as reelected.
That's the only poll I've seen.
Rumors were a dem poll had "Cero" within 3%.
I saw that in SA they will have polling places open for early voting on Sunday.
Clinton campaigned for Rodriguez? Bonilla is as good as reelected.
I know that isn't President Bush coming to campaign for this guy so how many presidents do we have now?
Their ACU ratings:
Representative Henry BONILLA (R)
Texas, District 23
2005 Score - 92
Previous Year's Score - 92
Lifetime Score - 91
Years of Service - 13
Representative Ciro Rodriguez (D)
Texas, District 28
2004 Score - 13
Previous Year's Score - 25
Lifetime Score - 11
Years of Service - 6
that was always the paln and do not forget Arizona's guv Janet "Quattro: Napalitano. Janet is a dc plant here in the great sw. All pre planned
"Our first "Latino" President?"
Hell, No!!!
Some of us Hispanics despise this man.
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