Free Republic

The Republican push to reclaim the House seat occupied by Democrat Jerry McNerney has led to a no holds barred battle in the district that encompasses Fremont and the Central Valley. Ads by GOP challenger Dean Andal accuse the freshman McNerney of pork-barrel spending. “We need to stop this practice of Congressmen selling earmarks. It's just outrageous,” Andal told KCBS reporter George Harris. McNerney, a 57-year-old former wind energy consultant who unseated veteran Richard Pombo two years ago when the Democrats took majority control of Congress, defended his record. “I'm not an expert yet, but,” he said, “I've learned how...

WASHINGTON — Local congressman Jerry McNerney, a freshman Democrat, has emerged as one of the Republicans’ top targets in Congress this year, making the race in his district that rarity in California politics — a national battleground contest and a true toss-up. In 2006, McNerney pulled off one of the big upsets of the year when he knocked out Republican Richard Pombo, a committee chairman who earned the ire of environmental groups. Now efforts by the GOP to retake the district, which stretches from Stockton through Alameda County to Morgan Hill, ensures an expensive campaign and one of the state’s...

Registration tilts the GOP's way. A California secretary of state's report from December shows the 11th District is 42.1 percent registered Republicans and 37.5 percent registered Democrats. Carl Fogliani, a political consultant based in the district who worked with Pombo two years ago, said Republicans have every reason to think they'll take back the seat this year. Party registration and Andal's strong name recognition without the baggage Pombo had are two reasons, he said. And there are others. "You have a Congress with lower approval ratings than President Bush, which is what Democrats are always talking about," said Fogliani, who...