Free Republic

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will stop in San Antonio today to rally local Democrats and raise money for his own struggling re-election bid. The Nevada Democrat faces Republican Sharron Angle in the November general election, a contest that polls indicate is a dead heat. Trial lawyer Mikal Watts will host a fundraiser at his Dominion home for Reid Wednesday night. From 4 to 6 p.m., the 70-year-old senator will appear with local Democratic candidates and activists at Bexar County United Democrats' headquarters at 1101 Broadway.

Navy Reserve commander and local lawyer was nominated in June by President Barack Obama WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate late Wednesday confirmed former state Rep. Juan Garcia as assistant secretary of the Navy. Garcia, a Navy Reserve commander and local lawyer, was nominated for the job in June by President Barack Obama, his Harvard Law School classmate. “I’m honored to be entrusted with this role in helping to shape history’s finest sea service: the United States Navy and Marine Corps team,” said Garcia, 43. “I grew up in a Navy family and have spent my entire adult life in it....

UPDATED: AUSTIN – San Antonio lawyer Mikal Watts today said he will not seek the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate because of the toll his effort already has taken on his family. Watts had been primed to face state Rep. Rick Noriega of Houston in the battle for the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. “For the last five months I have been exploring a race for the United States Senate because I believe that our junior senator, John Cornyn, has let Texas down and is more concerned with his cronies and friends in Washington than with...