January 17, 2006

Room For Growth?

From today's House Race Hotline:

For the first time in its history, the Club for Growth found a Democratic candidate it likes. Rep. Henry Cuellar (D) was the surprise recipient today of the free-market group's endorsement in the TX 28 primary.

The endorsement will draw attention to a competitive rematch pitting the centrist Cuellar against liberal ex-Rep. Ciro Rodriguez (D), whom he beat by 203 votes in '04.

Cuellar's decision to challenge an otherwise-safe incumbent last cycle angered many Dems, and the state delegation only reluctantly rallied behind his campaign.

While the endorsement should boost Cuellar's fundraising totals, the Club's endorsement could backfire. He's running in a Dem primary, not a natural home for free-market voters. Voters in his district are culturally conservative, but skeptical of calls for reduced government spending and free trade. And, most importantly, the endorsement has given the Rodriguez campaign a talking point to attract liberal opposition to Cuellar.

UPDATE: Cuellar's campaign said that the Club for Growth never contacted them before issuing the endorsement, and that the endorsement came "out of left field." Cuellar issued a statement: "I find that with any endorsement you get half of their friends and all of their enemies. The only endorsement that I am looking for is the endorsement of the voters in this district, and I am working hard everyday to earn it." [JOSH KRAUSHAAR]

Posted at 04:50 PM

Comments

Wow, Club for Growth picks a Democrat -- in a primary. When they do it in a general I'll be impressed.

Doing it in a primary is an effort to get a more conservative Democrat in the general election so that there are fewer differences between the D and the R. That makes it more likely that the R will win.

NAR | 01.18.06 07:40 AM

There is no Republican running in this race.

DemGirl | 01.18.06 03:23 PM

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