Damn:
The California Majority Report reports that Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA), one of the long-time subjects of the Jack Abramoff investigation, “will announce that he will not seek re-election.” That could come as soon as this week, reports John Bresnahan of The Politico.
Obviously, this is the worst possible development for Charlie Brown’s campaign. But perhaps Doolittle’s replacement will be an uninspiring minion, like Ohio’s Joy Padgett (Bob Ney’s hand-picked GOP successor)?
UPDATE: Doolittle’s office is in denial.
UPDATE: Doolittle’s office, while not commenting directly on the California Majority Report item, is denying that Doolittle is dropping his reelection bid.
“There is nothing new to report at our end at all,” said Ron Rogers, Doolittle’s chief of staff. “Mr. Doolittle is moving ahead with his plans for this year, including reelection.”
This will be very bad news for Brown, and because of the R+10, the best known Republican in the district would thwarp Brown. I’m just hoping for a bruising primary.
I really hope Doolittle, who is known to have an obstinate streak, decides to tough it out.
Either way, Charlie Brown is a fine candidate, well matched to this district, and deserves support. If you live in or near his district, please volunteer to help his campaign in any way you can. If not, consider donating to one of the most winnable races this cycle:
http://www.actblue.com/page/20…
Last cycle we got rid of Pombo. This cycle, it’s Doolittle’s turn to be shown to the turnstyle. It feels like unfinished business, to me. That apple is rotting on the tree; it needs to fall.
By my records, in 2004 36 Republican House members (actually elected) ran behind George W. Bush in their districts (excludimg Georgia). A full 13 of the 36 were from Texas due to running in new districts (mid decade redistricting). So normally about 90% of elected House Republicans run ahead ogf the national ticket.
Most of these were either running in open seats, ran only slightly behind Bush, and/or were running in the south. Only one Republican, Barbara Cubin, ran more than 10 points behind Bush in 2004 while winning. In fact, only one CA Republican that year ran behind GWB (David Dreier) and was elected.
This year there are a handful of extroadinarily weak Republicans who seem to be falling by the wayside: Cubin (retiring), Doolittle (retiring, it seems), Jean Schmidt (heavily primaried) and a few others near that class like Scott Garrett in NJ and Don Young in Alaska.
Hate to lose any of these weak links.