Democrats Field Navy Vet to Run for Hunter’s San Diego Seat

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Yahoo News (AP?)

Democrats Field Navy Vet to Run for Hunter’s San Diego Seat
By Rachel Kapochunas
48 minutes ago



Republican candidates have been flocking to run for California Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter’s seat in the 52nd district, but this last weekend, Democrats gained a challenger who believes he can run a competitive race in the GOP-leaning district: retired Navy commander Mike Lumpkin.

Lumpkin announced his candidacy Saturday at a convention held by the San Diego County Democrats, a group Lumpkin said asked him to consider the bid several months ago for the seat Hunter will vacate in order to focus on his longshot bid for the presidency.

“Our nation faces serious challenges. Now, more than ever, the people of California’s 52nd Congressional District deserve an experienced leader to represent them,” Lumpkin said at the event. “A congressional seat is too important to pass from father to son as a birthright because of name recognition, when America’s future is at stake.”

Hunter’s son, Marine Captain Duncan D. Hunter, is one of the Republicans vying for his father’s seat and while legacy candidates are not uncommon in Congress, they often draw criticism for using the advantages of name recognition and other benefits that an incumbent parent can bestow to crowd out rivals.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/cq/20070911/pl_cq_politics/democratsfieldnavyvettorunforhunterssandiegoseat_1;_ylt=A0WTUc_f3uZGugsBtwhjBgIB

[aggiesal]

1. I live in the 52nd, and I'm tired of any representative ...

named Hunter, let alone another one named Duncan.

I'll sign up to help this guy. He's going to need all
the money he can raise. This place is so heavily Republican,
this it is going to be very difficult to win, unless his
name is circulated, and he puts out a main stream message.

Ending the war won't do it, because these people want it.
We are right next to Miramar Marine Corp Air Station
(formally Naval Air Station for Top Gun), and a lot of the
Senior command live in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Please help where you can.

[thereismore]

2. Lumpkin does not sound good. This guy needs major exposition. nt

[0rganism]

3. perhaps, but is he preferable to the Duncan Hunters?

I'm inclined to think anyone who can enlarge the Democratic caucus would have some positive impact, however small.

[thereismore]

5. I live in CA50 district, and I know the people in 52nd. I was thinking about

how it would sound to them. Anyone voting for Duncan must be nuts. How Lumpkin overcomes this is beyond my hope.

[jamesinca]

4. Will Rham Emmanuele (sp)

kill his bid because he is not a hawkish, corporatist pig, DCL lackey? He did it to a few others in 2006. I worry about the Republicans as much as I worry about our own party sometimes.

[saigon68]

6. Rham Emmanuele

Is no Democrat