(TX-23) Negative Campaigning Marks Texas Runoff - AP

[Eugene]

Negative Campaigning Marks Texas Runoff

By ELIZABETH WHITE, Associated Press Writer

Sunday, December 10, 2006 09 25 AM

(12-10) 09:25 PST SAN ANTONIO, (AP) --

It's been a month since control of Congress was decided, but Republican
Rep. Henry Bonilla and Democrat Ciro Rodriguez are still campaigning
as if the balance hangs on the outcome of their runoff.

For incumbent Bonilla, a victory at the polls Tuesday would give him an
eighth term representing Texas' largest congressional district, the 23rd.

For Rodriguez, it would mean a return trip to Washington after a two-year
absence. He served in Congress during 1997-2005 but was ousted in the
2004 by Rep. Henry Cuellar.

-snip-

Bonilla has been airing TV commercials criticizing Rodriguez for past votes,
including one against establishing the Homeland Security Department.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is airing ads for Rodriguez
that attack Bonilla for what it says are cuts in veterans and military
benefits.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/12/10/politics/p092545S87.DTL

[snowbear]

1. Who do you think will win??

I don't know anything about that race..

[sonias]

2. I can tell you something positive about the campaign

Bill Clinton was in San Antonio today to raise money and rally the base for Ciro.

I hope Ciro wins!

Sonia

[gr8dane_daddy]

3. Me too...

I've been telling my parents to vote all week.

[sonias]

4. Links to videos of Clinton event

B & B blog has some good pictures and video links for the Big Dog and Henry Cisneros at yesterday's GOTV rally for Ciro.
It's time to tell Bonilla, Ya basta!

And a good media story from the S.A. Express

A Rodriguez victory begins with the viable challenge he poses
(snip)
Bonilla's late decision to not only go negative in TV and radio ads, but to go with over-the-top spots that paint Rodriguez as having terrorist ties;

The continued involvement of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee with personnel, polls and expensive ads on behalf of Rodriguez;

Bonilla's decision not to ignore, but to run a response to a critical DCCC spot that says Bonilla voted eight times to give himself a raise (The Bonilla ad says Rodriguez voted four times for congressional pay hikes);

And, finally, President Clinton's swing through San Antonio on Sunday on behalf of Rodriguez.

Unless this race is close, none of those things happen.

Bonilla wouldn't go negative. The national Democrats wouldn't stick around. And Clinton would certainly have something better to do on the Sabbath than stump for a lost cause in San Antonio.

:kick:

Sonia