(Stockton, California)
We've focused so much on the presidential race this year that it is easy to ignore some sensational races for the House and Senate which could swing the balance in either body. Whoever controls Congress will have a big impact on the President's agenda, no matter whether that's Obama, McCain or Clinton. And remember: It isn't always Democrat vs. Republican. The "death" of the Clinton health care reform effort in 1994 was very much due to its being undermined by key Democrats, angry that they were left out of the process.
That said, I am excited to be living in the Congressional district that is considered the "top one or two" contested seats this year. 
Freshman Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-CA 11th) was such an upstart two years ago that he defeated the Democratic party's hand-picked candidate, who was backed by Nancy Pelosi, et al. Then McNerney (with a lot of outside help from anti-war activists) defeated longtime GOP Congressman Richard Pombo, in the biggest upset of the 2006 election.
Freshman Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-CA 11th) was such an upstart two years ago that he defeated the Democratic party's hand-picked candidate, who was backed by Nancy Pelosi, et al. Then McNerney (with a lot of outside help from anti-war activists) defeated longtime GOP Congressman Richard Pombo, in the biggest upset of the 2006 election. The problem for Democrats is that this is a very large and in some areas, a quite conservative district (at least when compared to the rest of the very liberal Bay Area). It stretches from Stockton, in the conservative San Joaquin Valley, to the more moderate-to-liberal sections of the East Bay, such as Pleasanton (where McNerney lives). In between, there are more conservative pockets in Tracy and Danville (where I live). The economy is a mix of old and new - ; lots of agriculture, lots of high-tech. The Bay Area's only Republican State Assembly member is from this district. And it is one of the few California districts that George W. Bush won in 2004.
Enter Dean Andal, age 48, as the Republican candidate. Andal spent four years in the State Assembly. "I call it four years in Purgatory!" he says, referring to the dominant Democrat presence in the Assembly. Andal then spent eight years on the California Board of Equalization, which is a powerful elected body that has an impact on tax and spending policy. So, he's very experienced and well known. Andal is from Stockton, the most conservative end of the district. We spoke at a rally Thursday for John McCain, which was "emceed" by Andal, giving him a yet higher profile. "I really feel a calling," said Andal. "The country's at a crossroads right now." He knows that the liberal McNerney is vulnerable in this centrist-to-right-leaning district. "Jerry is a nice guy, but he's very much to the left," says Andal.
Andal was boosted when his primary opponent dropped out, leaving him able to focus straight on to the November election.
The campaign is already quite busy. "It's going great," Andal says. "We have walked about 25 percent of the district door-to-door." He is concentrating on the far west and south ends of the district, where he is not so well known and where the voters are more moderate than his conservative base in the east end of the district. He says he has raised about $700,000 so far, but he says he will need a lot more, since the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will be pouring millions in here, trying keep the seat (as will the Republican Party, trying to take it back).
The campaign is already quite busy. "It's going great," Andal says. "We have walked about 25 percent of the district door-to-door." He is concentrating on the far west and south ends of the district, where he is not so well known and where the voters are more moderate than his conservative base in the east end of the district. He says he has raised about $700,000 so far, but he says he will need a lot more, since the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will be pouring millions in here, trying keep the seat (as will the Republican Party, trying to take it back). "This is going to be one of the top two races in the country for challengers," Andal said. And he's not alone in that opinion. The well-respected "Rothenberg Political Report" recently changed the status of this race from "leaning Democrat" to "toss up." That is a very good sign for Dean Andal. For more information: www.deanandal.com.
As the campaign progresses, I will also interview Rep. Jerry McNerney and write a column about him, as well. His office called to set up an interview after reading this blog! Watch for some special Memorial Day columns about our veterans in the coming days.
Keep dialed in at www.MarkCurtisMedia.blogspot.com.
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