WASHINGTON - Rep. Tom DeLay, whose association with lobbyist Jack Abramoff has left him politically vulnerable, is spending Texas' primary night Tuesday at a fundraiser hosted by two Washington lobbyists.
DeLay faces three opponents in the Republican primary. For the first time in the 22 years he's held office, he is up against a serious challenge after being forced out of his job as House majority leader amid corruption and campaign finance scandals.
The fundraiser is being held by lobbyists Bill Paxon and Susan Molinari, both former members of Congress from New York. The event will raise money for DeLay's re-election campaign.
DeLay spokeswoman Shannon Flaherty said DeLay would be in Washington for votes and has other events on his schedule including the fundraiser. She said he was unavailable for an interview.
Paxon said if DeLay were to go to Texas for the primary, he would be criticized for leaving Washington while Congress was in session. The House is scheduled Tuesday evening to give final approval to the Patriot Act.
You just can't keep a good crook down. Now I can understand why DeLay would stay in Washington to vote for the Patriot Act, rather than be down in Texas for the primary. But now while in Washington, on the night of the Texas primary, DeLay is still playing the hooker for money. Now DeLay is up against three Republican challengers--what if he loses to one of them? What is he going to do with all that money he raised for his re-election campaign--transfer it to The Tom DeLay Defense Fund? Continuing on:
DeLay's toughest primary challenger, attorney Tom Campbell, criticized the congressman's election night plans.
"I think it's amazingly ironic and callous he would be spending election night with a group of lobbyists," Campbell said. "I don't think he understands how unhappy constituents are with what appears to be a trade of principle for power."
Entry to the fundraiser costs $1,000, $2,500 and $5,000 for political action committees and $500, $1,000 and $2,100 for individuals, according to an event invitation.
DeLay is awaiting trial in Texas on money laundering charges stemming from an investigation of corporate contributions to that committee.
DeLay has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and has labeled the Texas investigation a political witch hunt.
DeLay has been behind in the fundraising race against the Democrat he would oppose if he wins Tuesday.
In reports filed with the Federal Election Commission late last month, DeLay had raised about $153,000 between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15, compared with $248,000 for Nick Lampson, a former congressman. DeLay had about $1.3 million cash on hand as of Feb. 15, while Lampson had $1.4 million. Since then, he has raised another $172,000 for his campaign.
Republican Campbell has reported raising about $79,000 between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15, with $17,200 cash on hand. Since then he has reported raising $8,900.
You know, the irony is that if DeLay loses in this Texas primary, it would actually help the Republican Party by removing one of their most scandal-ridden members in the House. Texas would be an open race between a new Republican candidate that may not be tainted by scandal, and the Democrat Nick Lampson. But if DeLay wins the Texas Republican primary, this gives the Democrats an advantage in that they can continue to taint the Republicans as corrupted since the Texas Republicans continued to elect DeLay, who is facing trial on corruption and money laundering charges. And once DeLay's trial starts, it is going to be covered by the press, and the Democrats. Any new developments and evidence that comes out from the case, could be politically damaging to DeLay's re-election. If the Republicans know what is good for them, they would kick out DeLay, and thus remove one of the poster-boys of Republican corruption in Washington.
We'll have to see what happens today.
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