Lampson, DCCC Raising Money For Challenge To DeLay.

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Author: Wegner, Mark

House Races

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and former Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Texas, plan to kick off a series of six regional fundraisers next week with an event aimed at individual donors that will raise money for the party and Lampson's bid to oust Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas. Lampson campaign manager Mike Malaise said the Washington fundraiser Tuesday is targeted at smaller, individual donors â€" including those from interest groups and congressional offices â€" as opposed to the PAC community, which he said is already on Lampson's donor call list. "I do think it will be a combination of new people who did not like the direction of the country under Tom DeLay, and other donors who have given before and have not maxed out," Malaise said. The fundraiser will be followed in November by Chicago and New York events and in December by Boston, San Francisco and Los Angeles fundraisers. At least one member of the Democratic leadership is expected to join Lampson at each event.

The DCCC and Lampson campaign have established a joint committee and will split the contributions evenly. Democrats began planning for the events before DeLay's first indictment in September. Aside from boosting fundraising, a DCCC spokeswoman said the challenge to DeLay will help stir interest in Lampson's candidacy and in House races elsewhere. "We expect to have a very strong showing of support for Nick Lampson. There is a systematic culture of corruption and 'pay to play' politics that has affected Washington and is sending shockwaves around the country," she said.

Lampson faces an uphill race in the Houston-area 22nd District, which President Bush won in 2004 with 64 percent. DeLay won re-election by a narrower 55 percent against an underfunded opponent. Democrats hope Lampson can make a serious run at the seat or at least minimize DeLay's capacity to raise money for other GOP candidates. Lampson lost his 2004 re-election race in an adjacent district that was modified under a redistricting map championed by DeLay. Malaise said Lampson's campaign is capable of raising as much as $5.5 million for the entire 2006 campaign. He said that would be enough to compete against DeLay, whom Democrats expect to trail in fundraising. Lampson raised $500,000 in the second quarter, and Malaise said the campaign will have exceeded its goal of $250,000 in the third quarter, although exact figures are not available.

A DeLay spokeswoman said DeLay raised nearly $800,000 in the second quarter and will exceed that amount when he files his third quarter report this week. "Lampson has already been paid for by MoveOn.org, trial lawyers and organized labor," she said. "What plays well in liberal bastions will not play well in the district." National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Thomas Reynolds of New York told reporters last week he expects DeLay to run a strong re-election campaign. Asked how DeLay's indictments would affect his fundraising for other Republicans, Reynolds noted DeLay, House Speaker Hastert and other GOP leaders have shared in fundraising. "Tom DeLay is a guy who raised great money. He has been a very generous guy," Reynolds said. Freshman Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, announced Wednesday he would host a Friday re-election fundraiser for DeLay, the Midland Reporter-Telegram reported. "I have great confidence in the justice system that Tom DeLay will be just fine. Mr. Earle has gone after conservatives in the past," Conaway said, referring to Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle. Conaway, whose district was created as a result of the 2003 remap engineered by DeLay, called him "a fine man." Conaway also said that he might not be in Congress had it not been for the efforts of DeLay and the Texas Legislature.

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By Mark Wegner