Posted on Sun, May. 21, 2006
Doolittle among incumbents facing tough primary fights
Despite gerrymandered House district, scandals haunt many congressmenBy Erica Werner
ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON - Republican Rep. John Doolittle of Rocklin called disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff a good friend and was one of former Majority Leader Tom DeLay's strongest allies.
Those connections are causing trouble for Doolittle as he seeks a ninth term in Congress. Although favored to win, Doolittle is among a handful of incumbents in California's 53 congressional districts who have drawn energetic challengers in the June 6 primary or November general election.
Two races have drawn the most attention -- the San Diego campaign to replace ex-Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, who is in prison on bribery charges, and the contest against House Resources Committee Chairman Richard Pombo, R-Tracy. But despite gerrymandering that resulted in mostly noncompetitive House districts in California, several other spirited contests are shaping up.<snip>
"John Doolittle only responds to those people who have made major contributions to his campaign," Holmes said Friday. "We feel that he has been taken over by the big money inside the beltway."<snip>
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/state/14633295.htm?source=rss&channel=cctimes_state