Humorous Jib-jab type ad pokes fun of John Garamendi for not running in his own Congressional District
WALNUT CREEK - The Mark DeSaulnier for Congress campaign released a new TV ad today calling out John Garamendi for running "in a district where he doesn't live and can't vote." The ad points out that Democrats asked Garamendi to run in his own district against right-wing Republican Dan Lungren but that Garamendi "took a pass" to run in an easier district for a Democrat to win..
"The voters of this district deserve a member of Congress who is from this district and understands the needs of this district," said DeSaulnier. "I have lived in this district for 30 years, raised my sons here, owned and run a business here, and have represented the district as mayor, county supervisor, Assemblyman, and State Senator. In Congress, I will continue my work for the people of this district by fighting to increase access to health care, create new jobs, and improve our schools."
Garamendi is a cattle rancher from the Central Valley and lives in Congressional District 3, which is currently represented by Republican Congressman Dan Lungren. Although he has twice told the press that his "front yard is in the district," but his "bedroom is not," the Sacramento Registrar of Voters shows that no part of his property lies within the 10th Congressional District. Garamendi had been approached several times to run against Lungren, including a Draft Garamendi for CD 3 effort on the web, but he declined. Unlike CD 10, which is a heavily Democratic District, CD 3 is a competitive swing district (40% Republican/38% Democrat), which was held by a Democrat until 1999.
In addition, by running in this special election in CD 10, rather than the regular November 2010 election for Congress in CD 3, Garamendi does not have to give up his statewide office and statewide ambitions if he loses. If Garamendi loses the CD 10 special election, he will return to serve as Lt. Governor and could in fact get back in the Governor's race. But if he ran in the November 2010 election for CD 3, he would have to give up his Lt. Governor's seat, which is also on the ballot in November 2010.
Garamendi signaled his concern about voters finding out that he doesn't live in the district when on a recent internal poll by his campaign, the campaign asked two different times if voters had a negative attitude about Garamendi not living in the district. The campaign, when it released its poll results, did not release the results of those two questions.
The script of the ad "Easier" is as follows:
Narrator:
Democrats are under attack.
With right-wing Congressman Dan Lungren leading the charge.
But when Democrats asked John Garamendi to run against Lungren, Garamendi took a pass.
Even though he lives in Lungren's district, Garamendi decided to run for Congress here.
In a district where he doesn't live and can't vote.
He thought it would be easier.
Real change is hard, and we deserve a Congressman who will work hard for us.
The ad starts running today on cable television throughout the 10th Congressional District.
DeSaulnier is a candidate for former Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher's seat in the 10th Congressional District. Tauscher retired from Congress in June.
