Former Fresno Mayor Jim Patterson and state Sen. Jeff Denham of Atwater are tied for the lead in the race to succeed Rep. George Radanovich in the 19th Congressional District, according to a Survey USA poll. Former Rep. Richard Pombo of Tracy is running a surprising third.
Republican activist Michael Der Manouel Jr. writes about the race in this item in the Flash Report.
The poll, which has a margin of error of 4 points, has Patterson with 26%, Denham with 25% and Pombo with 13%. Fresno City Council Member Larry Westerlund is running fourth with 7%. The poll says 29% of 19th District voters are undecided.
Here's part of Der Manouel's Flash Report posting:
"Now, while I have not made a personal endorsement in this race (that's coming), it is interesting to note that Mr. Patterson has literally spent zero money promoting his campaign, while both Denham and Pombo have been hitting the airwaves regularly in their quest to become better know in the Fresno market.
"Powerful ag and business interests have lined up behind Pombo, as well as respected Member of Congress Devin Nunes, but the question remains: in 2010, will voters select a 14 year former Member to represent them, in this year of throwing out everyone connected to the failures of the federal government?"
We need Pombo. His previous service will be needed as we try to undo the many things this administration has done to California and America. Secondly, his previous service includes relationships with others in Congress to push our needs. His previous experience in the water battles going on for the entire San Joaquin Valley is greatly needed. We didn't have our water shut off when Pombo was still there to protect our rights.
This is good news. Pombo is a career politician plagued with allegations of cronyism and corruption.
"The poll says 29% of 19th District voters are undecided."
Actually the poll says that 29% of "Likely GOP Primary Voters" are undecided. 19th District voters is not equal to Likely GOP Primary Voters.
Pombo knows it's the smelt.
If anyone on the left can utter the word corruption today and make it stick just shows how far reality stretches without failing for some people.
Yet another example of the Bee's republican slant. Another article that acts as if only repubs are running in this race. Les Marsden will be the next representative in the 19th District!
Remove your blinders Bart. The attacks on Pombo are coming from the right: Pollster says Pombo bad for Republican Party. Public Opinion Strategies is a national Republican political and public affairs research firm. The poll was conducted in early February. Here's a summation: POS "Push Poll" Results In CD19.
[snip]
# 87% of voters are less likely to vote for Pombo when they learn he billed taxpayers for his motor home vacation to seven National Parks.
# 89% of voters are less likely to vote for Pombo when they learn his staffers billed taxpayers while doing campaign work.
# 85% of voters are less likely to vote for Pombo when they learn his office worked closely with Jack Abramoff and he accepted over $35,000 from Abramoff.
# 82% of voters are less likely to vote for Pombo when they learn he paid his brother and wife over a quarter of a million dollars from his campaign account.
[/snip]
These reports show that Republicans in the 19th aren't completely out to lunch, even when smelt is on the menu.
I've read articles and listened to Patterson speak on some issues. He is just the wingnut, Reeps of the Valley are looking for.
Ha! I participated in that poll. Don't take its results too seriously.
Things that make me go Hmm under my blinders
This is what Pombo's constituents got for representation after environmentalists went after him. The election results were narrowly different.
"On October 3, 2006, a poll commissioned by Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund was released with McNerney leading Pombo 48 percent to 46 percent." (Wiki)
McNerny now sits on a congressional Energy subcommittee for the Environment protecting...that's right, the smelt. His most recent accomplishment is voting yes on yesterday's big government healthcare taker over.
http://tinyurl.com/yjq3mzz
Dr. Loraine Goodwin is the only candidate qualified to lead he Central Valley and represent all valley residents, including Blacks, Hispanics, Latinos, Sikhs, Hmong, Asian, Women, Mothers, Children and business people. She is a physician in women's health and preventive medicine and a peacemaker as a FMCS arbitrator. Dr. Goodwin's family has farmed for years in the valley. As a member of the Madera school Board, Dr. Goodwin understands the problems in education. Dr. Goodwin will fight racism and hatred in the valley and represent us as educated Central Valley voters in Washington, D.C.. Visit drgoodwin.info for more information.
ccmaccma, I looked at her web site, looks very unprofessional. Not a good example of her seriousness to a Congressional race.
Rich: Our premier decor consultant speaks to a new arrival from behind his allergy free blanket.
How did you know I had an allergy free blanket, must be peeping in windows again.
If McNerney is so bad, why isn't Pombo running against him? Pombo represented the 11th district for 14 years, so why is he running in the 19th?
I was waiting for this Mike. The answer is because Pombo has the freedom to run wherever he wants to, this is the United States of America. Even you can run, so why shouldn't he? Doesn't Pombo have any rights?
That's not an answer to my question. It's not even a very good sidestep to it. The question is why the 19th, why not the 11th? Why does Pombo want to run in the 19th?
Mike(C)...as far as "District Hopping"...Pombo's reasons must be devious and sinister while Bass's reasons are simply altruistic...I believe that's the template.
Of course not Brian, Pombo is not one of Mike's elites... therefore he has claim to humanity, or desire to serve. What Mike is trying to do is raise a question that could easily be answered if he called Pombo's office. He is continuing the same irrational offensive to avoid Pombo prevailing in the primary because McNerney will lose some d-party claim to a narrowly, no deviously (to use the term more precisely) hijacked district in which he will now most certainly be challenged.
Voters in the 19th should wonder why he is supported by a fellow Valley congressman, and why the left are hitting at Pombo so hard, so early. There is a good reason, if elected he would be a formidable opponent to any continued environmental insanity destroying a premier California economy from inside its own state boundaries. Pombo seems to be in the "Trust, but verify" class of negotiators environmentalists hate to face in Ansel Adam's light.
Clearly neither of you are able to answer the question. It's not a gotcha question. It should be easy for Pombo supporters to answer. Instead the two of you go on the attack spewing nonsense like petulant children.
Have you called Pombo's office yet?
The 19th Congressional district of California is a Safe Republican seat according to the political pundits. And their right only because the 2 local Democratic Congressman Costa and Cardoza have not assisted this open race. Like their counter parts Congressman Nunes, Radanovich and former Congressman Pombo see the opportunity and are directly involved with contest. This race could have been and should have been a competitive race on both sides and in the General Election. Unfortunately, the Democrat leadership in the Valley are too worried about keeping the status quo. The safe 19th district is safe only because of lack of sound political tactics, strategy, and the will to win. The race will take alot of money, organization, national support, and a registration drive to close the gap. This is the main factor I am not currently running for Congress in the 2010 election cycle.
John...To quote Forrest Gump(about your not running)..."Good,one less thing to worry about".
Mike(C)..."Petulant Children"?...you're quite the "Hatemonger" with all this "Hate Speech" and name calling of yours...Please give us the answer that you prefer to your question...or at least make it multiple choice.
Rich...tell me the blanket is not purple...you know,like "Barney".
You forgot "racist" but I will take the credit for the accurate description, not Mike.
You're getting personal Mike. It wasn't very friendly and if you wanted to make a stupid point, it could have been done without the mention of children in an adult conversation. It tells me alot about your motives.
Rich...I think "Barney" was held more accountable for his utterances than you are.To call me a "racist" with your history is laughable but understandable...It's a favorite tool of the far left because they're vacant of character and more than willing to exploit minorities and race in any way to promote their non-truths.It's a free country "Rich" but if I were you, I'd knock it off before someone holds you accountable.
You're too funny! My question was quite simple and obvious but so far unanswered. Pombo is free to run where he wants to. Free to run in the 11th. Free to run in the 19th. Asserting his freedom to run where he wants to doesn't answer the question of why he chose to run in the 19th. I didn't call Pombo's office to find out and I won't because it really doesn't matter to me. I'm not a reporter. I just happen to think that it's an obvious question to ask Pombo and one that he should be able to answer without hesitation and sidestepping.
You conservatives are such a touchy lot. Quick to bully, quick to smear, but as soon as someone accuses you of behaving childishly you play the victim and complain that your feelings are hurt.
If McNerney is so bad, why isn't Pombo running against him? You couldn't answer that question. You said because he had the freedom to run where he wanted to and asked the silly question of whether or not he had rights. Attempting to change the subject in order to avoid an uncomfortable question is the kind of word game I expect from unruly children, not adults. Pombo also had the freedom to run against McNerney, so why didn't he? If you don't know why, that's fine. I thought that since you brought up McNerney you might know, but clearly you don't.
Mike(C)...no,you're too funny...you can't or won't even answer your own question.I don't know why Pombo is running in the 19th...maybe because he thinks he can win?...what a concept!Personally,right now I am suffering a mild case of "politicophobia" and am ignoring races outside my district and voting ability..."Unruly Children"...more "Hate Speech" from the party that accuses those that don't agree with them of the very thing.I'm not touchy or sensitive(far from it)...just pointing out the obvious...the "Double Standard" that the left enjoys.Bullying,smearing...who's doing that?Other than comparing Rich to "Barney"(because neither has a last name and both make me laugh) most of the name calling is coming from Rich and yourself.Someone who thinks they deal in facts should be able to admit that.
Brian your a hypocrate you get it because you attempt to dish it out. Oh yea, and I don't take calling people racist lightly unless it is well deserved.
Rich...go ahead big boy...keep calling me names but stick to the ones you can spell.
You have to go by their history. Just like McCain used his POW Hero status to give him many years of time in Washington, he could have been president if he had just done something while there! You would think a "combat Hero" would make Veteran's rights his main focus, but I never heard anyone bring this up, even during the "Presidential" race! The Health Czar (Hilary was put in charge by her husband Bill not Osama), and failed after 8 years of very expensive trips everywhere exotic...to find the best health care (of course, so how is she going to fix it now?? So there -in is my problem with Radonovich... he isn't "pro-Veteran" or doesn't care about talking to his "people". I'll vote Democratic unless I hear something "Pro Veteran" from a candidate! And I like the stopping of "Illegal Immigration" too, so I hope Poizner thinks this out a little better!
There is no one who has been more outspoken against the insanity of the environmental choke hold on agriculture than Rep. Richard Pombo. The mere fact that they target him, specifically attacking Pombo over any other candidate, speaks volumes as to how terrified the extreme environmental movement is that he may return to finish what he started, a complete dismantle and rational restructuring of national environmental policy. Fiscal responsibility, Limited government, Free markets.
Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/04/15/1898647/pombo-tops-money-race-in-valley.html?mi_pluck_action=comment_submitted&qwxq=5394252#Comments_Container#ixzz0lKLAucKB
Whee did you find an article? When Patterson announced my husband and I (based on what we knew of him as mayor of Fresno) thought he would be a good candidate, BUT we have seen or heard no ads, not received any campaign info. in mail, and the only time you see him on TV is when they are doing a story on Denham or Pombo & add . . . ."Jim Patterson, former mayor of Fresno, is also a candidate for the Rep. nomination." And you see a picture of him serving as a model for "Patrick James" clothing and do ing NOTHING. I don't want someone who looks good, but does nothing representing me, and Pombo is a carpetbagger, while Denham is just a little tooooo conservative for me. I'd like to hear Patterson's position on: environmental issues, water, the fighting in the mideast & the cost of it in lives & $, representing the varied needs of the wide-spread 19th dist, etc. Do you know who to get hold of him?
The only candidate who is qualified for the job and is trully independent is Larry Westerlund. He may not have the Capitol Hill experience of Pombo, but he knows more about national security than the other three candidates combined. He's been on the front lines in the war on terror. He's served in the Persian Gulf and in Korea. He's worked at headquarter of the Pacific Fleet and he's coordinated US forces under UN command in Bosnia.
Westerlund has also been a strong advocate for Central Vallet water rights and for job growth. He's definitely the best candidate for the job.