The Dems used every lie in their book to win this one and LOST! The outspent the Rep and LOST! The turning point was the debate - the Dem had to speak! And that's when the good guys won.
Republican Wins Special Election
ALBUQUERQUE, June 23-Republican
Heather Wilson defeated Democrat Phil
Maloof for a congressional seat today in a
special election considered an important
warm-up for November's battle for
control of the House.
With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Wilson had 45 percent, while
Maloof had 39 percent. Green Party candidate Robert Anderson had 15
percent.
Voters in the Albuquerque area congressional district were filling the seat
held by five-term GOP Rep. Steven Schiff, who died of skin cancer in
March at age 51.
The big-spending, mudslinging race between Maloof, a millionaire state
senator, and Wilson, a former state agency head and member of the
National Security Council staff in the Bush administration, drew national
attention because both parties hoped to gain momentum heading into the
fall elections.
Democrats lost a chance to chip away at the GOP margin in the House,
where before today's election, there were 227 Republicans, 206
Democrats and one independent.
The GOP has held the House seat for nearly 30 years, although
Democrats slightly outnumber Republicans in voter registration.
Democrats worried that Anderson, a college instructor and former
steelworker, would play the spoiler if many voters turned to him out of
disgust.
Wilson, 37, was secretary of the state Children, Youth and Families
Department. She is an Air Force Academy graduate and Rhodes Scholar.
The candidates offered voters a sharp contrast on issues. Maloof supports
an increase in the minimum wage; Wilson opposes it. Wilson backs a pilot
program of taxpayer vouchers that enable poor children to attend private
schools. Maloof opposes vouchers.
Wilson portrayed Maloof as a lightweight who didn't understand issues
but was trying to buy his way into Congress. Maloof put more than $1.5
million of his own money into the campaign.
"You just can't buy the experience Heather Wilson has," her ads
proclaimed.
Wilson will serve out the remainder of Schiff's term. Maloof and Wilson
will go at it again in November -- each already has been nominated to run
for a full two-year term.
Wilson becomes the first woman from New Mexico to serve in Congress
since Georgia Lusk, a Democrat in 1947-49.
Meanwhile, in Mississippi tax lawyer Delbert Hosemann defeated banker
Phil Davis for the GOP nomination in a primary runoff for the 4th
Congressional District seat being vacated by Republican Rep. Mike
Parker (R), who is retiring. Hosemann will face state Transportation
Commissioner Ronnie Shows (D) in November.
In the GOP runoff in Mississippi's 5th District, accountant Randy
McDonnell defeated Karl Mertz and will face Rep. Gene Taylor (D) on
Nov. 3.
washingtonpost.com |
