DeLay Trails Opponent in Campaign Funds

Disgraced feral beast Rep. Tom DeLay is behind his likely Democratic opponent, Blue Dog former Rep. Nick Lampson, in funds raised in the first 45 days of 2006, as well as in funds on hand.

The cratering of DeLay's support, despite his defiant stance, has been reluctantly enumerated in the Houston Chronicle, which (despite all evidence stretching back to where the mind of man runneth not to the contrary) DeLay's more rabid supporters insist on calling part of the liberal media.

When Republicans start sitting on their wallets instead of supporting one of their most faithful watercarriers, you know that arrogance and criminality have finally taken their toll. It's not so much that Lampson's raising a lot, though he is, it's that DeLay's only raising a little. Though that could change if the Hammer starts hitting up the myriad people who owe him,there's no question the Republicans are unfavorably surprised by DeLay's puny results.

In a copyrighted story on Friday, Feb. 24, 2006, Houston Chronicle Washington Bureau reporter Samantha Levine reports:

Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, trailed his Democratic opponent, former Rep. Nick Lampson, in fundraising and cash in the bank, according to new financial reports that covered the first six weeks of the year.

DeLay, who faces three contenders in the March 7 Republican primary for the 22nd Congressional District, said he raised $154,712 and spent $304,795 between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15, the time span covered in the pre-primary filings required of candidates. The lawmaker reported having about $1.3 million in the bank.

Lampson, who is running unopposed in the Democratic Primary, reported having raised $250,970 in the same time frame and having spent $125,027. He said he has more than $1.4 million in cash on hand.

According to his report, DeLay's largest expenditure -- $110,000 -- went towards paying Richard Cullen, the attorney representing DeLay in the investigation of an influence-peddling scandal involving indicted former lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

DeLay will not resign his seat even if he is indicted, but a federal indictment would kick him off the ballot. If that glorious day should ever dawn, independent ex-Rep. Steve Stockman and the second-place Republican primary finisher, probably former NOAA Counsel Tom Campbell, would duke it out for the conservative vote in the fall.

With Lampson already leading in cash on hand, and no real possibility of good news for DeLay, Stockman's fortuitous entry as an independent may well guarantee this seat (TX-22) as a Dem pickup.

Stockman is the loon who, you may remember, during his one term received a fax predicting the Oklahoma City rightwing bombing from some militia type. After the bombing, a staffer found the fax and didn't turn it over to the FBI, but to the NRA. Though not personally implicated in that piece of idiocy, Stockman certainly created the climate in which it could flourish. During his malodorous and ineffective House tenure he was also dinged three times for campaign violations and fined $40,000.