Dems See Pombo Race as an "Emerging Opportunity"

Jerry McNerney, democratic challenger to Richard Pombo (R-Ca) may finally be getting some much-needed support from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The DCCC has just placed Pombo's 11th district seat and John Doolittle's (R-Ca) 4th district house seats on a list of "emerging opportunities" for GOP defeats come Election Day.

Previously, the DCCC had chosen not to focus on ousting Pombo after their chosen candidate, Steve Filson, lost the Democratic primary. Now, even with help from the DCCC, McNerney has a long way to go, cash-wise. So far, Pombo has raised 3.4 million in campaign funds, McNerney 1.16 million (check out the full breakdown here)

So far the National Republican Congressional Committee has spent $545,000 to oppose McNerney and $46,000 to support Pombo, while the DCCC has spent only $5,600 to counter Pombo.

Doolittle's campaign spokesman Richard Robinson says this amounts to "a lot of posturing" but given Pombo and Doolittle's recent links to Jack Abramoff there's no telling what will happen.

--Amaya Rivera