Two Cents on Doolittle's Re-Election Bid from Sac News & Review

The alternative/independent weekly publication Sacramento News & Review ran a "just to let you know we're watching" editorial about John Doolittle's announcement to seek re-election. After providing a summary of Doolittle's various connections to Abramoff, the piece concludes with this:

So far, none of the above seems to have harmed Doolittle much in his district. Now in re-election mode, the congressman pulled in $183,500 in contributions during the last three months of 2005 and has a total of $300,000 in the bank.

At the very least it’s safe to conclude that our initial impression, that Doolittle likely would skate away from the scandal, was premature. Stay tuned.

I don't understand how the News & Review is measuring or assessing harm caused by media coverage of Doolittle's associations with the current corruption scandals in the 4th district. Sure, Doolittle has raised more money than any of his three challengers, but was this money nessessarily raised within the 4th district? I read Doolittle was targeting GOP strongholds in Sacramento for funding. And, we know he has a long history of culitvating "friends" throughout the nation who generously contribute to the cause of keeping their "good friend" in congress and on the House Appropriations committee.

To me, the fact that Doolittle is facing a primary challenger says volumes about his vulnerability. I also found interesting a comment I read on a 4th district right-wing blog regarding Doolittle's campaign announcement at the Auburn airport. The writer was quite pleased at the absence of protesters. This annoucement was a private, invitation only event and media did not let out any information or I can assure you that there would have been at least a few people expressing their displeasure of Doolittle's representation and decision to run again. Perhaps the veterans who protested Doolittle's voting record on veterans' issues this last summer at a GOP fund-raiser would have again exercised their right to express themselves - one of the rights they fought for as soldiers.

I hope the Sac News & Review has enough interest in this election 'up in the foothills' to assign their best investigative reporter to follow up on their "Boss Doolittle" cover story from July 2004. Maybe this reporter will even take a drive into the district and ask actual voters how we view Doolittle's participation in the biggest congressional scandal to date.