Lesser-known Akin rival hits the small screen
Though U.S. Rep. Todd Akin’s job security appears to be firmly intact, that’s not dampening the race to run against him in November.
Five Democrats are competing in next week’s primary for the right to face Akin, a Republican whose district includes staunch GOP territory in St. Louis, St. Charles and Lincoln counties.
One of them — Byron DeLear – even has a commercial out.
(Who? Yes, I had to look him up, too.)
DeLear’s ad, airing on cable this week, opens in an unidentified running path — Queeny Park? — which is, you guessed it, a metaphor.
“Ever since my upbringing here in Missouri, I’ve come out and run this trail, pushing myself to the limit,” DeLear says. “It’s time to push our expectations of Washington to the limit.”
It’s an interesting comparison for DeLear, who only recently returned to St. Louis after running for Congress as a Green Party candidate in California.
As a Democrat, he’ll face some sturdy opposition in Tuesday’s primary. Opponents include David L. Pentland, who was a St. Louis alderman, and former city School Board member Bill Haas, whose serial attempts for higher office have gained him, if nothing else, name recognition.
DeLear, though, does have some money, and least one prominent supporter — as noted earlier by our blog cousin DC Download, literary giant and social critic Gore Vidal has announced his support of DeLear.
Let’s not forget about the best candidate in that race, Mike Garman!
http://www.garmanforcongress.com/
Byron has been working harder in the 2nd than anyone has in a long time to turnout Democrats in a very Republican district. He’s the only real shot the Dems have at giving Akin a run for his money. It may still be a long shot but DeLear isn’t conceding anything to Akin and at the very least, higher Dem turnout in the district helps all of the statewide and national candidates.
I’m supporting John Hogan.
This shows why Byron DeLear is the only candidate running a real campaign in this primary. His endorsements by six township democratic organizations, the teachers (MNEA), Sen. Jeff Smith, and Sen. Wayne Goode supersedes any past partisan baggage. I look forward to Aug 6 when the real campaign starts and people turn their sights on Akin.
If David Pentland, the man who called the Kyoto Treaty the Kosovo Treaty and Bill Haas, the craziest man in St. Louis (yes, he has some name recognition because he is a strange perennial candidate) are the biggest Competition DeLear has I think he won in the absentee ballot box already. Oh, and Garman has raised near to nothing for a Congressional race, so he is no where close to the best candidate in this race
AJH - I trust you meant TIM Hogan. Yes, I think all of us are giving him our best wishes, and a hearty Bronx cheer.
If you aren’t familiar with Byron then you haven’t been paying a lot of attention to what’s going on with Democrats in the 2nd. Byron has been out and about at Democratic events for months now meeting voters. Nothing against the other Democratic contenders but Byron is the ONLY one with national recognition and the ability to make a real difference for the 2nd in DC. Moreover, he’s the only one who CAN beat Akin.
No, no, no folks. As an independant with democratic leanings, I’ve had no one to vote for in local races for the last twenty-seven years. Nothing but republicans. Unfortunately, no republican will look after my interests. I’m not fool enough, unlike my west St.Louis County neighbors, to think that these people care whether I live or die.
Let’s see, where shall I start………….
Byron is just to the LEFT of Barack Obama!
He has not lived in the 2nd Cong. District for YEARS!
He started some real fruitcake groups while on the left coast. Visit his website if you don’t believe me.
He had a privileged education at the Principia. Hardly a common man, IMO.
Yep, he is REALLY in touch with the citizens of the 2nd Congressional Dist.
He’s my friend, and we’ve pledged to work together regardless of which one of us wins the Democratic primary for the 2nd Congressional district (hopefully, with Mike Garmon and Dave Pentland, too), so I shouldnt tease Byron DeLear too much.
But I’ve heard him say on more than one occasion, including at the League of Women Voter’s Debate last night, what’s said in this post, that among his endorsements is one from Gore Vidal.
Well, I take him at his word.
But I have it on good authority that had they lived, Truman Capote and Norman Mailer were going to endorse me, and may have posthumously.
But more to the point, perhaps, is my advice to my brother Byron, that if he may win the Primary and take on Akin in the general election in this conservative Republican district, he may want to keep that Gore Vidal endorsement just a little closer to his chest,if you know what I mean and I think you do.
And while I’m at it, let me tout my proud endorsement as the best candidate on women’s issues from the Missouri ERA PAC, affiliate of Missouri Women’s Leadership Coalition.
I’m also proud to say, I’ve received their endorsement before. I believe they normally try to endorse women, but there’s not one in our race, lucky for me, I suppose, so I’ll take their endorsement humbly, and wear it proudly. Beats a Gore Vidal endorsement any day, tho I’ve always liked him, also.