Congressional Challengers Get Some Face Time

by Christian Bourge

Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008


While the focus in Denver has been on Sen. Barack Obama's historic presidential candidacy, a number of Democratic congressional candidates have used the convention week to raise their visibility and explore potential new avenues for fundraising.

Iraq war veteran Ashwin Madia, who is running for the seat being left open by the retirement of Rep. Jim Ramstad, R-Minn., said being in Denver has helped bring attention to his campaign and to his brand of Democratic politics.

"I think we are building a lot of exposure for what we are doing in Minnesota... bringing people together from the other side of the aisle, Republicans and Democrats," he said. "I've been surprised. I've seen and met a lot of former Republican people just like me who were Republicans in another time in their lives but changed because of a lack of fiscal responsibility."

Madia said he has met with pro-growth, pro-business Democratic members as well as veterans' groups and Minnesota's convention delegates.

Also highly visible this week is Raul Martinez, a former mayor of Hialeah, Fla., who is challenging GOP Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, and Joe Garcia, who is running against GOP Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart. Martinez, Garcia and Madia were among the top challengers who appeared at the convention Tuesday with Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen of Maryland.

Also in that group was Christine Jennings, who is running against freshman GOP Rep. Vern Buchanan of Florida, to whom she lost narrowly in 2006. "I came to make contacts. I came to make money. I came to raise awareness," she said. "I came to thank my supporters, the people who have endorsed me and get to know them better. And, of course, to support Barack Obama."

Betsy Markey, who is challenging Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, R-Colo., has been able to mix convention networking opportunities -- including a fundraiser hosted by House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel of Illinois -- with campaign events in the nearby district.

Participating in convention-related activities "is a way to say thank you to some of the people who are supporting me, to make some new contacts, and welcome them to our beautiful state," Markey said. But with nine weeks until the election, she said it was also important to spend time campaigning in the district because "I don't take anything for granted."

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