DEMS LOSE CONGRESSMAN; TOP CHALLENGER

In a whirlwind two year period, Alabama’s Parker Griffith has swung from one end of the political spectrum all the way to the other.  As a Democratic state Senator, Griffith contributed to both Howard Dean for President and Sen. Harry Reid, and then subsequently declared his own candidacy for Congress.  During the tough 2008 general election campaign, the Republicans repeatedly attacked him for saying that “we have nothing to fear from radical Islam”, and “America’s greatest enemy is America and its materialism,” but he weathered that storm en route to win a 52-48% victory over GOP businessman Wayne Parker, Jr.  Like every other House Democrat, Griffith answered his first roll call by voting for San Francisco’s Nancy Pelosi for Speaker.

Soon after his tenure in Washington began, however, his views began to change.  Voting with the Republicans on all of the term’s major issues – the stimulus package, the Obama budget, Cap & Trade, healthcare, and the financial regulatory package – Griffith quickly became an unreliable vote in his party’s conference.  Soon after casting his early key votes, the Representative announced that he would no longer support Ms. Pelosi for Speaker.  Yesterday, he officially left the Democratic Party and joined the Republicans. 

"I believe our nation is at a crossroads and I can no longer align myself with a party that continues to pursue legislation that is bad for our country, hurts our economy, and drives us further and further into debt," Griffith said in announcing his party switching decision during a news conference from his northern Alabama district.

Though the freshman’s road to 2010 re-election is clearly different, it might not be any easier.  Madison County Commissioner Mo Brooks, already running to oppose Griffith next November, has no plans to exit the race now that he is suddenly facing the Congressman in the Republican primary.  Brooks believes Griffith will find the GOP electorate inhospitable.  “That’s a tough jury to sell, particularly when you’ve voted with Nancy Pelosi 85% of the time.  It’s unbelievably good fortune that Parker Griffith would jump into our pool and want to play…he has just propelled us to favored candidate status,” Brooks told reporters. 

Democrats, obviously, responded negatively to the news.  According to Alabama Democratic Party chairman Joe Turnham, himself a former congressional candidate, the local party faithful feel “betrayed” by Griffith.  "Democrats of every stripe and philosophy sweated and bled for this man.  He narrowly became a congressman through the hard work, votes and financial contributions of thousands of Democrats,“ the chairman said in his official statement.  Turnham also asked Griffith to return the contributions from Democrats and the Congressman responded affirmatively, saying he will refund contributions upon request.

Though AL-5 is a Republican seat in presidential elections (McCain 08: 61; Bush ’04: 60; Bush ’00: 54), Democrats have won 17 consecutive congressional campaigns and for years this region has been an area of frustration for the GOP.  Before Griffith’s 2008 victory, Ronnie G. Flippo held the Huntsville area seat for seven terms, followed by Bud Cramer’s nine two-year stints.  Flippo left the seat to run unsuccessfully for Governor in 1990.  Cramer retired at the beginning of this Congress.  With the Democrats now scrambling to find a candidate, the seat rating swings to “likely Republican.”  The new House count is 257 Democrats and 178 Republicans.

TX-10: McDonald Withdraws:  After raising almost $1 million to challenge three-term Rep. Michael McCaul (R), and becoming one of the best national Democratic challengers in the process, Perficient, Inc. CEO Jack McDonald announced that he will not run for Congress after all, citing business responsibilities.  With the Democrats now having no credible candidate in the sprawling TX-10 district that travels from Austin to Houston, and the January 4^th filing deadline rapidly approaching, the seat rating moves from “lean Republican” to “likely Republican.”