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Dems Trying To Turn Pete Sessions Into The Right's Harry Reid?

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Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX)

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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid isn't the only party leader on Capitol Hill with a target on his back this year. According to CQ, NRCC chair and conservative darling Pete Sessions (R-TX) has now been targeted for defeat by national Democrats.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer will be among the guests at a fundraiser for the Democratic nominee running against Sessions, lawyer Grier Raggio. A DCCC source told CQ that the stop isn't just a formality -- the organization has put Sessions on its list of potentially targeted races this year and has been hammering him in press releases.

Even with the backing of the national party, however, Raggio faces an uphill climb against the well-funded and even more well-connected Sessions, who's a fixture on the national scene. But Sessions faces a slew of tea party-inspired conservative opponents on the right before the general election, which DCCC officials have called a sign that Sessions position is weakening.

Democrats say Sessions is weakened by scandal as well. Sessions has been tied to alleged Ponzi-schemer Allen Stanford, who the SEC suspects of stealing $7 billion from investors. In the current anti-corporate political climate, such a link might be what it takes to knock out of the House, Democrats say.

The professional prognosticators are not so sure yet. The Cook Political report rates the seat as Solid Republican, as does CQ. But national Democrats say that like Reid, Sessions is one party leader that just might get kicked out of Congress come November.

Comments (4) | Join the Conversation!

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January 27, 2010 9:48 PM   

Well, Sessions has been full of fail as head of the NRCC.

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January 28, 2010 12:33 AM   


Sad to say, Pete "I love You Sanford man" Sessions is my Congressman. He's got Delay gerrymandered district, while he live in a progressive part of Dallas, it includes a large section of red neck friendly white rural areas.

Another soft spot that might set off some of his Religious Right supporters is that he's take a lot of Gambling money and was caught hosting a fund raiser in Vegas (may have been in a up scale strip club).

Dallas elect a Demo Congressman last election, maybe they can at least scare him.

Just checked (thank you Google) it was at a strip club:

"2007 party hosted by Rep. Pete Sessions at Las Vegas adult club draws criticism"
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news
/localnews/stories/073008dnmetsessions.3fdea95.html

He's protected by the local paper, little Sanford coverage, but maybe if the Demo's had a brain they would strat hitting him hard and not stop.

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January 28, 2010 11:12 AM    in reply to Grumpy Demo

The so-called "religious" rightwingers focus their outrage on abortion and gays, they don't care about gambling and strippers.

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January 28, 2010 2:06 AM   

Why not challenge him, even in a gerrymandered district? If you put up a fight, you never know when the incumbent's next trip to a strip club will include photos of a lap dance. There are no safe seats.

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