Democrats name 50th District a race to watch
By: EDWARD SIFUENTES - Staff Writer
Republicans say Bilbray remains tough to beat | ∞
In an surprising move, Democrats listed the race for the 50th Congressional District seat held by U.S. Rep. Brian Bilbray, R-Solana Beach, as one of the top 40 to watch.
Doug Thornell, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which raises money for Democratic candidates and ranked the Republican-held district as vulnerable, said they were impressed by Nick Leibham, a Rancho Santa Fe lawyer, challenging Bilbray.
Most impressive was Leibham's ability to raise money, Thornell said.
"Nick is a strong candidate. He had over $150,000 when he filed in July of this year," Thornell said. "That's a good sign for a challenger to do that well."
Democrats have been wrong before, Bilbray said. He beat Democrat Francine Busby in a June 2006 special election to pick a temporary replacement for the now-imprisoned Randy "Duke" Cunningham. Democrats and Republicans poured millions into the campaign.
Bilbray later won a two-year term in November 2006 with 53 percent of the vote against Busby's 43 percent. Republican voters outnumber Democrats 147,000 to 102,000 in the district, according to the latest registrar of voters figures.
"They had a chance. I think Ms. Busby was a pretty good candidate," Bilbray said. "If they want to come after me, fine."
Busby could not be reached for comment Friday.
Leibham, who campaigned for Busby, said he believes his experience as a high school teacher, a congressional aide in Washington and a criminal law prosecutor in the San Diego city attorney's office will mark the difference between him and Bilbray.
"Brian Bilbray is a lifetime politician, and when he wasn't, he was a lobbyist," Leibham said.
The 33-year-old grew up in Portland, Ore., and attended Chaminade University of Honolulu, where he received a bachelor's degree in history. He later attended the University of San Diego, where he received a law degree and master's degree in business administration in 2004.
Leibham said he has been campaigning since June, attending small gatherings, including local Democratic club events. He had earlier declined a request for an interview with the North County Times, saying he was not prepared.
Thornell said the committee believes that Leibham will be a good challenge to Bilbray because the congressman has a voting record that does not represent the district, such as his no vote on the recent energy bill. The law, which was signed by President Bush this week, requires car companies to achieve an industrywide average fuel economy of 35 miles per gallon for vehicles over the next 13 years.
"We think Congressman Brian Bilbray is vulnerable," Thornell said. "He was unimpressive and uninspiring as a congressman."
Bilbray defended his vote against the energy bill, calling it a "subsidy" for corn growers because it requires an increase in the use of ethanol.
Thornell declined to say whether the designation as one of the top 40 congressional races to watch means the committee would help fund Leibham's campaign.
Don McKinney, chairman of the Republican Club of North County, said he disagreed with the Democrat's assessment of the race. He said the committee spent millions backing Busby's campaign and failed to win the seat.
"I think it's preposterous," McKinney said. "Brian Bilbray has done a solid job ... and his voting record aligns perfectly with the people of this district."
Contact staff writer Edward Sifuentes at (760) 740-3511 or esifuentes@nctimes.com.
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cold666pack wrote on Dec 22, 2007 1:10 AM:Poor choice of association there..."a criminal law prosecutor in the San Diego city attorney's office" I know he's from Oregon, but someone should explain to this fella that associating himself with Aguirre is probably not the smartest move.
Randy wrote on Dec 22, 2007 4:25 AM:Bulldozer Bill's only noteworthy accomplishment took place over 30 years ago in Imperial Beach.
notbob wrote on Dec 22, 2007 8:42 AM:Is Bilbray still living with his mother?
Life Long Republican wrote on Dec 22, 2007 9:10 AM:I am a life long Republican and I will vote for anyone beside the Carpetbagger Bilbray from South County. He will never be my representative. He just likes playing a Politician who lives in N.C. He could care less about N. County San Diego.
Game Over wrote on Dec 22, 2007 10:04 AM:Bilbray may hang on for another term or 2 - but the republican party is in decline. The party leaders are stubborn, out of touch with reality and have not got a leg to satnd on anymore. They are losing members and that's a fact Jack. In congress Hunter is retiring and two excellent candidates have emerged on the democratic side (imagine an actual democratic primary contest in east county!). Nick Leibham is a fine candidate, and I hear formidable democrat is poised to take on Issa. Meanwhile Issa and Bilbray are left defending the shenaingans of Bush and a failed idealogical pipe dream. They are saddled with losing wars, bad debt and an economy that is ready to do a subprime belly flop. Maybe that's why they are both so angry and grouchy looking lately. No wonder they are trying to blame it all on Mexican labor. RIP GOP
John wrote on Dec 22, 2007 10:07 AM:What's in Don McKinney's kool-aid? Something stronger than flouride I suspect. He's a good loyal republican and he's goin' down with the ship, one sip at a time.
Freakin' Fantastic wrote on Dec 22, 2007 10:11 AM:Go Dems! I think Bilbray is toast. If it wasn't for immigration, he would be bull dozing sewage. He has done nothing worthwhile while in office these 2 years, and has obstructed meaningful compromises on Iraq, Healthcare, Energy and many other issues that are important to the ALL people of this district - not just the republican ones.
Magic Trick wrote on Dec 22, 2007 10:14 AM:How do you make a republican majority disappear? Run candidates like Bilbray and watch the numbers go down. The republicans had a good shot at governing and showed that they are not capable. Time to vote for an alternate.
Dear Santa wrote on Dec 22, 2007 10:17 AM:Can you take back the Bilbray action figure you left under our tree 2 years ago? It's broken.
Just no fun wrote on Dec 22, 2007 10:22 AM:The republicans are just no fun anymore. They have lost their sense of humor, their self confidence and they have adopted a mean nasty defensive tone in responding to issues. The best defense is a strong offense - and boy are they offensive!! They used to be delightfully cocky - now they're just deplorably schlocky!
Tom wrote on Dec 22, 2007 10:23 AM:Everybody that is so down on Brian Bilbray should rethink their decision. You think a democrat is going to do anything for this district? Oh, that's right, I forgot, I'm sure he will do well with the open borders crowd. And yeah, people just looove lawyers! Nick doesn't have a chance!!!
Louise wrote on Dec 22, 2007 10:45 AM:Busby lost her bid with her stupid comment about not needing papers to vote. She definitely is to blame for us having Bilbray to represent us.
2 Tom wrote on Dec 22, 2007 12:07 PM:Tom - a democrat in the majority will do more for this district than a republican in the minority who won't work with democrats. And at least lawyers understand the law and the constitution. Something Bush's gang has ignored.
2 Louise wrote on Dec 22, 2007 12:11 PM:Blame the voters - not Busby. No body forced 'em to pick Bilbray. If a mis-spoken remark about immigrants sunk Busby, it was because the voters were looking for a reason to pick Bilbray. Fear always works. Maybe they will vote their hopes and Pick Nick.
PICK NICK wrote on Dec 22, 2007 12:12 PM:Bilbray was no picnic for North County. Pick Nick for congress in 08!
Bray like a donkey wrote on Dec 22, 2007 12:17 PM:I'm so tired of the partisan back biting and bickering. If the republicans really wanted to save America - they would look for someone to run besides Bil-bray. He has failed the middle class voters that are the backbone of his district and allowed his party to use our constitution as a speed bump.
Skip wrote on Dec 22, 2007 12:52 PM:I say vote for none of the above (DEMOCRAT or REPUBLICAN).
IS ANYONE SURPRISED? The Fence has Been Canceled After Being Promised wrote on Dec 22, 2007 12:53 PM:The Secure Fence Act of 2006 required the construction of 700 miles of border fence, modeled on the success of the border barriers in the San Diego sector of the U.S. border. The operative word is �secure.� That legislation specifically called for �two layers of reinforced fencing� and listed five specific sections of the border where it should be built. The two-tier fence in San Diego runs 14 miles along the border with Tijuana, Mexico. The first layer is a high steel fence, with an inner high anti-climb fence with a no-man�s land in between. It has been amazingly effective. According to a 2005 report by the Congressional Research Service, illegal alien apprehensions in the San Diego sector dropped from 202,000 in 1992 to 9,000 in 2004, [according to IBD editorials]
To "BUSH IS A SOCIALIST" wrote on Dec 22, 2007 1:30 PM:Bush is indeed the anomaly here. He has done more to destroy the Republican Part then anyone else I can remember. It is his comments such as they only do the work American will not do, or Family values do Not stop north of the Rio Grande, or They only want a better life, that have cause me as a life long Republican to re register as an independent. The comment about the Minutemen being Vigilantes is what pushed me over the edge. Also there is no doubt in my mind that Bush is truly involved in creating the North American Union. Bush has weakened the sovereignty of this country while calling its citizens "Nativists". And then the Democrats take over and they do not do any better. Our country is in for some hard times and when the big recession hits, I will sit back and say I told you so. Skip
The Dumbest This In History wrote on Dec 22, 2007 1:37 PM:You don't need papers for voting, you don't need to be a registered voter to help." will go down in history as the dumbest thing ever said 4 days before an election.
AS CAUGHT ON VIDEO :YouTube wrote on Dec 22, 2007 1:57 PM:Everybody can help, yeah, absolutely, you can all help. You don't need papers for voting, you don't need to be a registered voter to help. I will do everything I can to support policies that are supportive of your educational and your health care and families. But I can't bring people to vote for me. Only you can do that. Ans so we have staff workers here who will be working with your leaders and they will explain ....... they will give you information to go with both .... It's in English and Spanish ..... and tell you know .... give you information on how to do this. I CANNOT MAKE THIS STUFF UP. THAT IS WHAT SHE SAID. r/Skip
Daren wrote on Dec 22, 2007 3:00 PM:As long as Bilbray continues to fight the criminal illegals invading my country, then I will continue to vote for him. I will never vote for a democrat unless he/she breaks from their party's open-border, pro-illegal platform.
Democrat Robert wrote on Dec 23, 2007 7:36 AM:My gosh is Nick Leibham the best candidate the Democrats can put on the table. An attorney, whos only credentials for this congressional seat is his work on the Busby fiasco!! Wake up gang this job is and never will be for a rookie. Why cant we find a quality candidate? Mr. Leibham will be toast the moment he is nailed to the cross on the first "amnesty" question. If the objective is to unseat Bilbray this "Busby clone" is already a lamb to the slaughter. Face it, the 50th CD votes on local issues, and nothing that occurs nationally will assist Leibham between now and election day. If this is the best we Democrats can put forward for voter support then this race is over .. before it even started.
Richard wrote on Dec 23, 2007 11:17 AM:Voters in the 50th should (finally) wake up and vote the Republicans out. This election is bigger than a single district and it is going to take a Democratic majority and a Democratic White House to clean up the mess from 8 years of Bush and a compliant Republican Congress. We need a clean sweep out of all the political appointments in all the Federal departments to root out the imcompetence that has left us with a staggering economy, fewer civil liberties, a tarnished reputation in the rest of the world, and billions lost in a war we never should have started and can ill-afford, not to mention the loss of an entire US city. This country is on the wrong track and if you are so worried about immigration, then why haven't you supported sanctions on employers who hire illegals? There's a reason people come here -- it's because they are hired to do the jobs nobody else wants. How many of you hire illegals to clean your houses, fix your fences or cut your lawns? Look, this country is at a real tipping point and another 4 years of a Republican administration is clearly not the answer. Vote for people like Liebham and send Bilbray back to his family in Imperial Beach. I can't believe the people of the 50th would elect some guy who moves in with his mother just so he can run for political office. He does not represent this district and is simply an embarrassment. After Cunningham, we deserve much better.
pancho wrote on Dec 23, 2007 8:43 PM:Bilbray is doing what the majority of voters asked him to do. So democrats you can kiss off. Busby if elected would have been told by Kennedy to go to the back of the room, shut up and vote like him.
From Frank wrote on Dec 23, 2007 8:48 PM:You are right Pancho, Kennedy will tell any democrat to shut up and vote like Kennedy, Reed and Pelosi. What a pathetic group.
This guy wrote on Dec 27, 2007 11:26 AM:Bilbray still thinks Cunningham wasn't guilty of a darn thing. Because he likes the conniving ways of his buddies. Vote this loser out. Anyone else will do better and care about citizens.
Jack wrote on May 17, 2008 9:27 PM:I'm a life-long Democrat who has recently realized that there is not much difference between the two parties. Both support their corporate masters and don't care about the people. Look at the open borders juxtaposed against the so-called "Patriot Act". Sure they hate us for our freedoms so let's take them away. The Dems - Harry and Nancy - have facilitated Bush's illegal war, voted for the bankruptcy bill, and McCain/Kennedy tried to give amnesty to 20 million illegals. All done for the corporations and the Patriot Act is to use martial law against the people when they finally wake up. Nick would be a lot better then ex-lobbiest Bilbray, but if he support the LaRaza crowd he's toast. A lot of Encinitas liberals are against open borders and a free lunch for illegals. Any democrats out there agree with this:
Garg wrote on May 23, 2008 7:26 PM:I agree with you Jack, there is so little difference between the two parties, that I believe each and every vote cast in America goes to the "demopublicans."
The majority of voters created this mess, by voting for the politician who speaks of what they want to hear "attention shoppers - easy times in aisle four!"
Any politician who speaks reality will get my vote, and invariably lose the race!
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