DeLay has no one to run against him in 06...Morrison OUT

[greenbriar]

HOUSTON - A Democratic challenger who won 41 percent of the vote against House Majority Leader Tom DeLay in 2004 said Monday he won't make a second attempt to unseat the incumbent.



Richard Morrison cited family and financial obligations.


"Over the weekend, I had to put pen to paper on how to support my family during a campaign," Morrison said. "To have to begin campaigning now (for the March 2006 primary), I just don't have the money to put aside my law practice long enough to do this."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=536&ncid=536&e=6&u=/ap/20050426/ap_on_go_co/delay_democrats




READ ON

[NewJeffCT]

1. There are two others considering runs, I thought?

If you read into the article, it has some guy named Quan and one other person.

edited to add - Gordon Quan is one person, and the other is former Rep named Nick Lampson. Quan is a Houston City Councilman.

[jefferson_dem]

2. I'm sorry but your thread title is a bit misleading.

"Former U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson has announced that he'll run in the Democratic primary while Houston City Councilman Gordon Quan has said he is considering it."

In fact, some have suggested either of these two are preferable to Morrison, and that he may have "taken one for the team."

[Robbien]

3. Morrison was asked to bow out by the DNC

they want to back Lampson who is not as "liberal" as Morrison.

[flamin lib]

5. Keep in mind that a Liberal in Texas looks a lot like a

Conservative anywhere else in the US. That's why GWB got such huge surprise when he got to DC and had to interact with real Liberals.

[Catherine Vincent]

6. Do you have any proof of that?

[Robbien]

8. I read it at Daily Kos

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/4/26/21627/5515

Richard Morrison, who mounted an able challenge to Tom DeLay when it was a fool's errand, has dropped out of the race. His gracious retreat undoubtedly masked some serious arm-twisting by the DCCC, as former Rep. Nick Lampson had already announced his bid to take down the Bug man.

However, Morrison also has a fifth (!) child on its way, while he just learned that his mother has pancreatic cancer. Sacrifices can be made if your party is behind you. When it's opposing you, the risk to reward ration really narrows significantly. It's not a decision any of us can begrudge.

So all the best to Morrison and his family. As for Lampson, he's got a tall order ahead of him, but this could turn into the most gratifying race of 2006.

Homeboy DeLay is going to have to spend every second of spare time fending off Lampson. And federal prosecutors. And ethics commissions. And irate voters.

[Catherine Vincent]

9. Thanks for the link.

Morrison has a good point. It's really not fair, isn't Morrison the one that started the ball rolling on Delay's ethics? He did all the work. But for all we know, maybe Lampson was in the background helping Morrison out.

[napi21]

4. I just heard on cspan this AM that somebody whose last name

begins with an L said he was going to run against DeLay. Sorry, I didn't recognize his name and that's all I recall. This was reported by one of those guys from either Rollcall orOn the Hill. He even said that lots of Dems were asking where this guy was when DeLay ran the last time. Apparently just a bit stronger candidate might have beat him.

[Gothmog]

7. Both Quan and Lampson are strong candidates

Both Quan and Lampson are strong candidates. I am not sure about the demographics of the district as to the number of Asian American but the Democrats were successful in unseating Tamledge Heflin with Huburt Wu in the state elections. Lampson has been around for a while and has good name recognition.

The Democrats will field a good candidate.

I met Richard Morrison at a fund raiser last year at John O'Quinn's house. He is a nice guy and did a good job against Delay. It is going to be an uphill fight to unseat Delay and we need a strong candidate.

Richard Morrison did what was best for his family and the party. He is a class act and we should applaud his efforts.

[applegrove]

10. Any horses suddenly missing their head in Houston? n/t

[Roland99]

11. Too bad running for Congress requires the bankroll of a 3rd World nation

[Strawman]

12. oh, I'm sure with Delay's poll numbers they'll find someone else

and there are other potential candidates who have expressed interest in running