Roll Call

December 03, 2001

Leaders Won't Back Condit

By John Mercurio

Embattled Rep. Gary Condit (D-Calif.) will have to seek re-election without the support of key House Democratic leaders and faces the prospect that several colleagues will actively back his primary challenger, several Democratic sources said.

One week before California's first-in-the-nation filing deadline on Friday, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee officials told Condit they will remain neutral in his battle with state Assemblyman Dennis Cardoza (D), a former Condit ally who has emerged as his only serious primary threat. State Sen. Dick Monteith (R) is also running in the new 18th district, which was reconfigured this year as a Democratic stronghold.

DCCC Chairwoman Nita Lowey (N.Y.) discussed her position, which aides insist is the committee's policy in primaries, during a closed-door meeting last Wednesday with the California House delegation, which Condit attended. DCCC Political Director Michael Matthews also confirmed the committee's intentions in the race late last month in a telephone conversation with Cardoza.

Although the DCCC generally embraces a neutrality policy, former DCCC officials said the committee has traditionally rallied behind incumbents who faced strong primary threats, including maverick Rep. James Traficant (Ohio) in 2000.

Lowey said she would reconsider her decision if several California Democrats urged the DCCC to do so. But few if any House Members have weighed in on Condit's behalf.

During a pre-Thanksgiving meeting on Capitol Hill that the Californian requested, sources said, Condit told Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) that he has decided to seek re-election and has reviewed recent polls that indicated he can win. Sources said Condit's decision surprised Gephardt, who had been led to believe his colleague had concluded he should step down.

Three months after he called Condit's lack of candor in the Chandra Levy probe "disturbing and wrong," Gephardt decided subsequent to the meeting to decline his colleague's plea for support, saying he too will remain neutral in the Condit-Cardoza primary, according to House aides.

Gephardt's neutrality would stand in contrast to his decision last year to back another beleaguered California Democrat who faced a strong primary threat, then Rep. Matthew Martinez. The Minority Leader publicly endorsed the widely abandoned Martinez, who nonetheless lost his renomination battle against now Rep. Hilda Solis (D).

One year later, Condit also faces the likelihood that some rank-and-file Members of the California delegation will support his Democratic challenger.

"A number of Members have told me privately that they're planning to be supportive," Cardoza said. "Out of respect to Condit, they're giving him plenty of latitude to make whatever decision he wants to make. I respect that. But they've also privately been very encouraging of my candidacy."

A group of female House Members, for example, have told Cardoza they will campaign for him if Condit does file, according to a knowledgeable source, who noted that such a display could remind voters of the reasons Condit faces such serious political woes - namely, his relationship with Levy. The source said some of those female lawmakers are among a growing group of House Members urging Condit to retire.

"Some of Gary's colleagues in the California delegation will support him, some will stay out of the race, and some will support one of his opponents," said Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.), who added that she has not yet decided what role she will play in the contest.

A leading concern voiced last week by several California Democrats was not only that they'll lose the 18th district, but that Condit's presence on the ballot could hinder the party's candidates in other tight races.

Indeed, the Condit saga is likely to resonate next year in campaigns across California. His son, Chad, is running for state Senate, and John Estrada (D), a businessman who's running in the open Central Valley-based 21st district, has publicly dedicated his longshot House bid to Levy's parents.

"Gary has to make a decision about this race," said Rep. Joe Baca (D-Calif.), who got his political start in 1988 by challenging a Condit ally in the state Assembly. "This should not be about one person. It's about winning back the House."

Last Monday, Condit submitted 4,800 signatures, about 1,800 more than required for a spot on the ballot, to the county election clerks' offices.

A Condit spokesman did not return phone calls seeking comment last week.

The poll findings Condit discussed with Gephardt could not be obtained. However, a Democratic poll conducted in September showed Cardoza leading Condit in the primary 56 percent to 27 percent. Cardoza led Monteith 45 percent to 39 percent, according to the survey of 500 voters conducted last month by J. Moore Methods Inc., a Democratic firm based in Sacramento.

Despite recent developments that would appear to encourage several primary challengers, Condit may emerge as the delegation's only House Member to draw a viable threat.

Two factors - the recent round of redistricting and legislative term limits - seem tailor-made to produce primary opponents for incumbents.

The state Legislature drew a new House map this summer that protects almost every Member, increasing the chances incumbents face their most serious re-election threats from within their own parties. Additionally, several state legislators, who often pose the biggest hurdle to House Members, are barred from seeking re-election under the state's term-limits law.

However, strategists said some lawmakers are waiting to learn the outcome of an initiative on the March primary ballot that would amend California's term-limits law and let legislators serve an additional four years.

In the new 21st district, a GOP stronghold where President Bush would have received 60 percent last year, state Assemblyman Mike Briggs, farmer Devin Nunes and former Fresno Mayor Jim Patterson lead a large field of Republicans planning to file.

In the Los Angeles-based 39th district, a new Hispanic-majority seat that Democrats expect to win, top candidates include attorney Linda Sanchez (D), the Congresswoman's sister, as well as state Assembly members Sally Havice (D) and Marco Antonio Firebaugh (D). Al Gore would have received 62 percent in the new 39th district.

Perhaps hoping to distract attention from Condit, whose political troubles have fallen from the national media's radar since Sept. 11, Democrats also are touting the first-time candidacy of Elle Kurpiewski, a veteran United Airlines flight attendant, who's running to challenge Rep. Mary Bono (R).

Kurpiewski said her House bid is motivated by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and Congress' refusal to provide for aviation workers in the airline bailout bill.

-- Anonymous, December 03, 2001