Democrats For Life: Endorsements

"Democrats For Life of America is proud to announce our endorsements for the U.S Senate and House":

Pro-life Democrats are pulling up in the polls in both the federal and state level. We are proud of the candidates listed below and are confident that they will all work hard to promote and pass legislation that will protect life at all stages. Importantly, we hope they will swell the ranks of our current pro-life members who are so dedicated to protecting pro-life issues in the Congress including Congressmen Altmire, Berry, Boren, Costello, Cuellar, Davis, Donnelly, Ellsworth, Holden, Kildee, Lipinski, Marshall, McIntyre, Melancon, Mollohan, Murtha, Oberstar, Ortiz, Peterson, Rahall, Skelton, Shuler, Stupak, Taylor and Wilson.

US Senate - Ronnie Musgrove (MS) (DFLA Priority Candidate)

Mississippi Governor since 2000, Ronnie Musgrove now challenges Republican Roger Wicker, who assumed Republican Trent Lott's Senate seat when he resigned in December 2007. There is no clear favorite in this race. Musgrove's statewide recognition could be the key to removing this seat from the Republicans. Also, his strong pro-life record will help in this pro-life state. As a State Senator, he supported a 24-hour waiting period before a women could obtain an abortion and to require those performing more than 5 abortions a month to be licensed as abortion clinics. As Governor of Mississippi, Musgrove signed a bill to ban public funding of abortion. He would be a welcome addition to the U.S. Senate for pro-life Democratic Senators Ben Nelson and Bob Casey.

U.S. House Races

Bobby Bright (AL-02, open seat) DFLA Priority Candidate!

Bobby Bright was elected Mayor of the City of Montgomery, Alabama in 1999 and has been re-elected twice. He now challenges Republican candidate Jay Love for the 2nd Congressional District seat of retiring Republican Terry Everett. Although Love has a small lead in the polls, Bright could be the Democrat to challenge the area's Republican tradition. A poll that John Anzalone conducted for Bright's campaign shows that he has a strong lead among independents (51% to 37%). He has the support of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition and has made financial security a core feature of his campaign.

Parker Griffith (AL-05, open seat) (DFLA endorsed)

With Democrat Robert E. "Bud" Cramer retiring from the 5th Congressional District, pro-life Democrat Parker Griffith hopes to defeat Republican challenger Wayne Parker and keep the district Democratic. Griffith has the advantage of Cramer's popularity and Parker's previous failed attempts in 1994 and 1996 to gain the seat. The race is close in funding and polling, with no clear lead. A former teacher and now a medical doctor, Griffith has the support of Alabama's State Fraternal Order of Police and the testimony of dozens of former patients. He says he is pro-life because as a doctor he has spent his "entire career as North Alabama's first Radiation Oncologist trying to saves lives" and he "understands how precious life is."

Doug Heckman (GA-07) (DFLA endorsed)

Doug Heckman challenges incumbent Republican Rep. John Linder for Georgia's 7th Congressional District seat. Linder has held that position since 1992. Doug, a West Point graduate, currently serves as a special forces colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves. He was endorsed by General Wesley Clark.

Mike Montagano (IN-03) (DFLA endorsed)

Although earlier polls favor incumbent Republican Rep. Mark Souder to win Indiana's 3rd Congressional District, recent news that most undecided voters do not identify as Republican is good news for challenger Mike Montagano. Montagano recently aired a commercial (which can be viewed here) where he explicitly highlights his pro-life beliefs. For that reason, he is faring well against the Republican candidate. Increasing name-recognition and advertising will be key as the election draws near. Recent polls put him within 5 points of the Republican incumbent.

David Boswell (KY-02, open seat) DFLA Priority Candidate!

After more than 30 years of public service, State Senator David Boswell of Owensboro, Kentucky is running for the open seat of retiring Republican Representative Ron Lewis of Congressional District 2. In addition to a good reputation and the respect of State Senators from both parties, Boswell enjoys strong support from his own party, having won all 21 counties in the primary. Kentucky has a long Democratic tradition, and in 2007 Democrat Steve Beshear defeated incumbent Republican Ernie Fletcher to become governor. In a campaign poll conducted October 8-9, Boswell maintained a small lead over opponent Brett Guthrie 41% to 40%. As for voter perceptions of the candidates, Boswell has a significant advantage: more than two-to-one voters who know Boswell view him positively, whereas Guthrie's margin is barely favorable. The Boswell campaign considers him "poised to win" with "solid prospects of victory."

Don Cazayoux (LA-06) (DLFA endorsed)

Pro-life Democrat Don Cazayoux won a May 3, 2008 special election to gain Louisiana's 6th Congressional District. In the conservative-leaning Baton Rouge area, Cazayoux was a strong candidate in part because of his economic platform and his pro-life committment. A Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee poll conducted October 8-9 shows Cazayoux with a lead of 46% compared to Republican challenger state Sen. Bill Cassidy's 29% and independent state Rep. Michael Jackson's 9%. Jackson lost to Cazayoux in the Democratic primary and poses a threat to securing the vote of African Americans, who represent one-third of district residents. Cazayoux will need to emphasize his approval ratings and performance this year to beat Cassidy's strong campaign and minimize Jackson's impact.

Joseph Larkin (MI-11) (DFLA Endoresed)

Lawyer Joseph Larkin faces incumbent Republican Thaddeus McCotter, who has represented Michigan's 11th Congressional District since 2002. Although McCotter is confident that he will win, Larkin has the support of several workers' associations. Larkin also supports term limitations and advocates a "citizen Congress" rather than career politicians.

Travis Childers (MS-01) (DFLA endorsed)

In a surprise win May 13, Travis Childers won a special election to replace Republican Rep. Roger Wickers in representing the 1st Congressional District of Mississippi. Since then, Childers' rating among voters has remained strong. He defeated Republican Mayor of Southaven Greg Davis in May by eight points and is poised to defeat him again. Thus far, Davis has been unable to convince voters to return the seat to Republican representation in a race that now leans Democratic.

Jim Esch (NE-02) DFLA Priority Candidate!

In his second run for political office, pro-life Democrat Jim Esch is challenging Republican incumbent Lee Terry to represent Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District. The district includes the core of the Omaha metropolitan area, Nebraska's Democratic base and home to three-fourths of the state's growing African American population. In the 2006 Senate race, pro-life Democratic Senator Ben Nelson won the District's Douglas County by over 30%, a good sign for Esch. An Anzalone-Liszt poll conducted October 13-15 shows Esch and Terry in a dead heat, with Terry's approval rating in decline. Esch leads 51% to 41% with voters who have not registered with either party. Although the district has leaned Republican in the past, the margin of support for Republicans has diminished, and polls reveal a close Presidential race. High voter turnout could swing this district blue.

Steve Driehaus (OH-01) DFLA Priority Candidate!

After three terms as a moderate Democrat in the Ohio House, Steve Driehaus is running against 1st Congressional District incumbent Republican Steve Chabot. Although Chabot has already served seven terms, his win in 2006 was his narrowest. The current political environment strongly favors Democrats, and high spending from both campaigns demonstrates that this race is tight. Driehaus emphasizes his fiscal conservatism and his previous efforts in the state legislature to address the foreclosure crisis. An independent Research 2000 poll shows Driehaus with a 46% to 44% lead against Chabot. A greater turnout among Democratic voters during this year's presidential election could be the boost Driehaus needs to end Chabot's tenure.

Bill O'Neill (OH-14) (DFLA endorsed)

Although Republican Steven C. LaTourette survived his party's battering in 2006, in Bill O'Neill he faces the toughest challenge in his seven terms as Representative of Ohio's 14th Congressional District. O'Neill is a former state appellate judge, a nurse on weekends and evenings, and a single father who has raised his four children since their mother's death in an automobile accident in 1995. LaTourette is favored, but O'Neill has raised more money than previous Democratic opponents. He could pull of a victory.

Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-03) DFLA Priority Candidate!

Republican incumbent Phil English is running for an eighth term in Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District. After a mediocre win against a weak candidate during his last race, Democrats have high hopes that English's days representing Erie and greater northwestern Pennsylvania are numbered. Dahlkemper has proven her commitment to improving the industrial region's economy, earning an endorsement from Erie's General Electric Union and many other unions and workers' organizations. Union representatives have spoken out in support of Dahlkemper and against English's poor record on trade, wages, and other issues relevant to workers. The numbers testify to Dahlkemper's strength: an independent Research 2000 poll from October 6-8 showed her leading with 48% to English's 41%, with even greater support for Dahlkemper (57% to 31%) in English's home base of Erie County. With a mid-month endorsement from fellow Democrat Senator Robert Casey, Jr., Dahlkemper's victory is in sight.

But where is Bob Conley?