(And not because we're taking sides. But because we like to watch someone here actually run a campaign.)
At some point, Tarrant County state Sen. Kim Brimer has to start fighting back, right? Because right now, Democratic challenger Wendy Davis is so kicking his ass. And it's not just that she has a professional-looking Web site while his remains, like a TXDOT road project, eternally "under construction."
Although really, it's 2008, we're a month-and-a-half away from Election Day, and Sen. Brimer can't get it together to put up a functioning home page? Come on.
But we digress. The more interesting news is how enthusiastically the Davis campaign is taking it to Brimer while the Republican incumbent lazily sits back and, presumably, smokes his trademark cigars.
This week, Davis' staff dug up an 18-year-old letter that Brimer wrote begging out of a campaign loan when he was a state representative. The bank in question went under, and the FDIC took it over. The taxpayer-supported agency then asked Brimer to make good on his debt.
A good fiscal conservative Republican like Brimer would have paid back the loan, right? Well, here's what Brimer wrote the FDIC, according to the Davis campaign:
"I will tell you up front the only cash I can gather is $5,000, and I don't want to pay legal fees too."
Oh. Poor child.
Davis staffers also dug up Brimer's old campaign finance reports from this time that show he repaid himself nearly $50,000 from his campaign account. But ... he couldn't find a way to pay back a loan 1/10th the size?
Anyhow, we placed a call to Brimer's war room. They finally have someone answering the phones, and we left a message for the campaign manager. Last time, they never called us back. If they do now, we'll let you know what they say.
In general, Brimer is reluctant to even mention his opponent by name. Her latest attack may at long last rouse him from his slumber.
And no, we don't think that one bad debt from the early '90s should derail a respected incumbent. But we're planning on learning more about Brimer's loan. More importantly, we're impressed that the Davis campaign is using it against their passive opponent. Polls show a tight race, and Davis, a former Fort Worth council member, has a Fred Baron fundraiser on her calendar. She's running an aggressive, well-funded campaign while the District 10 incumbent is relying on a Hail Mary court challenge to throw Davis off the ballot.
If I were in the Brimer camp, I'd be worried. And I'd get that Web site working.
(Above: Wendy Davis in a campaign publicity shot.)
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