By Shelley Kofler, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-931833.mp3
Dallas, TX – Chet Edwards of Waco has been called the most endangered Democratic congressman running for reelection. He's repeatedly won in his republican leaning district that reaches into North Texas. But this year Edwards is facing anti-Washington backlash and stiff competition from republican Bill Flores of Bryan, as KERA's Shelley Kofler reports.
Several hours before downtown Cleburne opens for business the Caddo Gill is buzzing with reform-minded voters.
Bruce Johns: I see this country being destroyed and being converted to socialism and that's not what this country is about.
Tea party activist Bruce Johns is among those who've come to hear republican congressional challenger Bill Flores. He's talking about his plan for improving the economy and unseating ten-term democrat Chet Edwards.
Johns fills a plate with sausage and biscuits, then takes a seat near a screen with a Power Point heading that reads: the Pelosi-Obama agenda.
Flores: The only jobs that President Obama and Chet Edwards and Nancy Pelosi seem to think are good jobs are provided by government.
Flores surged early in the polls by following a national republican strategy for taking control of Congress.
The retired oil executive has zeroed in on voter anger with Washington, and tried to tie Edwards to President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Two years ago Pelosi recommended Edwards when Obama considered him as a vice-presidential running mate.
Flores: He's voted for every appropriations bill since Nancy Pelosi's become Speaker of the House. I would have never voted for TARP. I would have never voted for the stimulus bill. The stimulus bill is just going to bankrupt the futures of our children and grandchildren. I would focus the nation's efforts on the things that will help the private sector and that's tax relief, regulatory relief, getting rid of oppressive regulations like Obamacare.
Flores message seems ready-made for Congressional District 17 which stretches 200 miles from the conservative suburbs of Fort Worth, through Waco with the world's largest Baptist university, to College Station and Texas A&M. This is the most republican district in the nation with a democratic congressman.
Yet, repeatedly, 58-year old Edwards, of Waco, has survived.
Edwards: In years when John Kerry and Barack Obama were only getting 30% and 31% of the vote I won reelection. And that's evidence the voters of our district respect an independent-minded representative who will cross party lines.
Edwards most notably crossed party lines to vote against the federal health care bill and to oppose climate change legislation that's unpopular in Texas.
He describes his relationship with Speaker Pelosi as one of respect.
Edwards: I could not get elected in Nancy Pelosi's district because I'm too conservative. I've got the support of the National Rifle Association and the Texas Farm Bureau. And she couldn't get elected in our district because she's too liberal. Where we have worked together is on our mutual interests in supporting our veterans. The bill I wrote that she strongly supported provides a college scholarship for every military child in America who has lost a mother or father in military service since September 11, 2001. We worked closely on that.
Edwards says he keeps getting elected because he delivers for the district.
Edwards is at the Comanche Peak power plant accepting an award from the nuclear industry on the same day Flores is at the Caddo Bar and Grill.
He's being honored for standing firm when other democrats wanted to eliminate federal loan guarantees that will allow Comanche Peak to finance its expansion.
Alex Flint, Nuclear Energy Association: It's not everyday that a member of the subcommittee stands up to the leadership and says we're not going to do this bill unless it has the things in it that are important to me and my constituents.
It's an opportunity for the soft spoken Edwards to remind reporters his seniority on appropriations and budget committees has benefited his district. He also reminds that opponent Bill Flores initially called for eliminating the loan guarantees and the jobs that may follow.
Edwards: The only time he came out in favor of the loan guarantees is after I pointed out his proposal would kill 5,000 jobs and the $15 bill expansion of Comanche Peak. Either he didn't care enough to come up to Somervell County and meet the folks in our area, or he didn't know there was a nuclear power plant in our district, or he just was absolutely na ve. And that kind of naiveness when you have 5,000 jobs at stake, that's dangerous.
Edwards has skillfully taken aim when Flores made other statements he later retracted or modified.
As president of an oil drilling company that went bankrupt Flores said he made sure all lenders were repaid. Then news reports revealed that under Flores the company did not repay more than $7 million of a federal loan.
Flores told a reporter he was not against raising the social security age then said he misspoke because he had a headache. He said he meant to say he's opposed to raising the social security age.
The Flores campaign says the missteps are a consequence of their candidate being new to politics, and in a year when Washington and incumbents are prime targets, Flores believes he has the winning message.
Flores: The first thing we'd do is extend current tax rates. The next thing we'd do is get rid of overly burdensome regulations.
But Edwards says Flores shouldn't be measuring the drapes on a Washington office just yet. Edwards is running on his record and says history is on his side.