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Jorgensen quits race, backs Martinez
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The Democratic primary in the 24th Congressional District is down to two contenders after Marta Jorgensen of Solvang dropped out Wednesday and endorsed opponent Jill Martinez of Oxnard.
Martinez will face Mary Pallant of Oak Park in the June 3 election. The winner will advance to the November general election against the winner of the Republican primary between 11-term Congressman Elton Gallegly and his challenger, attorney Michael Tenenbaum.
The 24th District covers most of inland Santa Barbara County and most of Ventura County, except for coastal portions of Ventura and Oxnard.
Martinez said Jorgensen had told her Saturday that she planned to drop out, and the two held a pair of news conferences Wednesday to announce Jorgensen's endorsement.
"I believe those who support her have heard me and looked at me, and they know I'm the best candidate," Martinez said. "What really makes this exciting is that with all of the conflict going on in the presidential race, it shows a unifying effort by the Democratic Party to beat Gallegly in the fall."
Pallant, however, said she thinks she's the "strong Democrat" the party needs to defeat Gallegly.
"Jill had her shot," Pallant said, referring to Martinez's loss to Gallegly in 2006. "If she could have beat Elton, she would have beat him."
Jorgensen hadn't reported raising or spending any money on her campaign through March 31, according to Federal Election Commission data. Martinez has raised $21,491 in the current race but has a campaign debt of $97,702. Pallant has raised $15,095, with no debt and additional cash on hand: $10,533 to Martinez's $3,034.
Gallegly is likely to outspend either candidate in November. He has raised $432,137 in this election cycle, and his campaign has $937,594 in the bank.
Posted by kind1 on April 24, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Money can't buy everything. Like endorsements.
Stay tuned folks, there's a biggie endorsement announcement coming down the pipeline for
Jill Martinez - The Democrat for CA-24th 2008!
With Many More to come!
Keep your eyes on http://www.jillmartinezforcongress200...
Which I hear will be updated later today, with A BIG ONE.
The old Beatles tune is running through my head right now: "I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you - I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love." (The Beatles - 1964).
People LOVE and Respect Jill Martinez.
Posted by choose4urfuture on April 24, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I heard the reason Gallegly initially dropped out 2 years was because some scandal was about to come out. But Karl Rove stepped in at the last second and silenced whoever was going to go to the press. The question is, will somebody find Gallegly's little secret before its too late?
Posted by nick2fot on April 24, 2008 at 8:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jill Martinez doesn't need a 'biggee endorsement,' as suggested by kind1. She needs a big donor. Moreover, she has duplicated Mary Pallant's platform, and thus lacks a basis for differentiating herself in the primary campaign. Unless Jill can demonstrate much stronger fund raising skills, without selling out to corporations who oppose her platform, and demonstrate a strategy for upsetting a long-term incumbent before June 3, she represents too great a long shot to those of us who are fed up with not being represented in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Posted by Jurnei on May 11, 2008 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)
nick2fot:
I totally agree with you. Pallant is the best candidate to take on Gallegly. She has the background and her campaign is ready to move forward without being mired in debt as is Martinez.
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