Get ‘Er Done
Unfortunately, as of today, July 31, the list of Republican House candidates not taking their respective race as seriously as they should is a bit longer than I would prefer. Every breakfast conversation I happen to find myself a participant of eventually turns to the doom and gloom that is ahead if some of our folks running under the flag of the GOP don’t get off the couch and start running for office.
But amidst the scary scenarios and the talks of those who think it is too hot to get out and walk neighborhood doors, one name keeps poping up as the model for those in tight races to follow…Jim Murphy.
A little bit about Mr. Murphy before we induldge into what he’s up to these days. He is a freshman State Representative from Harris County, made so after he assumed the seat formerly held by Joe Nixon. In getting to the House he survived a tight 2006 primary that had less than 4 points separating all three candidates, edged out his opponent in the run-off, and then ran an agressive 2006 General Election race to earn a double diget victory despite the democrat wave that hit Texas.
Mr. Murphy knows how to campaign hard, a trait that will serve him well during this election cycle. The July campaign finance reports made it very clear that democrats are targeting his race in their effort to claim a majority in the lower chamber, but unlike some of his Republican colleagues in the same shoes, Mr. Murphy isn’t running around like a chicken with his head cut off.
No, instead Mr. Murphy is out raising money, knowing that the road ahead will be an expensive one. On his last two reports combined, Mr. Murphy has taken in a quarter of a million dollars, putting him ahead of the curve amongst his fellow Republican freshmen. But more impressive - to me - is that everytime I hear Mr. Murphy’s name come up during campaign talks, it is in association with the walking duties that he has already assumed.
While others are dreading the day that the Labor Day Holiday concludes and they have to take to the streets, if the reports that come to me are correct, Mr. Murphy has already hit the pavement to knock on doors and start visiting with as many voters as he can. And though I can not confirm, I will also share with you the notion I have heard that Mr. Murphy is skipping this summer’s legislative conferences, opting instead to focus on the one thing that matters right now…re-election.
When I wrote of Mr. Zedler’s woes I said that if he is not knocking on doors then he needs to be dialing for dollars. This is a plan that Mr. Murphy has employed, and a plan that other Republicans need to closely watch.
If we are to keep a majority in the House, perhaps even add a seat or two, and also protect what we already own in the Senate then it is going to take a strong effort not only in November, but during all the days between now and then as well. As Republicans we can not expect to be handed our victories anymore. Those days are over, replaced with election cycles that are going to continue to challenge the integrity of our party just as it did in 2006.
And what exactly did we see in 2006 when the circumstances forced us to take a long and hard look at ourselves in the mirror? Without going into detail, I will simply say that what we saw is nothing that we want to see again in 2008.
But if we are not thorough then we will come face to face with the same reflection again. That is the reality of the climate we are in. Knowing what it can do for congressional redistricting, Senator Obama has pledged to help down ballot democrats in Texas. There is still a Bush backlash in the air. Some of our outgoing officials have done more harm than good. And as we have all seen with our own eyes, democrats are hell-bent to not be outspent this fall. All of this means that it is going to take nothing short of our very best to prevail in November, a notion that I hope makes its way to some of our Republican candidates who for whatever reason see the situation differently.
So how do you combat direct challenges to your integrity? With good old fashion hard work. With lots of sweat and sleepless nights on the campaign trail. Just ask Mr. Murphy.