Dems take early swipe at Andal pressure points

U.S. House candidate Dean AndalThe California Democratic Party is taking aim at Republican U.S. House candidate Dean Andal, who is challenging Democratic incumbent Jerry McNerney, five months before voters in the Stockton-area District 11 head to the polls.

In a Thursday memo addressed to “political reporters, editors, and interested parties,” CDP spokesman Brian Brokaw writes that “it’s time to address the issues, Andal,” and poses to the candidate what Brokaw says are “unanswered questions” about his stances on issues.

The memo also aims to play up what has been seen in some quarters as concern about the progress of Andal’s campaign, namely on the fundraising front. First quarter fundraising reports showed Andal trailing McNerney in cash raised by a nearly $1 million margin. “One year ago, Dean Andal announced his candidacy for Congress in California’s 11th congressional district. Since then, his campaign has been noticeably quiet, and Andal’s fundraising has started to dry up,” it says.

Richard Temple, an adviser to Andal, said the release of the memo was an indication that Democrats were concerned about its prospects in holding onto the seat, which resides in a district that narrowly favored Republican George W. Bush in the 2000 and 2004 elections.

"This is an amateurish partisan attack that shows Dean Andal gives the Democrat Party a lot to worry about. We agree, they should be worried," said Temple.