CD-11

U.S. Rep. Jerry McNerney is clearly enjoying the power of incumbency when it comes to fundraising in the race to retain his 11th Congressional District seat, second quarter campaign finance disclosure numbers released Tuesday show.

The Pleasanton Democrat leads Republican challenger Dean Andal of Stockton in cash raised in the second quarter, overall cash raised to date and in cash on hand.

It seems the people of California's Stockton-centered 11th Congressional District just love to watch a good political scrap when they get the chance.

Back in 2006 they witnessed Democratic challenger Jerry McNerney take on and knock off multi-term incumbent Republican Richard Pombo.  Two years later GOP challenger Dean Andal appears to be getting ready for the political fight of his life in a district that is just about even in voter registrations between Democrats and Republicans.

But with McNerney enjoying the power of incumbency and so far raising more money than Andal, those handling the freshman congressman's first reelection campaign say that they are optimistic about his chances this November.

Boosting that confidence were the news reports last week that Andal had become wrapped up in a Grand Jury investigation related to the San Joaquin Delta College District board of trustees and his work as a consultant  with Sacramento-based developer Gerry Kamilos.