Longtime congressman and republican presidential candidate Duncan Hunter isn't running for his house seat. But that doesn't mean his family is ready to let go of the post. Could this be the start of a political dynasty? Full Focus reporter Amita Sharma has more.
Duncan Hunter's son and namesake, Duncan D. Hunter, is mulling over whether to run for his father's seat in 2008. The younger Hunter is a 30-year-old former Marine who has served in Iraq. Like his father, he's a conservative republican who favors fences on the border with Mexico and a strong military. But San Diego County Democratic Chairman Jess Durfee says the younger Hunter has vulnerabilities.
Durfee : I would not look at that favorably.
Durfee declined to name potential Democratic candidates for the race. There are 53,000 more republicans than democrats in the 52nd District. Even so, Durfee says there's hope for retaking the seat Hunter has occupied for 26 years.
Durfee : Any open seat in the country would certainly be up for grabs for the democrats to take from a republican.
But Mike McSweeney of the local chapter of the Republican Party has two words for any democratic candidates in Hunter's district: good luck.
McSweeney : I think their chances are slim to none but let me illustrate it a different way. I have as much a chance as supplanting LaDamian Tomlinson as running-back for the Chargers starting next year as the democrats do picking up that seat.
McSweeney says even under optimal circumstances like the race to replace former Congressman Randy Cunningham -- who is in prison for taking bribes -- the democrats haven't been able to score a win in republican-dominated districts in San Diego. McSweeney says Hunter's son's other big advantage over all competitors republican and democrat is that he shares his father's name.
McSweeney : It kind of reminds you of the Eddie Murphy movie where he was the congressman that had the same name as the congressman that died and got elected -- so it's definitely an advantage.
McSweeney also wouldn't name potential republican candidates other than Hunter's son. But he said there are a lot of contenders both elected officials and business people in the East County who are interested.
Note: Due to our March membership campaign, Full Focus will not air at 11:00 p.m. tonight.
