Texas Congressional Endorsements
The Austin American Stateman today gave an update on the Congressional endorsements in Texas of the Democratic candidates for President. So far five Texas Democratic House members have endorsed Dick Gephardt (Chet Edwards, Silvestre Reyes, Gene Green, Chris Bell and Max Sandlin), one has endorsed John Edwards (Eddie Bernice Johnson)and eleven have yet to make an endorsement. The article states the significance of these seemingly trivial endorsements:

Lining up congressional endorsements, though frequently dismissed as inside-the-Beltway trivia, is a necessary campaign tactic. Members of Congress are "superdelegates," each having a vote at their party's nominating convention. Significant support also can provide fund-raising traction.

Some members also offer tangible support: raising money, offering volunteers and campaigning.

Rep. Rubén Hinojosa, D-Mercedes, has accompanied his candidates to district events, introducing them and speaking on their behalf. It's the kind of hands-on help that is attractive to candidates, particularly in Hinojosa's heavily Democratic Rio Grande Valley district, where many voters speak Spanish.

Hinojosa remains uncommitted. So does Rep. Martin Frost, D-Arlington, who served as Gary Hart's state chairman in 1984 and spent "a lot of time" in 1988 campaigning for Gephardt in Iowa.

"I think a lot of members of Congress this year are holding back and seeing what develops in the field," Frost said.

Solomon Ortiz acknowledged what Frost said. Instead of supporting Gephardt in lockstep, their holding back:

U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz endorsed Dick Gephardt for president in 1988, but the Corpus Christi Democrat is playing hard to get these days, and he's not alone. Most Texas Democrats are holding tightly to their endorsements, though it's not for the candidates' lack of trying.

"I want to see if I'm in a position to get my constituents a winner," Ortiz said. "We have good candidates, but maybe a dark horse will emerge, and I want to keep my options open."

Still, there has been a major effort to get Congressmen on board with Dick Gephardt.

"I can tell you there was a very sustained and widespread effort to get members behind Gephardt," said U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin.

Despite having fewer than expected endorsements, Dick Gephardt is seen as the top establishment candidate by many. It will interesting to see if more congressional endorsements follow his perceived frontrunner status.

Posted by: Byron L.