Democrat Charlie Brown, gunning for Rep. John Doolittle (R) again in 2008 after falling just short last year, has pledged to donate 5 percent of every campaign contribution he receives to veterans’ aftercare charities.

The 4th district is overwhelmingly Republican. But Doolittle’s ethical foibles have damaged his political standing and would appear to put Brown in the driver’s seat in a rematch, should the Congressman survive the GOP primary — which is far from guaranteed.

Doolittle announced last week he is running for re-election in 2008, and in a Sacramento Bee article referred to those Republicans who have abandoned support for him — or come out against him — as “weasels.”

Doolittle’s fundraising was tepid during the first two quarters of this year, with the Congressman banking $76,000 compared with Brown’s $269,000.

— David M. Drucker