Hoyer Barnstorms the South
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) is taking his campaigning south for the week, with events planned for House Democratic challengers and incumbents in Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Florida and Mississippi.
Hoyer hosted a fundraiser in Atlanta on Tuesday afternoon for Rep. John Barrow (Ga.), who is being challenged by former Congressional aide John Stone. The No. 2 Democratic leader will then headline a fundraiser in Shreveport on Tuesday night for Paul Carmouche (La.), who is running for the seat left vacant by retiring Republican Rep. Jim McCrery.
On Wednesday morning, Hoyer will head to a Houston event with local business leaders for Michael Skelly, who is aiming to unseat four-term GOP incumbent Rep. John Culberson. That afternoon, Hoyer will host a fundraiser in Lafayette, La., for Don Cravins Jr., who is running against two-term incumbent Rep. Charles Boustany (R).
Hoyer will finish out the day at a fundraiser for first-term Rep. Don Cazayoux (D-La.) in Baton Rouge.
Thursday morning, Hoyer will head to Miami to host fundraisers for two Democratic candidates, Joe Garcia and Raul Martinez. Garcia is vying for incumbent Rep Mario Diaz-Balarts (R-Fla.) seat, while Martinez is trying to unseat Marios brother, eight-term GOP Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart. Also Thursday, Hoyer will be the special guest at a labor briefing with Democrat Annette Taddeo, who is challenging four-term Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.).
The campaigning continues through Friday for Hoyer, who plans a final fundraiser for freshman Rep. Travis Childers (D-Miss.) in Tupelo before heading back to Washington, D.C. Childers has only been in office since May 20, when he assumed the seat vacated by 12-year GOP incumbent Rep. Roger Wicker, who was appointed to succeed retiring Sen. Trent Lott (R).
Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-Calif.) schedule this week is more elusive, though aides said she spent Tuesday campaigning in Chicago and is heading to Florida on Wednesday.
According to his political action committee, Hoyer has traveled to 34 states and 96 Congressional districts in the 2008 cycle. He has contributed $1.5 million to Members and candidates as well as raised them about $5 million. He has also given $1.1 million to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and raised it about $3.9 million.
