GOP runoff heats up.
Add Congressman Ted Poe to the growing list of office holders weighing-in on the race to replace Ron Paul.
Just days after Congressman Paul endorsed state Rep. Randy Weber as his replacement, Poe threw his support behind Pearland City Council member Felicia Harris ahead of next month's GOP runoff.
"I think she's the best candidate to keep the seat in conservative hands in southeast Texas," says Poe. "Its important that we don't let another liberal Democrat comes to Washington."
Weber says he doesn't know where Ted Poe is coming from, pointing out he was the top vote-getter in last the May primary for a reason.
"I received the number one rating from the Texas Conservative Coalition, the watchdog group that keeps an eye on the Legislature and sees how we vote," says Weber. "And to get the number one rating out of 150 state reps, that has really resonated with this district."
"If Harris is getting the endorsement or support from congressional members who voted to increase the debt ceiling on all Americans, and if people like the way things are going in Washington, they need to vote for her," he says. "If they like the way Texas does it, they need to vote for me."
The winner of next month's runoff will face Democrat and former congressman Nick Lampson in November's general election. That's where Harris says she has the advantage with endorsements from Poe and Congressman Pete Olson, both defeated Lampson in the past.
"Both of those congressmen represent significant portions of the district and what we're hearing is that Lampson and the Democrats do not want to go head-to-head with me in the general election, but they would prefer to go against my opponent," she says.
The District 14 race has now gained as much national attention as the race for U.S. Senate here in Texas. It covers three coastal counties considered the backbone of Texas energy due to the petrochemical industry, offshore drilling and pending Keystone XL pipeline.
Harris argues she may be a city council member right now, but she's ready for the national spotlight.
"With 13 years of experience in the energy and petrochemical sectors, I'm not someone who goes along to get along," says Harris. "I look forward to going toe-to-toe every day with all the Democrats in D.C. including those liberal women like Nancy Pelosi and Debbie Wasserman Schultz."
