Nick Leibham

U.S. Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Carlsbad)The campaign for U.S. Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Carlsbad) has turned down an invitation to appear at a September debate in San Diego, with a spokeswoman for Bilbray reiterating that the congressman would only participate in debates remotely from Washington.

“We’ve made out position very clear as to how we are going to participate in debates,” said Bilbray campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Jacobs.

Jacobs said the campaign had never agreed to take part in the Sept. 17 town hall sponsored by the Men's Club of Congregation Beth Israel in San Diego.

Jacobs explained that the House was scheduled to be in session throughout September and October and did not want to agree to participate in an in-district debate only to have Bilbray called back to Washington for votes.

Nick Leibham, the Democratic nominee for the 50th Congressional District, wants to help you pay for gas. The candidate will subsidize gasoline purchases, allowing up to 50 motorists at three different locations to pay just $1.27 per gallon -- the average price when he says his opponent U.S. Rep. Brian Bilbray "took his first campaign contribution from Big Oil"

It's a cute stunt, if not quite novel. But isn't it a little wrong to try to buy someone's vote? Or is that just the American way?

Democrat Nick Leibham outraised incumbent U.S. Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Carlsbad) in the second fundraising quarter, though Bilbray maintained an advantage in cash on hand.

Leibham took in $181,766 between April and June and reported having $266,654 in cash on hand, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Bilbray raised $119,804 and has $528,170 in the bank.

To date, Leibham has raised $560,324 for the race, while Bilbray has taken in $894,727.

Included in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s newest round of radio advertisements targets is Brian Bilbray, a San Diego Republican who is serving his first full term in the House.

The ads, targeting 13 Republican incumbents nationwide and tied to the upcoming July 4 holiday, focus on the issue of gas prices.

“Wanted to thank you for continuing to support the Big Oil Energy Agenda,” a George Bush impersonator says in a mock answering machine message to Bilbray.

“‘Preciate you voting to keep giving billions in tax breaks to the big oil companies. Sure, gasoline is over four bucks a gallon and the oil companies are making record profits, but what’s good for Big Oil is good for America, right? Guess that’s why they call us the Grand OIL Party. Heh, heh, heh. Seriously, Brian, I know I can always count on you.”

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has named U.S. House candidate Nick Leibham to its list of emerging candidates in its “Red to Blue” program.

Leibham is challenging first term Republican incumbent Brian Bilbray for his District 50 seat, which spans the San Diego area.

Leibham was one of 20 candidates nationwide who made the emerging races list. The Red to Blue program aims to prop up Democratic challengers in competitive races.

The committee noted in a release announcing the emerging races candidates: “as these campaigns continue to develop and demonstrate increasing strength, candidates will have an opportunity to qualify for the Red to Blue program.”

Nick Leibham, the Democratic opponent to first term U.S. Rep. Brian Bilbray, is challenging Bilbray to a series of at least 5 debates before the November election.

“I write with a simple request: name the time and the place,” Leibham told Bilbray in a Monday letter.

Leibham concluded his letter, “I hope you would agree that the people of the 50th deserve no less. I look forward to your prompt response.”

Jennifer Jacobs, Bilbray’s campaign consultant, said she thought Leibham’s challenge was “fantastic.” But she said the congressman would only agree to radio and television debates. Those formats, she said, would allow the greatest voter access. She also said radio debates would enable Bilbray to participate from Washington.

U.S. Rep. Brian BilbrayDemocrat Nick Leibham’s campaign released an internal poll to PolitickerCA.com which the campaign says shows Leibham running competitively with Republican incumbent Brian Bilbray in the 50th congressional district.

“The poll is extremely encouraging,” said Leibham campaign manager Alec Evans. “The 50th is ripe for the picking."

The Leibham campaign’s poll shows Leibham trailing Bilbray by a 52 percent to 34 percent margin. But the poll also finds Leibham trailing Bilbray by a narrower 49 percent to 46 percent “once voters hear about Leibham’s background as a criminal prosecutor and teacher – and his message of change…” the poll says.

The U.S. House campaign for Nick Leibham is seizing on what it says is evidence that the Democratic challenger is competitive in the race for the District 50 seat, even as national Republicans today said Republican incumbent Brian Bilbray is comfortable in his run for reelection.

On Monday, Leibham campaign manager Alec Evans pointed to a column written by the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Logan Jenkins which argues that Leibham, a San Diego attorney, is in a position to potentially present Bilbray, a first term incumbent, with a strong challenge. “Bilbray doesn't win by more than three points. That's the over-under,” Jenkins writes in the piece.

Nick Leibham, the leading Democratic candidate seeking the seat of Republican U.S. Rep. Brian Bilbray, has won the endorsement of Planned Parenthood, his campaign announced today.

“Nick Leibham understands the importance of reproductive healthcare education,” said Amy Denhart, the Director of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.  “More importantly, he understands and cares for the families of San Diego and North County.  Nick shares our values and will be a voice for responsible leadership.”