The great knight who was supposed to rescue the kingdom apparently decided the dragon’s breath is a little too hot: last week Democrat Jack McDonald, CEO of the technology consulting company Perficient, backed out of his challenge to Republican Congressman Michael McCaul. Texas Democratic Party Chairman Boyd Richie was unavailable for comment, but the move no doubt stunned the party – McDonald was seen as a serious candidate who could actually raise the kind of money it would take to eke out a win against überwealthy McCaul in District 10, one of the Tom DeLay-gerrymandered districts, stretching from West Lake Hills through Pflugerville and east to the suburbs of Houston.
Indeed, McDonald had already raised almost $1 million, nearly the entire sum that the 2008 Democrat, Larry Joe Doherty, raised for that election. Why would the seeming golden boy drop out? McDonald isn’t saying, other than an opaque statement: “After careful consideration, and with the January 4 filing deadline approaching, I have decided that this is not the right time for me to run and I will not be filing to enter the race. This was a difficult decision for me and one I did not make lightly.”
McDonald said he would attempt to return the contributions he had received thus far.
So is it guaranteed that Northwest Austin Democrats, missing the pregerrymander District 10 when they were represented by Lloyd Doggett, are stuck with McCaul for another two years? TDP deputy spokesman Rick Guerrero tried to put a brave face on it: “Michael McCaul has proven to be ineffective for Texas, and others know that, and we do expect there will be another Democrat who will challenge him.”
On Sunday, Austin Democratic blogger Rachel Farris (aka “Mean Rachel”) reported that she had received an e-mail from Doherty saying that he is looking at polling data and might himself take another crack at McCaul. “You may tell all interested that I’m interested,” he wrote. Farris has since created a “Draft Doherty” page on Facebook.
But to win, Doherty will have to establish quick access to tons of cash. So far, his was the best attempt to unseat McCaul, first elected in 2004, and even Doherty couldn’t do better than 43% (to McCaul’s 54%). Following his defeat, Doherty estimated that, to knock off the Republican, it would take twice the $1.2 million he had raised. Doherty will have to decide quickly: The filing period ends Jan. 4.
This article appears in 2009.