David Drucker penned this piece in today’s Roll Call Magazine:
CALIFORNIA
Businessman Will Reveal 50th District Plans Soon
Millionaire businessman Eric Roach (R) may be out, but another millionaire businessman, Bill Hauf (R), said he is very likely in and will mount a challenge to ex-Rep. Brian Bilbray (R) in the 50th district GOP primary on June 6 < even as the former Congressman battles Democrat Francine Busby the same day in the special election to replace ex-Rep. Duke Cunningham (R).
"I can tell you that if I go ahead it will be unlike any other campaign people have seen in the 50th District," Hauf said in an e-mail Tuesday. "I will officially announce my decision within 72 hours, but I can assure you that the odds of me not aggressively running for this seat are quickly disappearing."
Hauf spent $1.1 million of his own money in the April 11 open primary to replace Cunningham who resigned in December amid bribery charges but received only 1.61 percent of the vote for his investment. Bilbray, a former Congressman, finished first among Republican candidates with 15.25 percent of the vote, less than one point ahead of Roach. Busby took almost 44 percent.
Staunch conservatives are sure to be buoyed by Hauf¹s possible entry into the race, as they are unhappy with Bilbray¹s moderate positions on issues such as gun control and abortion. Democrats will also be thrilled, figuring Busby¹s chances of topping Bilbray in the runoff in the strongly Republican 50th district are greater if he is fending off attacks from the right and left simultaneously.
Bilbray¹s chief political strategist Dave Gilliard indicated that Hauf poses less of a challenge than Roach would have but was still clear that his possible entry into the race for the regular primary is a cause for concern.
"If he goes negative on [Bilbray], it could hand the race to the Democrats," Gilliard said.