Republican Mary Bono Mack faces tough competition from Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

About three months after entertainer-turned-congressman Sonny Bono died in a skiing accident in January 1998, his widow Mary resoundingly won a crowded special election to succeed him in the Riverside County district. Now remarried to another congressman, Republican Rep. Mary Bono Mack is facing an aggressive reelection challenge from Palm Springs' Democratic mayor, Steve Pougnet.

The race — in common with the handful of other closely watched House contests in the state — figures in the Nov. 2 battle between Democrats and Republicans for control of Congress that will help determine the fate of many Obama administration policies. And much of the campaign has reflected that.

National political leaders have weighed in, including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich for Bono Mack and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis for Pougnet. Congressional campaign leaders in both parties have helped their respective candidates raise money by including them in programs to boost their visibility among donors.

The only GOP woman in California's congressional delegation, Bono Mack, 49, also of Palm Springs, has an edge in voter registration.

"Mary Bono Mack is being given more of a run than she has had in the past," said Shaun Bowler, a political science professor at UC Riverside. "But the Republicans do have a registration advantage," and "this year, Democrats are going to stay home more."

Still, Republicans' advantage in the district has narrowed in recent years; it is now about three percentage points.

Bono Mack has raised more money than her opponent; she reported to the Federal Election Commission that she has collected more than $2.2 million. Pougnet reported more than $1.8 million.

Pougnet, 47, is counting on the district's changing demographics — and perhaps a little unintended help from a conservative third-party candidate — to aid his efforts to oust the 12-year incumbent. Democrats take heart from the fact that President Obama carried the district two years ago and its voters favored Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein in 2004 and 2006, respectively.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/24/local/la-me-bono-mack-20101024

[luckytxn 2,263]

She is not bad looking. A 7 on the MILF scale but a tad higher after a few beers.