GUN CONTROL POLITICS AND THE 2004 FEDERAL ELECTIONS by Chuck Cunningham, NRA Federal Affairs Director
Of the 18 candidates for the U.S. Senate endorsed by the National Rifle Association, the NRA-endorsed candidate won in 14 of these races
Says something, doesn't it?
Net gain of four pro-gun seats in the U.S. Senate with gains in Florida, Lousiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and South Dakota, and a loss in Colorado
Of the 251 candidates endorsed by the National Rifle
Association for the U.S. House of Representatives, the NRA-endorsed candidate won in 241 of these races
The 109th Congress will begin with Members with the following ratings: 235 "A"-rated, 27 "B"-rated, 15 "C"-rated, 17 "D"-rated, 138 "F"-rated, and 3 "?"-rated
In Senate races, the Brady Bunch supported for reelection Senator Tom Daschle and targeted for defeat Senators Kit Bond and Arlen Specter, and their endorsed candidates lost in all these Senate races
I can't say I'll miss you, Daschle, but I can say a few more need to go right along behind you.
In House races, the Brady Bunch targeted for defeat Congressmen Rick Renzi (AZ-1), Bob Beauprez (CO-7), Mark Kennedy (MN-6), Heather Wilson (NM-1), and Jim Gerlach (PA-6) and supported Virginia Schrader (PA-8), and their endorsed candidates lost in all of these House races
Three anti-gun Republicans -- Doug Bereuter (NE-1), Amory Houghton (NY-29), and Jim Greenwood (PA-8) -- will be succeeded by pro-gun congressmenPro-gun upgrades in Senate seats: anti-gun Senator Bob Graham is succeeded by pro-gun candidate Mel Martinez, unreliable Senator John Breaux is succeeded by pro-gun congressman David Vitter, anti-gun Senator John Edwards is succeeded by pro-gun congressman Richard Burr, and anti-gun Senator Fritz Hollings is succeeded by pro-gun congressman Jim DeMint, and anti-gun Senator Tom Daschle was defeated by pro-gun former congressman John Thune
Pro-gun freshmen in the Senate will include:Mel Martinez (FL), Johnny Isakson (GA), David Vitter (LA), Richard Burr (NC), Tom Coburn (OK), Jim DeMint (SC), and John Thune (SD)
Pro-gun freshmen in the House will include:
John Salazar (CO-3), Connie Mack (FL-14), Tom Price (GA-6), Lynn Westmoreland (GA-8), Mike Sodrel (IN-9), Geoff Davis (KY-4), Jeff Fortenberry (NE-1), Virginia Foxx (NC-5), Patrick McHenry (NC-10), Dan Boren (OK-2), Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8), Charlie Dent (PA-15), Bob Inglis (SC-4), Louie Gohmert (TX-1), Ted Poe (TX-2), Mike McCaul (TX-10), Mike Conaway (TX-11), Kenny Marchant (TX-24), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Thelma Drake (VA-2), and Cathy McMorris (WA-5)
Now, how can anyone look at those numbers and think the NRA doesn't speak for a whole lot of voters?