In a historic election where Democrats could wrest control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate from the GOP, the 11th district, a mixture of rural subdivisions and suburbs 55 miles east of the Bay Area has become a battleground race.

Those who did speak to North Gate News after voting gave credence to what has been described as a local race affected by a national politics and outside environmental groups.

“I’m just tired of Richard Pombo,” said McNerney supporter Nate, a railway engineer from Tracy who refused to give his last name. “He was ready to sell portions of Yosemite to developers and he supports the Iraq war.”

Nate, a self-described independent, said he has supported “both sides” in the past, and
cited a general dissatisfaction with what he termed “the Republican agenda” this election year.

But for Pombo supporter Errol King, a longtime Tracy resident, if the congressman loses, it will have more to do with the millions of dollars spent in the race by environmental groups like the Defenders of Wildlife and the Sierra Club than Jerry McNerney, a wind engineer from Pleasanton.

The Defenders of Wildlife and The Sierra Club spent more than $1.5 million dollars this election season on advertisements attacking Pombo’s environmental record.

“If you throw enough money and accusations at somebody, enough of it will stick and you can eventually get just about anybody out of office,” King said. “I hope [Pombo] wins though, because if he was a crook, I would have heard about it by now.”

Pombo, 46, won the money race, corralling nearly $3.8 million compared to the $1.5 million McNerney raised.

But McNerney led Pombo 48 to 46 percent heading into Election Day, according to a late October Constituent Dynamics poll.

Pombo campaign manager Carl Fogliani was upbeat Tuesday afternoon with several hours to go before the 8 pm poll closure.

“We’re excited,” Fogliani said. “We’re looking forward to being successful tonight.”

Pombo volunteers had been working hard turning out the vote today and ensuring that people heard the Congressman’s message on Election Day, Fogliani said.

At the corner of 11th St. and Corral Hollow Dr., a main intersection in Tracy, Pombo volunteer Marc Brumbaugh stood behind two pool-table-sized signs showing support for the Congressman.

Brumbaugh, who has known Pombo since high school, waved a bullhorn and used its siren function to rally drivers who honked in support.

“He’s a very honest man,” Brumbaugh said. “I know he will win.”

McNerney spokesman Robert Caughlin remained optimistic Tuesday evening that an upset was brewing.

“I think we’re going to win bigger than anyone thinks, because of the enthusiasm and the energy in the campaign,” Caughlin said. “Disgust with the continued war in Iraq, the corruption in the Republican party will also be a huge part of it. People are tired of the scandals.”

Pombo, the chairman of the House Resources Committee, has been under increased scrutiny this election year. Among the reasons: Pombo accepted $32,000 from convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff and paid members of his family hundreds of thousands of dollars for work on his campaign.

The congressman has also riled environmental activists nationwide by supporting weakening the Endangered Species Act as a tactic for helping the plight of farmers, and increasing domestic oil drilling.