California: Ca-50

As of 3 a.m. Wednesday, the race for the 50th Congressional District is still too close to call.

With about 64 percent of precincts reporting, U.S. Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Carlsbad) is leading Democratic candidate and San Diego-area attorney Nick Leibham by less than 4 percent. Still, Bilbray's campaign was confident of their chances to pull out the victory.

HUNTINGTON BEACH - The biggest surprise of this election might just come from Southern California, where many long-time incumbents are now facing their first serious challengers in years due to a combination of Democratic gains in voter registration, an unusually strong field of candidates and a nationally toxic environment for Republicans.

In particular, Democratic challengers in the 45th, 46th and 50th Congressional Districts have given U.S. Reps. Mary Bono Mack (R-Palm Springs), Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) and Brian Bilbray (R-Carlsbad) a run for their money.

While his opponent, Democrat Nick Leibham, airs ads telling U.S. Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Carlsbad) that he "should be ashamed," the incumbent congressman has kept positive on TV with an ad highlighting his reformer credentials.

"Brian Bilbray has been a leading voice for ending our dependence on foreign oil and creating clean, alternative energy," a narrator says, "even before it was cool."

The narrator also emphasizes that "Bilbray went to Washington to end the culture of secrecy and corruption."

In a new mail piece sent out to voters in the 50th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Carlsbad) accuses Democratic opponent Nick Leibham of wanting "to serve pork to special interests on a silver platter."
 
The mailer claims that "Leibham is on the record, even in the last month, supporting taxpayer-funded giveaways for special interests and big business," citing as evidence Leibham's support for the recent Wall Street bailout package, the final version of which contained millions in pork barrel spending.