California: John Doolittle

ROSEVILLE - Though there's been neither a concession from his opponent or an official certification from elections officials, Republican Tom McClintock again declared victory Monday in the 4th Congressional District race.

Meanwhile, the campaign for opponent Charlie Brown said they're still studying their options. McClintock's camp has claimed the vote margin is too large for Brown to make up with what's left, and McClintock informally claimed victory over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

On paper, the 4th Congressional District shouldn't have a toss-up race this November.

Republicans lead in registration by nearly 15 points. The party's candidate, state Sen. Tom McClintock (R-Thousand Oaks), is one of the best-known conservative voices in the state. And Democrat Charlie Brown took a shot against a scandal-riddled incumbent two years ago and still lost.

Still, toss-up is how two political reports, Cook and Rothenberg, are rating the race these days. Brown, though, takes it a step further, saying the race shouldn't be a toss-up at all.

Charlie Brown called on congressional opponent Tom McClintock to pledge to stop using automated robocalls for the rest of the campaign, calling them both annoying to voters and deceptive.

"Campaigns are supposed to be about voters interacting with the candidates and making informed choices on the issues," said Brown, a Democrat, in a release from his campaign.

State Sen. Tom McClintock's congressional campaign again criticized opponent Charlie Brown over his campaign contributions from embattled U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-New York) and noted that U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco), who has also contributed to Brown's campaign, is facing questions about her own campaign fundraising.

The campaign criticized Brown, a Roseville Democrat, for staying silent about both fellow Democrats while making ethics a centerpiece of his previous campaign for the 4th Congressional District in 2006.