Wynn-Edwards heats up under Capitol Dome's shade

By Alex Isenstadt, Politicker.com Reporter

WASHINGTON D.C. - With the Democratic Fourth Congressional District primary five weeks away, the campaigns for challenger Donna Edwards and incumbent Al Wynn came head to head today just a block from the United States Capitol.

Wynn, scheduled to speak at a morning fundraiser in the offices of Entergy, a prominent energy lobbying firm, collided with protesters from the Edwards campaign as he stepped out of his car to enter the building on the corner of Constitution and Louisiana Avenues.

Wynn, escorted by office security, passed by signs reading, “Al Wynn has got to go,” “PACs over people,” and “Dirty money, dirty congress.” Once inside the building, protesters began chanting to passing cars, “Hey hey, ho ho, Al Wynn has got to go!”

The Edwards campaign wrapped the protest into a theme that, her campaign contends, is resonating with voters in the District and around the country: change.

“We are in a tidal wave of change in this country,” Edwards, appearing after the confrontation, told reporters. “I believe that change is good, and needed.”

Edwards, pointing out that Wynn sits on the Energy and Commerce Committee, charged that Wynn’s fundraising from the lobbying group called into question whether he could fairly legislate on nuclear and environmental issues. “This is not the way to legislate public policy,” she said. “It’s incumbent upon voters to look at his record.” Supporters chanted and waved signs behind her. “Follow the money,” she said. “That will tell you what his policies will be.”

Edwards vowed that she would be different. “I will return politics and policy to the people,” she said, adding that if elected she would not take money from special interests.

Later in the morning the Wynn campaign fired back, charging that the Arca Foundation, where Edwards is the executive director, holds 1.8 million dollars in investments in oil and gas companies such Exxon Mobile and Halliburton. It also said that Edwards’ campaign had received money from Thomas Steyer, a managing partner and founder of Farallon Capital, a hedge fund that has investments in Halliburton.

“Ms. Edwards actions today are merely a desperate attempt to mislead the voters, create a smokescreen and redirect scrutiny away from her own questionable fundraising activities and investments and ties to Halliburton,” Wynn campaign manager Lori Sherwood said.

Prominent liberal blogger Matt Stoller, appearing at the protest, said it was “remarkable” that Wynn would appear at the fundraiser just weeks before the primary election.

“My guess is Wynn doesn’t see anything wrong with it,” Stoller said.

As volunteers waited for Wynn to emerge from the building, Edwards commended them for their efforts.

“Hold him accountable,” she said to cheers. “Hold him accountable.”

Alex Isenstadt is a Politicker.com Reporter and can be reached via email at noreply@politicker.com.

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