Jerry McNerney

On Thursday the McNerney for Congress campaign will hold a phone bank session to help get out the vote among women voters in the CA-11 race.

According to Beth Pramme, deputy communications director, the session will feature McNerney and will focused as a "woman to woman" effort designed to highlight GOP challenger Dean Andal's voting record on women's issues.

In a statement, Pramme said that the Stockton Republican has: "(A) strong record in the Assembly of opposing legislation to help and protect women, including: Casting the only vote against legislation to strengthen the definition of rape; Voting for workplace discrimination by supporting a bill requiring women wear dresses or skirts to work; (and) Voting against requiring insurance companies cover cancer screenings and birth control for women."

The phone banking session will run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at McNerney's Dublin reelection headquarters, 6930 Village Parkway, Suite E. For more information, call 925-828-3245.

Meanwhile, Andal will play host to an Alameda County Republican Party phone bank session for the CA-11 race also on Thursday starting at 3 p.m.

The session will feature Andal and Republican Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (R-Palm Springs) and will be held at the party's offices in Pleasanton at 4637 Chabot Drive, Suite 102. For more information, call 925-353-2837.

The normally conservative Stockton Record turned its back on hometown GOP challenger Dean Andal Sunday by issuing a surprise endorsement of Congressman Jerry McNerney in the CA-11 race. The paper, which labeled Andal an "ideologue" who has distorted McNerney's record, published its endorsement of the freshman Democrat from Pleasanton in its Sunday edition.

Voting no was the safe move.

Members of Congress in tough re-election battles apparently decided that it was safer to vote against the $700 billion Wall Street bailout plan than to vote for it.

There are 41 incumbent House members on Politicker.com's The Pindell Report of the nation's most competitive House races. Of that group 31 voted against the bailout, possibly proof that that a yes vote might be politically toxic just a little over a month from Election Day. Of the four House members running for the Senate only Maine's Tom Allen voted for in favor.

Voters in CA-11 will be able to hear incumbent Congressman Jerry McNerney and GOP challenger Dean Andal talk about the issues facing the district during two upcoming candidate forums.

WASHINGTON – National Republican Congressional Committee chair Tom Cole is set to launch a three-week national tour of competitive house races, beginning with stops in two hotly contested districts in California.

While the schedule is still tentative, according to an NRCC source familiar with the plans, the trip will bring Cole to California’s 11th and 4th Congressional Districts on Oct. 2 and Oct. 3, respectively. The 11th district matchup features Republican Dean Andal challenging U.S. Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Stockton), while Republican Tom McClintock is battling Democrat Charlie Brown in the 4th district.

Cole, a third term congressman from Oklahoma who is in his first stint as the GOP House campaign chief, is a top fundraising draw for House candidates across the country.

Congressional candidate Dean AndalTwo East San Francisco Bay female state lawmakers decided to jump into the fray between Congressman Jerry McNerney and GOP challenger Dean Andal in the CA-11 race on Wednesday.

Calling the Stockton Republican "out of touch and extreme" on women's issues, state Sen. Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro and state Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward) co-wrote a letter addressed to the women of the 11th Congressional District.

An Andal spokesman did not respond to a request for comment on the letter. 

Here's the complete text of the letter:

POLITICKERCA.COM CONGRESSIONAL RACE PROFILES:

CA-11

Jerry McNerney (D) (incumbent) v. Dean F. Andal (challenger)

Editor's note: this is the first in a series of PolitickerCA.com profiles on competitive Congressional races in California.

Part One:

DUBLIN - Although he holds a doctorate in statistics and is considered a man of well above average intelligence, Jerry McNerney would be the first person to tell you that his freshman term in Congress has been just a little surreal at times.

After all, inside the marble halls of the Capitol Building lies a rarely seen, arcane world -- one that's very different from the work-a-day environment which most folks are familiar, he says.

"Being in Congress is an adventure -- an adventure with consequences. When I first showed up, boy, it was almost overwhelming what I had to learn. I mean even if you come from a state legislature and go to Washington, you're going to be confronted with a very big learning curve," McNerney said.

MANTECA - Congressional challenger Dean Andal said he's feeling good about his bid to challenge U.S. Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton), adding that perceived bad news for his campaign is little more than Democratic talking point fodder.

"We're achieving our goals," said Andal, a Stockton Republican, speaking after an appearance at the South San Joaquin County Republicans' meeting. "Running for Congress is an extraordinary process, and I really love interacting with ordinary people."

DUBLIN - Congressman Jerry McNerney takes his reelection campaign to the TV air waves this morning, launching his first 30-second commercial of the fall campaign, officials said.

McNerney (D-Pleasanton) is trying to retain his California Congressional District 11 seat from GOP challenger Dean Andal of Stockton.

The commercial features McNerney in various locations talking with constituents and others against some of the more scenic backdrops found in the sprawling district. And, of course, the former wind energy technologist ends the commercial walking amid one of the district's wind mill farms.

DUBLIN - Representatives of Congressman Jerry McNerney announced Thursday that he is seeking to raise $100,000 from local supporters during the month of August.

The first-term McNerney (D-Pleasanton) is being challenged by former state lawmaker Dean Andal (R-Stockton for control of the 11th Congressional District seat.

"Our last major filing deadline of the campaign is at the end of this month.  It is so important that we have a strong showing in the last report before the election (which is now only 60 days away)!" said McNerney for Congress Finance Director Robbyn Umland in a press statement.