She should. As a loyal acolyte of Jerry Lewis (R., Ca.), the often-investigated-but-never-indicted former chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Granger never saw a spending bill or an earmark she didn’t like while the GOP ran Congress. Now, of course, she’s a reincarnated fiscal conservative. But ‘better late than never’ may not be the best slogan for next year’s Republican primary.
On Friday, engineer and energy-company owner Mike Brasovan filed against her. I talked with Brasovan a couple of weeks ago when I heard he was considering the race. Why is he running? “She’s a pork-barrel spender. Never in 13 years has she offered any leadership on the things that count.” Brasovan says he’s been considering the race for “4 or 5 years” as he watched Granger’s performance. He figures that his grass-roots support will mean he’ll only need a half million or so to win the race.
Is that realistic? Can a tea-partier with no political experience knock off an established incumbent? Today’s poll from Rasmussen seems to indicate it’s doable.