U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has coasted to easy wins in recent elections, but this year he is running hard as his once-ascendant political career has hit a rough patch.

In contrast to past campaigns, the powerful Republican from Texas is pounding the pavement of his suburban Houston district, going house to house in search of votes, and flooding local television with campaign ads.

He stunned a local high school debate club recently when he showed up unannounced at its candidates' forum and, perhaps most surprisingly, is attacking Democratic opponent Richard Morrison, a political novice given little chance of winning.

"How liberal is he?" a DeLay advertisement asks about Morrison. "He campaigned with Howard Dean and supports radical Michael Moore's campaign to defeat President Bush."

DeLay has represented his district since 1984 and is accustomed to rolling up big victories. He got 60 percent of the vote in 2000 and 63 percent two years ago.

He is expected to win again this year, but not as handily as in the past.

"I think at the end of the day, Tom DeLay will win. But his margin of victory will be much smaller than usual," said St. Thomas University political scientist Jean-Philippe Faletta.

Based on some polls, there is a possibility DeLay could get less than 50 percent of the vote because the ballot also includes a strong independent candidate and a Libertarian.

Posted by: Jonathan Singer / 8:48 AM | Basie! Home