PRESS RELEASE

REPUBLICAN PRIMARY RESULTS POINT TO HUGE GENERAL ELECTION CHALLENGES FOR POMBO
Pombo Loses to His New Democratic Challenger Jerry McNerney 46% - 42% in Recent Survey
Post-Primary Statement of Rodger Schlickeisen, President, Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund

"Last night's election returns in California's 11th Congressional District set the stage for a bruising general election fight in which Rep. Pombo finds himself facing some huge challenges. After spending more than $500,000, Pombo still saw more than a third of GOP primary voters abandon him. His vote percentage in this primary was roughly equal to his general election percentage in 2002 and 2004, which further spells trouble.

"Moreover, Mr. Pombo now has to face an energized Jerry McNerney. A Defenders Action Fund survey of 11th District voters from a few weeks ago -- which accurately predicted last night's results -- shows McNerney beating Richard Pombo in a general election match up 46%-42%. The same survey also shows that a majority of voters (52%) intend to vote for someone other than Pombo. This is not where a powerful incumbent wants to be heading into the fall.

"Over the last few months, voters in California's 11th district have come to learn what many of us have known for a long time: that Mr. Pombo is too close to special interests. He has taken hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the oil, gas and mining industries and has done their bidding in Congress at the expense of his constituents and our country's natural heritage. Whether it's opening California's coasts to oil and gas drilling, selling off our national parks, or undermining conservation laws that protect our wildlife and public lands, Mr. Pombo has shown that when it comes to protecting us or protecting his campaign contributors, we lose."