Lt. Gov. John Garamendi has been everything from assemblyman to insurance commissioner to former President Bill Clinton's deputy interior secretary during his 35 years in public service.
If the prevailing political wisdom is correct, the 64-year-old Democratic veteran could add U.S. congressman to his résumé by Tuesday night.
Garamendi is considered the clear front-runner in the race to fill the 10th Congressional District seat left vacant in June by Ellen Tauscher, who became the State Department's undersecretary for arms control and international security affairs.
Democrats make up 47 percent of the district's registered voters compared with the 29 percent of voters who are Republicans. The district is centered in Alameda and Contra Costa counties but touches parts of Sacramento and Solano counties.
Garamendi, who lives just outside the district, is also one of the state's most well-known politicians. His Republican challenger, businessman David Harmer, is remembered mainly for his father, who was a state senator and lieutenant governor.
A Garamendi win Tuesday could have national significance as an exception to the tough elections other Democrats are facing in New Jersey, New York and Virginia.
"The fact is there are a lot more Democrats interested in this race than Republicans, and people don't know Mr. Harmer," Garamendi said. "He's an unknown quantity, and he's done little to change that."
That doesn't mean Harmer isn't putting up a fight.
Harmer had already beaten out five Republicans in a September primary to reach the general election, while Garamendi triumphed over four Democrats.
Since the start of the election season, Harmer has raised about $800,000 to Garamendi's $1 million and released commercials criticizing his Democratic opponent's support for the public option in a health care overhaul.
A recent public poll shows Harmer trailing Garamendi by double digits – but by a margin roughly half the Democratic voter registration advantage in the district.
Harmer said his anti-big government, anti-corporate bailout message was connecting with moderate Democrats in the region.
"I'm re-creating here the Reagan coalition," Harmer said. "We have welcomed moderate Democrats and independents. What unites us is a shared conviction that nobody ever spent his way to prosperity."
The other candidates are Green Party college instructor Jeremy Cloward, American Independent insurance agent Jerome Denham, and Peace and Freedom Party candidate Mary McIlroy.
Call Jack Chang, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5543.
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