DeKrey Candidacy Having An Impact

Congressional Quarterly has downgraded its estimation of Earl Pomeroy’s safety as ND’s lone Representative upon learning of Duane DeKrey’s candidacy.

Democratic Rep. Earl Pomeroy earned a career-high 60 percent of the vote in the 2004 contest for the only House seat in Republican-leaning North Dakota — even as President Bush was taking 60 percent himself at the top of the GOP ticket. The Republican nominee, Navy veteran Duane Sand, had fallen far short in a 2000 challenge to Democratic Sen. Kent Conrad, and the 2004 House result was similar. .
This year, though, GOP recruiters moved earlier and more aggressively. And their efforts produced a bid by veteran state Rep. Duane DeKrey, who they are touting as a top-tier challenger.
DeKrey still has much to prove to merit that designation in a congressional contest, but he does provide the Republicans with a candidate who could turn this race competitive. As a result, CQPolitics.com has changed its rating on the race to Democrat Favored from Safe Democratic.

That is a significant change, especially in light of the fact that DeKrey has not even gotten the state GOP’s endorsement to run yet.