DeLay campaign to gather signatures for primary ballot
Democrats claim the early start is a sign that the GOP lawmaker is jittery

Associated Press

Campaign volunteers for House Majority Leader Tom DeLay soon will begin gathering the 500 signatures needed to put DeLay on the Republican primary ballot March 7.

Shannon Flaherty, a spokeswoman for DeLay, R-Sugar Land, said the decision to collect signatures long before the Jan. 2 deadline was the result of energized supporters offering their help.

But DeLay opponents viewed the early start as a sign of vulnerability.

"Tom DeLay is in trouble. His support at home is at a historic low," said Bill Burton, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "He's in for the toughest fight of his congressional career."

DeLay won 55 percent of the vote in November, his closest race in 11 victories. That election came after he received three admonishments from the House Ethics Committee in October.

Supporters said DeLay's getting campaign volunteers in order shouldn't be misinterpreted.

"Look, whenever the campaign wanted to go out and collect signatures they could do it," said Carl Forti, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee. "I don't see how it can be considered a sign of weakness at all."