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Bloggers across the nation discover that there's a hot contest going on right here in the Seventh District!

Amazing what a little fundraising success will do. First, Washington-based newspaper, Politico, takes notice and writes about our success in raising over $750,000 in the first quarter of this year - the best among all Congressional challengers.

Second, the blogs are now onto us. Leading national blogs like DailyKOS, MyDD, and Swing State Project are now taking notice:

DailyKOS:

Redistricting and a slight Democratic trend have made the district a bit friendlier to Democrats. Culberson received 59% of the vote in 2006 against an underfunded Democrat, not an especially impressive performance given TX-07's crimson hue. Still, this would be one of the last places where you'd expect an exceptionally strong Democratic challenge.

This year, you would be mistaken, as businessman Michael Skelly has managed to raise unprecedented amounts of money in preparation for the first serious run at this district in decades.

MyDD:

I'd like to pass on some thoughts from my old boss Congressman Earl Blumenauer, who has been keeping an eye on this race and whom I spoke with about Skelly this morning. Blumenauer calls this "one of those intriguing districts," one "that the Republicans can't afford to throw a lot of resources to." While Culberson has "ruffled lots of feathers back home" by "hewing the Tom DeLay line," Skelly is a really attractive candidate. As an entrepreneur, Skelly became a real innovator in the area of wind energy, a sector of the economy that is bringing a lot of growth to the state of Texas. What's more, Skelly isn't yet drawing a whole lot of institutional support, so the remarkable fundraising numbers that he has been posting truly reflect "grassroots support," according to Blumenauer.

Of course, we're always glad to have the continued attention of our hometown blogs like Off the Kuff and Brains & Eggs ... plus our homestate blogs like Burnt Orange Report and Texas Monthly magazine's State of Mine:

Off the Kuff:

I've had two people ask me since this piece came out if Skelly is for real. I'll tell you what I told them - Yes! - but you don't have to take my word for it. I can guarantee that Skelly will be at a function or event near you sooner or later (if you live around here, of course), and you can and should see for yourself why the Dems are excited about him and the Republicans are worried.

State of Mine:

...the fact that the Rs are even talking about having to defend it says something -- and Skelly's early strength should indeed give them pause in what still should be a good Democratic year.

Burnt Orange Report:

Redistricting and a slight Democratic trend have made the district a bit friendlier to Democrats. Culberson received 59% of the vote in 2006 against an underfunded Democrat, not an especially impressive performance given TX-07's crimson hue. Still, this would be one of the last places where you'd expect an exceptionally strong Democratic challenge.

This year, you would be mistaken, as businessman Michael Skelly has managed to raise unprecedented amounts of money in preparation for the first serious run at this district in decades.

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