DeLay in campaign mode as he fights charge

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas is engaged in one of the toughest campaigns of his political career, an effort to avoid a criminal conviction.

The Washington Post reports that the former and possibly future House majority leader is using many of the techniques he used to become a force in the Republican Party.

"There's a parallel campaign going on, with his audiences, his constituency in Texas and the conference here in Washington," DeLay spokesman Kevin Madden told the newspaper. "It's important that his constituents and his colleagues understand the egregious nature of the charges he faces."

The Free Enterprise Fund in Austin is flooding Texas airwaves with commercials attacking District Attorney Ronnie Earle, who won an indictment charging DeLay with money laundering. DeLay also hired Barbara Comstock, who had been a spokeswoman for former Attorney General John Ashcroft, to send out talking points to the press, especially to conservative talk shows.

DeLay has to worry about more than a conviction. The longer he remains out of the formal leadership the harder time he could have regaining his power.

"He knows every day that goes by is a day he grows weaker," a Republican member of the house, speaking anonymously, told the Post.