Lantos wins in a landslide

[Freddie Stubbs]

By Ingrid Perez, Daily Journal Correspondent

In a landslide victory on Super Tuesday, longtime Congressman Tom Lantos defeated two political newcomers who attempted to win the Democratic ticket on Lantos’ stand on the war in Iraq and the Patriot Act.

The win gives Lantos, D-San Mateo, momentum to win his 13th consecutive term in Washington.

Lantos, who has represented the 12th Congressional District for 24 years, won by over 40,000 votes or 73.7 percent over Ro Khanna with 14,624 or 19.6 percent. Maad Abu-Ghazalah had just over 5,000 votes or 6.7 percent. Khanna and Abu-Ghazalah criticized Lantos for being out of touch with local Peninsula and San Francisco voters over the war in Iraq and the Patriot Act. But from the large percentage of votes for Lantos, there doesn’t seem to be any question.

“Negative campaigning, hype and distortions about Tom Lantos don’t fool voters in the district,” Lantos’ Communications Director Lynne Weil said. “The results of the voting have been that people of the Peninsula and San Francisco realize there are many more issues of concern to them.”

more: http://www.smdailyjournal.org/article.cfm?issue=03-03-04&storyID=28638