Austin Scott, the Republican candidate for the Eighth Congressional District, is getting a boost from the national party in his campaign against Democratic incumbent Jim Marshall.
Texas Congressman Pete Sessions, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, visited Covington Wednesday to endorse Scott and let the local GOP base know he believes Republicans are on their way to taking back the House.
"I came down here as the chairman for the sole purpose that Austin has made a fight of this race," Sessions said. "All across the county young gun candidates are standing up and selling the attributes of what a congressman should be."
Sessions said candidates like Scott are committed to three values: actually reading bills before voting on them, having a balanced federal budget and growing the economy. To help spur balanced federal budget and growing the economy. To help spur Scott's campaign, Sessions made a donation of $5,000; the NRCC has also purchased air time in the large eighth district.
"The NRCC is not in it because we're nice people; we're in it because you turned out a poll that showed you can win. I'll be very blunt with you, I'm only in it to win it," Sessions said, adding that he hoped he could count on Scott's seat in order to gain a GOP majority.
Polls on the race vary widely, but according to a September poll commissioned by Scott's campaign, the GOP challenger is now up by 8 percent. Earlier internal polls showed him trailing by 3 percent.
However, a September survey by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee found that Marshall had a 12 percent advantage. Marshall is a four-term incumbent from Macon.
Sessions and Scott appeared at a lunch hosted by local Republicans Clay and Judy Newman, who contributed to Scott's campaign and helped convince him to drop a proposed run for governor in favor of a race for U.S. representative.
Scott urged for voter's support so he could oppose cap and trade, card check and the recently passed healthcare bill.
"It's about the economy and getting jobs back on track, and I think that comes from a Republican house and just kind of calming things down and letting people with that capital know they can invest in the this country. We do believe in capitalism still," Scott said.
