Robert Pearlman, the Houston-based editor of the space memorabilia site collectSPACE, reports that he got “a recorded campaign call with a familiar voice” this morning: Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin stumping for Nick Lampson, the Democrat and former Congressman running for the House seat formerly held by Tom DeLay. “Return Nick to Congress and he will pick up where he left off with eight valuable years of seniority promoting the Johnson Space Center,” Aldrin said, referring to the seniority that Lampson would be able to use for committee assignments and the like should he be elected (seniority that would be even more powerful if the Democrats take control of the House, as many pundits are predicting.)
It’s not the first time Aldrin has made a campaign appearance, either in person or recorded. Back in 2004 he appeared at a Bush reelection campaign rally near Cape Canaveral, voicing his support for the Vision for Space Exploration (even if Bush himself didn’t bring it up in his speech.)
Checking Lampson’s campaign web site, I didn’t see anything about Aldrin campaigning for him. Lampson’s site, though, does include a policy statement about NASA. He doesn’t say anything terribly surprising: he argues for continued support for manned spaceflight and increased funding for NASA, and also calls for eliminating “a space flight gap” between the end of the shuttle program and the introduction of Orion: words that echo those of another Texan, albeit a Republican, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.
Aldrin may just be jumping on the likely winner’s wagon, since Lampson has an excellent chance of winning. If Lampson does win, Aldrin might have some influence with him?
Everyone is the Houston area has to support several constituents: the Johnson Space Center, the airplanes at Ellington Field, etc. I have not heard any of the candidates discuss HOW they would do anything such as reduce the planned gap in (US) manned flight. They don’t dare suggest a source of additional funding for instance.
Charles
disclaimer: I am a volunteer in the Lampson campaign, but a minor one who is just folds envelopes, without any sort of inner access
Actually, the latest Houston Chronicle poll shows Lampson even with the GOP write in candidate. Considering how such polls usually over sample Democrats, Buzz may have backed the wrong horse.
There’s also a rumor that Lampson, if elected, intends to switch parties. It will make the House Democratic Caucus fiery with rage (especially if the balance in the House is real close), but it is likely the only way Lampson would avoid being a one term Congressman.
Actually, Lampson will have much better odds holding the district if he remains with the Democrats. Republicans genuinely detest him and were he to switch parties, he would find himself facing a party-financed primary opponent in early 2008, with no Democrats willing to back him up. He will certainly face a strong challenge in 2008, but by remaining with the Democrats, he will at least have access to money and organizational power.
Besides, there are a great many Republican-leaning districts in Texas where conservative Democrats hold office without too much trouble.
He doesn’t say anything terribly surprising: he argues for continued support for manned spaceflight and increased funding for NASA, and also calls for eliminating “a space flight gap” between the end of the shuttle program and the introduction of Orion: words that echo those of another Texan, albeit a Republican, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.
But does he also want to get energy out of cosmic rays, as Hutchison does?
Perhaps not, Greg, but I’ll bet he does not believe that you can effectively automate geological field work on a distant planet — which is far less likely than “getting energy out of cosmic rays.”
— Donald