Texas Congressman Is Barnyard Burden in Bush's Backyard

Nov. 1, 2006 — -- On Election Day, Van Taylor, who is running for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, knows he has the votes of the president and first lady when they cast their ballots in Crawford, Texas.

The 34-year-old former Marine Corps captain does not want to let his commander -- and chief -- down. "I am very optimistic," he told ABC News, "I am getting a great response. Ultimately, this race is about the people of central Texas, and the president and first lady are good for two votes."

Taylor has an impressive resume that includes leading the charge to topple Saddam Hussein. He is also a Harvard graduate, who like the president, grew up in Midland, Texas, where 20 years ago George W. Bush pinned an Eagle Scout badge on Taylor's chest.

On Wednesday, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez campaigned at Taylor's side, and Vice President Dick Cheney has made two visits to Crawford and Waco to raise money and help bring out the Taylor vote.

Taylor said a low voter turnout in a midterm election could spell victory: "This is the most Republican district in America represented by a Democrat. It is off the charts. It is a great district for a Republican to campaign in. It is no secret that the Democratic Party in the state of Texas is in shambles."

Despite the high hopes and high-powered support, Taylor still remains an underdog.

His Democratic opponent is eight-term Rep. Chet Edwards, who graduated from Texas A&M. That makes him an "Aggie," and in the 17th Congressional District in Texas, that means everything. Edwards also went on to Harvard Business School where, like Taylor and the president, he earned an MBA.

Jon Bond, a political science professor at Texas A&M, said, "Being an Aggie I think helps Edwards, and it probably softens some of the natural opposition that conservative Republicans have" when voting for a Democrat.

Bond said, "Edwards knows his district, and if the Republicans were going to beat him, they really needed to do it last time."

In 2004, Edwards survived the controversial redistricting of Texas led by former Republican congressional leader Tom Delay, who hoped to unseat as many Democrats as possible.