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.

Bond said Edwards was one of the only Democrats targeted by Delay who survived, and that "people split their tickets, and I saw a fair number of campaign signs on people's lawns saying 'Bush for President Edwards for Congress.' "

The 54-year-old Edwards told ABC News, "If they didn't beat me in 2004 when George Bush was on the ballot, they're not going to beat me now, when he's not on the ballot."

Edwards serves on the Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee and attends the Calvary Baptist Church of Waco. He is well-liked and well-known in central Texas.

Bond said of Edwards' opponent Taylor, "I don't think they got a very good candidate this time or at least not one who had any political experience. … The campaign he put together just never did really catch on, and he never was able to use his veteran status to appeal to veterans, because Chet Edwards already has a lot of appeal."

Taylor has lived in the Waco area slightly more than a year.

He married his wife, Ann, when he returned from Iraq. "I married the girl who sent me a letter every day I was at war," said Taylor. She moved from New York City to Waco, Texas, where they live with their two daughters, 13-month-old Laura and Helen, a newborn.

Mike Spellings, Taylor's' press secretary, said the candidate settled in Waco because Taylor and his wife believe the community shares the values of Midland.

Attacking Edwards' record, Spellings said, "Our opponent has been ranked seven times as a big spender by the national taxpayers union," adding that Taylor "is pro life, a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, served in Iraq and wants to lower taxes."

Many Republican candidates campaigning across the country do not focus on Iraq, but Taylor talks about the need to "get the job done and not cut and run" in every speech. Taylor's Iraqi platoon helped rescue American POW Jessica Lynch.

Taylor would like to lead the charge to rescue the 17th District from Democratic control, and Bush, of course, would love to send a Republican to Congress representing the district he calls home.

But it remains to be seen if Taylor can prevail over Edwards, a Democrat with a proven track record for winning elections in one of the most Republican districts in America.