Democratic nominee woos loser's backers

[Freddie Stubbs]

Expects to prevail in election appeal
By JOHN W. GONZALEZ
Copyright 2004 Houston ChronicleSan Antonio Bureau
SAN ANTONIO -- Fresh from a courtroom victory in a bitter Democratic election contest, District 28 congressional candidate Henry Cuellar of Laredo on Wednesday sought to make inroads among supporters of the apparent loser, U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez.

Although an appeal of Tuesday's court ruling is expected to be filed Friday, Cuellar, a former legislator and former Texas secretary of state, is already looking forward to a November general election face-off with Republican Jim F. Hopson of Seguin, an attorney and accountant.

Rodriguez's camp, insisting the contest is far from over, continued to portray Cuellar as the beneficiary of voting irregularities in his home turf of Webb and Zapata counties. A recount gave Cuellar the nod by a mere 58 votes among the 48,000 ballots cast on March 9.

Cuellar, a lawyer and customs broker, expects to prevail in the 4th Court of Appeals and replace the four-term incumbent next year, but he acknowledged that he will have to connect with Rodriguez supporters to do so.

more: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/politics/2566266