A.D. Ibarra

-Eagle Pass

State Representative Pete Gallego reached out to veterans in Eagle Pass, Texas on Tuesday and heard them out on key issues such as health care and home ownership issues. Before attacking the issues at hand, Gallego had time to give Eagle Pass veterans a report as to how his campaign was going which is a key race in unseating incumbent Enrique Canseco on November 6th. The race is of vital importance to Democrats. So much so that President Bill Clinton will be in San Antonio on Thursday to urge voters to come out and support the Democratic candidate for the 23rd District US Representative. "President Clinton's visit will play a huge role in energizing and mobilizing supporters," Gallego said in prepared remarks, "President Clinton is hugely popular and highly regarded around here for his exceptional public service on behalf of middle-class families.

It will be an honor to share the stage with President Clinton, particularly at a time when there are many crucial issues facing middle-class families.” When he focused on how the campaign trail has been treating him, Gallego felt that all is well and he feels his public record and the fact that he's been at the forefront of key issues sets him apart from his opponent. "My eight year-old son is asking me if all the things they are saying about me are true," says Gallego of the smear campaign being funded by the over one million dollars which he had available due to running unopposed in the Republican primary, "And you can't pull the rug over an eight year-old's eyes when it comes to TV. I've never seen so much disparity between two candidates, we are SO different. I like helping and building and making things better, he likes politics and confrontations. It's really all a matter of all of you coming out to vote, to bring your family, friends and neighbors, because in this election more than ever, every vote will make the difference." When asked about the concerns of the veterans in reference to health care Gallego stated, "In reference to the issue of Social Security, my opponent favors the privatization of Social Security and it's not fair that you should put your hard earned money into Social Security for government to risk it on the stock market," said the Democratic candidate, "Why risk putting this money in the same hands of banks that needed to be bailed out by the federal government." When asked what is goals are if elected he had the following to say, "I want to have the best constituent services office that anyone has ever had in this area and when it comes to helping our veterans who in some cases are 2nd and 3rd generation veterans and have given all to our country, it's a debt of honor."