Exposing Pombo

How extreme is Representative Richard Pombo? In raking through the muck on the Republican Congressman from California, Grist's Amanda Griscom Little points out that not only are environmental groups dead set against his re-election, there's also some serious disenchantment from within his own party.

Current Democratic challengers lack experience and are still considered dark horses in the race to unseat him, notes Little. But Pombo could conceivably find himself squaring off against a Republican opponent -- one with considerable chops.

Former Rep. Pete McCloskey (R-Calif.), an architect of the Endangered Species Act who served 16 years in the House until 1983, announced in September that he's trying to recruit a moderate Republican to defeat Pombo in the June primary -- and, if he can't find someone, McCloskey is considering stepping up to the plate himself. A septuagenarian, he's said he's too old to be elected again, but is willing to run simply to expose Pombo's extremism.