Tom Daschle Backs Heather Beaven

Democratic congressional candidate Heather Beavens challenge to veteran U.S. Rep. John Mica is starting to gain some national attention.

Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle is now backing Beaven, arguing that Mica is vulnerable.

This isnt just a gut instinct, wrote Daschle in an e-mail released by the Beaven campaign. Encouraging polling numbers have recently been released. John Mica's re-elect number is anemic: only 32 percent of the voters in the district believe that he deserves to be re-elected. This is a stunning number given that anytime an incumbent's re-elect falls under 50 percent, something is seriously awry. Better yet, when voters hear about her background as a veteran and education advocate, she shoots ahead of Mica by 4 percent.

Mica is a favorite over Beaven, but it is increasingly looking like he will be in a tougher fight than he has had in some time.