McNerney Vows To Continue Health Care Fight; Race Still Not Called

DUBLIN (KCBS/BCN) - U.S. Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton) vowed to be steadfast in upholding President Obama's health care legislation, despite the Republican push to overturn it now that the GOP has gained a majority in the House.

"Healthcare is going to be a very popular program, I don't see how they can overturn it. I'm standing firm," he declared.

KCBS' Tim Ryan Reports:

He also promised to fight for job creation and veterans during a press conference in Dublin Thursday, a day after his campaign claimed victory over Republican opponent David Harmer, who has not yet conceded the race for California's 11th Congressional District seat.

"Try and lead this nation into better economic and more prosperous times," McNerney said. "And also working for veterans. You know, the men and women who have served our country deserve so much more than I thought they were getting."

McNerney faced Harmer, an attorney from San Ramon, in the close battle for the district encompassing parts of Alameda, Contra Costa, Santa Clara and San Joaquin counties.

Results released Wednesday showed McNerney held a lead of nearly 1,700 votes among the more than 219,000 total votes counted between the two candidates.

Doug Greven, McNerney's campaign manager, said in a statement released Wednesday that although there were still more than 10,000 provisional ballots to be counted, if the patterns in the four counties held up, so too should the congressman's lead.

"With the vast majority of votes tallied, the results are clear. Congressman McNerney now has an insurmountable lead," Greven said.

A spokesperson from Harmer's campaign was not immediately available for comment after Greven's statement was released, but his campaign website said the race was "still too close to call."

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