Conventional wisdome suggests Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA) is the most vulnerable GOPer in Congress, seeking re-election in a heavily African-American district in which any scandal-free Dem should easily top half the vote. But conventional wisdom has been wrong before, and a new poll for Cao's campaign hopes to prove it wrong again.

Cao led state Rep. Cedric Richmond (D) by a 51%-26% margin, according to a survey conducted May 27-June 2 by LA pollster Verne Kennedy. Cao leads Richmond by a 67%-13% margin among white voters, and by a narrower 39%-36% margin among African American voters.

With less than three weeks remaining till the primary election on June 8, Quang Pham, a former candidate, has endorsed Assemblyman Van Tran, whom he used to run against. Tran is now in a three-way race, facing  two other candidates in the Republican primary: Tan Nguyen, the GOP’s 2006 nominee for the same race, and Katherine Smith, a member of the Anaheim Unified school board.

Van and Quang at the Vietnamese American Natoinal Chamber of Commerce Gala in Northern Virginia in late 2009 (Photo Credit: Ly Vuong).

Below is the official press release announcing the endorsement from Van Tran's campaign:

Santa Ana – Today, Assemblyman Van Tran is proud to announce receiving an endorsement from Quang Pham, a former opponent in the Republican primary for the race for the 47th Congressional District seat held by Loretta Sanchez.

Quang Pham, Republican Candidate for California's 47th Congressional District, just announced that he has been enrolled in the National Republican Congressional Committee’s (NRCC) Young Guns program.

That made him the second Vietnamese American Republican enrolled in the Young Guns program, after Assemblyman Van Tran who joined the program last year and so far has delivered credible fundraising performance and strong grassroots voters mobilization campaign. Both Pham and Tran are vying to be the Republican nominee to take on the long-time Democratic incumbent Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez.

Below is Quang's statement:

“I am excited and honored that Republican leaders have recognized our campaign’s progress,” said Quang Pham. “The program will promote healthy competition and we look forward to honing our execution to defeat Loretta Sanchez next November.”

Founded in the 2007-2008 election cycle by Congressmen Eric Cantor (R-VA), Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Paul Ryan (R-WI), the Young Guns Program began as a Member driven organization of House Republicans dedicated to electing open seat and challenger candidates nationwide.

For more information, please visit: www.PhamForCongress.com.

>It has been both exciting and inspirational watching the grassroots conservative campaign of Andy Nguyen, former President and Chairman of the Vietnamese American Community of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, for Tarrant County Commissioner against a 20-incumbent.