The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has identified 70 Democrats to target for the 2010 election, according to an email obtained by AOL Politics Daily. Many of the targeted members are Democratic freshmen and sophomores from conservative districts.
The email sent from an NRCC staffer to Republican PACs says that "we have the opportunity to focus on many more districts and some unusual districts that haven't been targeted in a long time." The email with the list of targeted districts appears at the bottom of this page.
Currently the GOP has 178 seats, so the party would need to win 40 more to regain the majority, but Republicans see the momentum moving in their direction. "Many Democrats are on the defense in their districts now," said the NRCC's eCampaign Director, John Randall. Speaking metaphorically, he said, "Our goal is to get as many seaworthy boats in the water, so, if a great wind comes along, we will have the push to cross the finish line."
The list of 70 districts includes many freshman and sophomore members, as well as a large number from conservative districts, where polls show low support for government handling of the economic recession and health care reform.
"Excessive government spending, cap and trade, rising unemployment and now this terrifying socialized health care plan are the issues facing Democrats at town halls back home this August recess," Randall said.
While all districts are affected by health care reform, GOP strategists are especially targeting members where polls show most voter discontent, including Arkansas Reps. Marion Berry, Mike Ross and Vic Snyder; Rep. Bobby Bright of Alabama and Rep. Travis Childers of Mississippi.
Furthermore, several members are from coal dominated areas, where it will be even more difficult to defend their votes on Cap and Trade. "The Pelosi puppets carried her water on Cap and Trade and are suffering the consequences back home," Randall said. Republican strategists say that Reps. Harry Teague (NM), Rick Boucher (VA), Zack Space and John Boccieri (OH), Frank Kratovil (MD) and Betsy Markey (CO) are particularly vulnerable on this issue.
With the health care reform bills still up in the air, Randall asked, "How many of these Democrats in conservative districts will take another tough vote and vote for government run health care?"
Historical precedent is on the side of House Republicans to pick up seats in 2010. Generally in mid-term elections, the president's opposing party picks up more seats on Capitol Hill, as happened in the sweeps of 1994 and 1982.
The NRCC has already named 13 favorites – called "On the Radar" -- which it will support in their campaigns to win in these 70 Democrat districts. The House GOP chooses which candidates it backs based on their abilities to build an effective campaign structure and demonstrate strong fundraising.
Republicans have noticed a significant difference in this year's recruiting of candidates – as average citizens, not politicians, are stepping up and asking for help to run for office. "There are people proactively coming to us. We are doing far less recruiting and more catching," is how the NRCC described the current political situation in the email.
Randall said that one possible candidate (who wants to remain anonymous for now) told him, "I don't want to run for Congress. But I feel an obligation to my grandchildren to run to stop what the Democrats have done with spending us into huge deficits and forcing us to go give up our own doctors."
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To: PAC
From: [redacted]
Sent: Fri Jul 31 17:47:16 2009
Subject: TARGET DISTRICTS FOR 2010
Hi friends, Below you will find a list of 70 districts that the NRCC is targeting this cycle. As Chairman Sessions stated earlier this week at a pen and pad briefing, "There are people proactively coming to us. We are doing far less recruiting and more catching." With that said we have the opportunity to focus on many more districts and some unusual districts that haven't been targeted in a long time. We are very excited about our prospects in 2010 and look forward to having your support! If you have questions about a particular district please shoot me a note.
Have a great weekend!
AL-02 Rep. Bobby Bright
NM-01 Rep. Martin Heinrich
AL-05 Rep. Parker Griffith
NM-02 Rep. Harry Teague
AR-01 Rep. Marion Berry
NV-03 Rep. Dina Titus
AR-02 Rp. Vic Snyder
NY-01 Rep. Tim Bishop
AR-04 Rep. Mike Ross
NY-13 Rep. Mike McMahon
AZ-01 Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick
NY-19 Rep. John Hall
AZ-05 Rep. Harry Mitchell
NY-20 Rep. Scott Murphy
CA-11 Rep. Jerry McNerney
NY-24 Rep. Mike Arcuri
CA-47 Rep. Loretta Sanchez
NY-25 Re. Dan Maffei
CO-04 Rep. Betsy Markey
NY-29 Rep. Eric Massa
CT-04 Rep. Jim Himes
OH-01 Rep. Steve Driehaus
FL-08 Rep. Alan Grayson
OH-15 Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy
Fl-22 Rep. Ron Klein
OH-16 Rep. John Boccieri
FL-24 Rep. Suzanne Kosmas
OH-18 Rep. Zack Space
GA-12 Rep. John Barrow
OK-02 Rep. Dan Boren
HI-01 Rep. Neil Abercrombie
OR-01 Rep. David Wu
IA-03 Rep. Leonard Boswell
OR-04 Rep. Peter DeFazio
ID-01 Rep. Walt Minnick
OR-05 Rep. Kurt Schrader
IL-11 Rep. Debbie Halvorson
PA-03 Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper
IL-14 Rep. Bill Foster
PA-04 Rep. Jason Altmire
IN-08 Rep. Brad Ellsworth
PA-07 Rep. Joe Sestak
IN-09 Rep. Baron Hill
PA-10 Rep. Chris Carney
KS-03 Rep. Dennis Moore
PA-11 Rep. Paul Kanjorski
KY-06 Rep. Ben Chandler
PA -12 Rep. Jack Murtha
LA-03 Rep. Charlie Melancon
SD-AL Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin
MD-01 Rep. Frank Kratovil
TX-17 Rep. Chet Edwards
MI-07 Rep. Mark Schauer
UT-02 Rep. Jim Matheson
MI-09 Rep. Gary Peters
VA-02 Rep. Glenn Nye
O-04 Rep. Ike Skelton
VA-05 Rep. Tom Perriello
MS-01 Rep. Travis Childers
VA-09 Rep. Rick Boucher
NC-08 Rep. Larry Kissell
VA-11 Rep. Jerry Connolly
ND-AL Rep. Earl Pomeroy
WI-03 Rep. Ron Kind
NH-01 Rep. Carol Shea-Porter
WI-07 Rep. Dave Obey
NH-02 Rep. Paul Hodes
WI-08 Rep. Steve Kagen
NJ-03 Rep. John Adler
WI-01 Rep. Alan Mollahan
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