Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) is reconsidering his decision to turn down a second term as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee under renewed pressure from a persuasive Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), sources confirmed Friday.
If Van Hollen opts to stay on at the campaign arm, he would step away from a possible leadership battle with another Pelosi ally, Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.), for the chairmanship of the Democratic Caucus.
Van Hollen earlier this week made clear he had no interest in another turn leading the DCCC. “I’m exploring all my options,” he told reporters Wednesday at a news conference to review the roughly 20-seat gain he engineered on Tuesday for the party. “One option I’m not exploring is continuing as chairman of the DCCC.”
But sources say Pelosi is leaning hard on Van Hollen to take on another two-year stint. The move would ease the way for Larson, currently the Caucus vice chairman, to advance a rung on the leadership ladder.
If Van Hollen decides not to take the gig, two of the likeliest alternatives would be Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Artur Davis. I’ll take CVH over those two any day of the week.
He did a great job defending incumbents this year(he only lost four) and we need someone like that for 2010.
I’ve had the pleasure of talking with CVH several times. What impresses me most about him is that he won’t mess with the facts: he’ll put out what the situation is, make his best argument, and you’re free to assess it for yourself.
It’s tremendously important for an organization to have a sense that the person at the top is talking straight. It gives me confidence that the money I contribute will be used where it’s needed and not to service internal political battles. And that’s very, very good for fundraising.
Regardless of what CVH decides to do, I have a very high regard for him. It’s hard to do what he does and still come across as a nice guy!
Van Hollan did the best job at the DCCC anyone has and I’m sure he would again in 2010. But I’d take DWS or Autur if we could get Van Hollan as Caucus Chair and thus as speaker in waiting.
He isn’t in her loop of “political allies”. If you loook back, she was upset when he was named head of the DCCC for 2008 for the same reason.