Tag: DCCC

I don’t think money will be a problem in our House races this year. According to Roll Call (subscriber only), the DCCC is sitting on a nice pile of cash.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced Monday that it raised $20 million during the first three months of 2008 and finished March with $44.3 million on hand.

The committee, which has lapped the National Republican Congressional Committee in available cash all cycle, also reported paying off its last debts from the 2006 cycle in the first quarter of the year. It has raised $87.9 million so far this election cycle.

What’s more important, is that they are not doing it with the fat cats.

The DCCC reported that it had the highest grass-roots fundraising quarter of the 2008 cycle, tripling its low-dollar fundraising from the same time last year. The DCCC said it now has more than 2 million donors this cycle.

So if big donors want to blackmail Nancy Pelosi, they are going to have to find another way. The era of the oversized checkbook is over and, in this case, size no longer matters.

DSCC Chair Chuck Schumer and DCCC Chair Chris Van Hollen briefed reporters in Washington today about the state of 2008’s downballot races.  Their commentary was nothing especially groundbreaking for anyone who reads the Swing State Project, but Schumer did reveal a “target ranking” that should be of interest.  MSNBC’s First Read has the scoop:

Schumer, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said the DSCC is challenging in 17 of 23 GOP-held seats, including eight he believes Democrats have a solid chance in and nine others where he thinks they can be competitive. […]

Here’s the picture for the DSCC provided by Schumer:

Top targets: VA, NH, NM, CO, AK. (Schumer says they are ahead here.)

Second tier: OR, MN, ME. (These are blue states; Democrats are not ahead, but are competitive.)

Red-state seats in striking range: KY, NC, MS.

Good candidates with an outside chance: NE, KS, OK, GA, ID, TX. (Schumer says of Texas that he likes Noriega as a candidate and that incumbent Sen. John Cornyn is polling surprisingly low.)

Potentially, that’s a very wide net to play with.  Only the two Wyoming seats, Thad Cochran, Jeff Sessions, Lindsey Graham and Lamar Alexander are definitely off the table in the DSCC’s eyes.

Did anyone attend this fundraiser?

Please Join

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Senator Nan Rich

Commissioner Sally Heyman

for a reception honoring

Suzanne Kosmas

Candidate for Congress, FL-24

“She is considered the first legitimate challenger to Feeney, whom Democratic insiders see as vulnerable because of criticism targeting him as one of the “most corrupt” members of Congress.” Daytona Beach News-Journal, October 11, 2007.

Sunday, December 2, 2007

6:30pm to 8:00 p.m.

Sheraton Airport Hotel

Windows Room

1825 Griffin Road

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301

Host $4600 • Sponsor $1000 • Friend $500 • Supporter $100-250

(donations in any amount appreciated)

I’m glad I didn’t, because really, it would appall me to violate long-standing tradition like this. I’m a big believer in habeas corpus, I despise the designated hitter rule, and after all, it’s my people that Tevye sings about. So when DCCC Executive Director Brian Wolff says:

Brian Wolff, executive director of the DCCC, says the bloggers are making “much ado about nothing,” noting that it’s “customary” for members to remain neutral in races involving GOP members of their respective congressional delegations.

I have to wonder what Debbie Wasserman Schultz is thinking. Clearly she didn’t get the message.

The spat between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama shows no sign of ending anytime soon.  McCain is going to win this election, likely by 6-10%.  Obama is damaged goods and Hillary’s negative are simply too high.  I believe voters are in the process of rejecting both candidates.

And I don’t think there’s a realistic way of getting through McCain’s huge teflon coating and getting swing voters to doudt his :maverick” image.

So how does this impact the Congressional elections?  Right now, not yet.  But it’s important that this long battle between Obama and Clinton could weaken the Democratic brand.  And I actually think Barack Obama would more of a drag on downballot races than Clinton would be.

I know that’s contrary to the CW, but I just don’t think Hillary Clinton is as radioactive to other Democrats.

So the leaders of the DSCC and DCCC have to make a decision.  How and when to separate from the presidential race?  And waht about the 527s who are about to pour millions in to a likely hopeless presidential election?  Will they save enough for House and Senate races?

So I’m ready to forget about the presidential election and concentrate on Congress.  Then, what’s the best way do this?

1.  The fundamental dynamics still favor Democrats.  We must still run on the economy, offering relief from the foreclosure crisis and ending giveaways.  I would like to see a united Democratic proposal on health care.

2.  Instead of just opposing Iraq, emphasize our opposition to Republicans’ “war-first” approach, and tie the current economic climate to this costly war on Iraq.

3.  Most importantly, we can’t run away from Democratic values and principles.  On most issues, the Democrats are still favored.

4.  More leadership needs to forthcoming, starting with the removal of Debbie Dubya from the Red-to-Blue Committee.  That’s an unconscionable conflict of interest.

Any other thoughts?  I know, writing off the Presidency is a huge step, but we may have to settle for winning enough seats in Congress to keep McCain in check (that’s another issue for another post).

The DCCC’s Executive Director, Brian Wolff, recently posted on Democratic efforts to take three Republican-held House seats in South Florida over at the Huffington Post. As you are probably aware, there’s been a tremendous amount of controversy over the fact that Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, co-chair of the DCCC’s Red to Blue program, has recused herself from these three races, despite the fact that we have quality challengers in each. (Rep. Kendrick Meek has also abandoned these candidates.) Wolff had this to say about the controversy:

 

 

This is in keeping with Wolff’s prior comments on how importantly he views this issue:

Brian Wolff, executive director of the DCCC, says the bloggers are making “much ado about nothing,” noting that it’s “customary” for members to remain neutral in races involving GOP members of their respective congressional delegations.

If you, however, take a different view of things, I encourage you to call or write the relevant parties and let them know:

Debbie Wasserman Schultz (campaign office):

E-mail: AskDebbie@DWSforCongress.com

Phone: 202-741-7154

DCCC Chair Chris Van Hollen (campaign office):

E-mail: chris@vanhollen.org

Phone: 301-942-3768

DCCC Headquarters:

Contact form

Phone: 202-863-1500

At a town hall meeting Tuesday night (it’s a Congressional “district work period”), Debbie Wasserman Schultz had this to say about her abandonment of three strong Democratic challengers in South Florida:

I know there are people here that are interested in a political matter, so I will get that out of the way right at the beginning. If you have a concern about my previous comments about my staying out of the races in South Florida where candidates are challenging Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Ileana Ros- Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart, I will tell you two things:

First off, I have not endorsed any of the three incumbents in South Florida, nor will I, and I do not support their re-election campaign. I am supportive of the Democratic candidates who are running against them. I have never said otherwise.

Second, I have a national role as one of three co-chairs of Red to Blue Program. All candidates, from Florida to Alaska, have criteria that have to be met to get on this targeted list. Let me guarantee that if they fulfill those criteria, these three Democratic Candidates will be part of our Red to Blue Program…period, end of story. We have three co-chairs in order to be able to spread the workload among us.  It makes much more sense to have someone from outside of one’s own region to be able to make the hits necessary.  

But at the same time I am a representative of the 20th Congressional district of Florida, and I think it is absolutely my responsibility to work with my Republican colleagues.

But just one cycle ago, Debbie had an entirely different outlook – and with good reason:

While her moxie during debates over Terri Schiavo and Hurricane Katrina has earned kudos, it has also gotten the 39-year-old rookie into some trouble. She has rankled the longest-serving and most powerful congressman from South Florida, Republican Clay Shaw, by openly supporting his Democratic challenger.

Shaw’s staff said he tried to welcome her to the Capitol by offering advice and temporary office space and was upset to learn that she was helping state Sen. Ron Klein raise money and meet party leaders.  

…  

Wasserman Schultz served with Klein in the state Legislature for 12 years, and they are close friends. She was tapped by Democratic leaders to help with recruitment and said she could not stay out of a competitive congressional race.  

“It’s not good for my relationship with Clay Shaw, but Democrats can’t afford to leave a seat like that uncontested,” she said.

Why was it okay to do things that weren’t “good for her relationship” with Clay Shaw, but not okay to do so with Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and the Diaz-Balarts? If Debbie Wasserman Schultz values “working with Republicans” more than expanding our majority in Congress, then she should step down from Red to Blue, regardless of how many co-chairs there are. Everyone running Red to Blue needs to be a partisan bulldog.

And, of course, if the shoe were on the other foot, would any of these three Republicans hesitate to stab Debbie in the back? Of course not.

(Hat tip: FLA Politics.)

I recently caught wind of the following:

Following a week in which the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) lobbed several attacks on Congressman Scott Garrett’s (R-Wantage) skewed priorities, Congressman Steve Rothman (NJ-9) joined the General Wesley K. Clark, Teamsters Joint Council No. 73, New York Governor David Paterson, and numerous New Jersey political figures in endorsing Dennis Shulman’s campaign to unseat Garrett in New Jersey’s Fifth Congressional District.

“After meeting with Dennis and hearing about him from people throughout Northern New Jersey, I am convinced that he will make an excellent Member of Congress.  I am committed to working with Dennis in 2008 so that, together, we can help solve the problems of New Jersey and the nation in 2009,” said Congressman Steve Rothman.

Did you catch that? Rep. Steve Rothman of New Jersey’s 9th congressional district just the other day endorsed Rabbi Dennis Shulman, who is taking on Republican Scott Garrett in New Jersey’s 5th CD. That is to say, an incumbent Dem endorsed a challenger running against a member of his own state’s delegation.

But what does DCCC Executive Director Brian Wolff have to say about endorsements like that?

Brian Wolff, executive director of the DCCC, says the bloggers are making “much ado about nothing,” noting that it’s “customary” for members to remain neutral in races involving GOP members of their respective congressional delegations.

Quick, someone call up Steve Rothman! He’s violating a long-practiced custom! How dare he! Does Chris Van Hollen know about this breach?

Seriously, folks, I think we know this “custom” is bullshit. Debbie Wasserman Schultz herself recognized this back in 2005, when she unhesitatingly supported challenger Ron Klein against fellow Floridian Clay Shaw:

“It’s not good for my relationship with Clay Shaw, but Democrats can’t afford to leave a seat like that uncontested,” she said.

Scott Garrett is a total recidivist crumb-bum, and the people of NJ-05 deserve better. Rabbi Shulman knows this, and that’s why he’s running to replace him. And Rep. Rothman knows this, too, which is why he’s backing Rabbi Shulman. Surely the good folks in South Florida deserve no less from Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

The Washington Post has picked up on our frustration with Debbie Wasserman Schultz:

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) is getting brutally walloped in the liberal blogosphere for refusing to endorse the Democratic challengers to three potentially vulnerable GOP incumbents in Florida.

Liberal bloggers are irate that Wasserman Schultz, who co-chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Red-to-Blue program, has declined to endorse the Democrats running to unseat Cuban American Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Lincoln Diaz-Balart and his brother, Mario Diaz-Balart.

Wasserman Schultz says she doesn’t want to stab GOP members of her own delegation in the back. But liberal bloggers say she’s killing her own while aiding and abetting the enemy.

I should note, of course, that it’s not just the netroots who are up in arms over this – local Democratic leaders in South Florida are furious, too.

The DCCC’s executive director, however, totally dismisses the concerns of both groups:

Brian Wolff, executive director of the DCCC, says the bloggers are making “much ado about nothing,” noting that it’s “customary” for members to remain neutral in races involving GOP members of their respective congressional delegations.

It may be “customary,” but it’s dead wrong – and Rahm Emanuel fought tooth-and-nail against that decrepit, lazy philosophy. Once upon a time, even Debbie Wasserman Schultz herself did, too. It’s sad to see a proud, strong organization like the DCCC resign itself to tolerating this sort of absenteeism. I have to imagine Rahm’s heart aches to see this.

Debbie, for her part, accuses us of getting things wrong:

Defending herself against the attacks, Wasserman Schultz told us, “The blogosphere sometimes turns into a game of telephone.” She said the bloggers are missing a key point: “I have not endorsed any of the three incumbents, and I don’t support their reelection campaigns.”

Wasserman Schultz said she supports electing Democrats to Congress but that she has to “balance” her political role at the DCCC with her role as a member of the Florida delegation.

Of course, we never accused her of formally “endorsing” any Republican. We have, however, laid out a clear bill of particulars:

1) No Democrat should be permitted to recuse him or herself from campaigning on behalf of fellow Democrats – especially not the co-chair of the Red to Blue program.

2) No Democrat should gush to the press about how wonderful any particular Republican elected official is, especially not those targeted for defeat.

3) No Democratic party organization, the DCCC included, should tolerate either of the above two behaviors.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz is allegedly “frustrated” with us bloggers and wants us “off her back.” (I can only assume this applies to the unhappy local Dems in S. Fla., too.) But if she really cared what we think, she or a staffer could have easily reached out to the netroots. Wolff’s dismissive statement makes it pretty clear that we’re seen as just a minor nuisance.

So it’s time we made our voices heard. If you have a problem with the co-chair of the Red to Blue program saying she won’t campaign for our excellent Democratic candidates Annette Taddeo, Joe Garcia & Raul Martinez, please let her and the DCCC know about it. Whatever you say or write, I urge you to be firm but exceedingly polite. Our message is strong and true – we don’t need to cloud our cause by giving those in power an easy out to attack the messenger.

And what are we asking for? We want Debbie Wasserman Schultz to vocally endorse our South Florida trio and do everything she can to help them get elected (including hosting a fundraiser for each). If she won’t do that, then we’d like her to resign from Red to Blue. And we also want the DCCC to stop tolerating Members of Congress who want to “remain neutral” in contested races.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz (campaign office):

E-mail: AskDebbie@DWSforCongress.com

Phone: 202-741-7154

DCCC Chair Chris Van Hollen (campaign office):

E-mail: chris@vanhollen.org

Phone: 301-942-3768

DCCC Headquarters:

Contact form

Phone: 202-863-1500

Please do not contact Congressional offices as this is purely a political issue. Just keep in mind what we’re fighting for, be polite, and let’s remind the folks in charge that our opinions matter.

The Washington Post’s “The Sleuth” column credited the ‘liberal blog” Swing State Project with raising the issue of Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s resistance to campaign for south Florida Democrats this afternoon (3/19).  In fact, the Post went further, crediting SSP’s nickname of “Debbie Dubya” for making the issue stick.  Kos’s support was mentioned as a sign that the issue had taken hold in the blogosphere.

Natch, the company town paper did say that it was customary for homestate congress critters to give their colleagues a break (known to us in the blogosphere as a free pass).

It certainly seems that this one hit pay dirt.  Go get ’em, Mr. Van Hollen.  The seat you take over will certainly be a Republican one.  Wonder why the same group didn’t howl about the mid-term redistricting of Tom DeLay in Texas, the failure to count votes in Florida in 2000, or the outrageous Republican gerrymanders in so many states.  They were rather sad, however, when moderate Republican Connie Morrella was replaced by upstart Democrat Chris Van Hollen.  Poor, poor moderates.

On Friday, the DCCC released its list of 90 targeted races (both offense and defense) to watch this year. We’ve transcribed the full list in a few handy charts below — have a look. Italics denote the races that have been given “Red to Blue” status so far.

Offense:

District	Incumbent	District	Incumbent	District	Incumbent
AL-02	OPEN (Everett)	IL-06	Peter Roskam	NY-03	Peter King
AK-AL	Don Young	IL-10	Mark Kirk	NY-13	Vito Fossella
AZ-01	OPEN (Renzi)	IL-11	OPEN (Weller)	NY-25	OPEN (Walsh)
AZ-03	John Shadegg	KY-02	OPEN (Lewis)	NY-26	Thomas Reynolds
CA-04	OPEN (Doolittle)	LA-04	OPEN (McCrery)	NY-29	Randy Kuhl
CA-26	David Dreier	LA-06	OPEN (Baker)	OH-01	Steve Chabot
CA-50	Brian Bilbray	MD-01	OPEN (Gilchrest)	OH-02	Jean Schmidt
CO-04	Marilyn Musgrave	MI-07	Tim Walberg	OH-14	Steve LaTourette
CT-04	Chrissy Shays	MI-09	Joe Knollenberg	OH-15	OPEN (Pryce)
FL-08	Ric Keller	MN-03	OPEN (Ramstad)	OH-16	OPEN (Regula)
FL-09	Gus Bilirakis	MN-06	Michele Bachmann	PA-03	Phil English
FL-13	Vern Buchanan	MO-06	Sam Graves	PA-06	Jim Gerlach
FL-15	OPEN (Weldon)	MO-09	OPEN (Hulshof)	PA-18	Tim Murphy
FL-18	Ileana Ros-Lehtinen	NC-08	Robin Hayes	VA-02	Thelma Drake
FL-21	Lincoln Diaz-Balart	NJ-03	OPEN (Saxton)	VA-10	Frank Wolf
FL-24	Tom Feeney	NJ-07	OPEN (Ferguson)	VA-11	OPEN (Davis)
FL-25	Mario Diaz-Balart	NM-01	OPEN (Wilson)	WA-08	Dave Reichert
IA-04	Tom Latham	NM-02	OPEN (Pearce)	WV-02	Shelley Moore-Capito
ID-01	Bill Sali	NV-02	Dean Heller	WY-AL	OPEN (Cubin)
		NV-03	Jon Porter

Defense:

District	Incumbent	District	Incumbent	District	Incumbent
AZ-05	Harry Mitchell	IN-02	Joe Donnelly	NY-24	Mike Arcuri
AZ-08	Gabrielle Giffords	IN-08	Brad Ellsworth	NC-11	Heath Shuler
CA-11	Jerry McNerney	IN-09	Baron Hill	OH-18	Zack Space
CT-02	Joe Courtney	IA-03	Leonard Boswell	PA-10	Chris Carney
CT-05	Chris Murphy	KS-02	Nancy Boyda	PA-04	Jason Altmire
FL-16	Tim Mahoney	KY-03	John Yarmuth	PA-08	Patrick Murphy
FL-22	Ron Klein	MN-01	Tim Walz	TX-17	Chet Edwards
GA-12	John Barrow	NH-01	Carol Shea-Porter	TX-22	Nick Lampson
GA-08	Jim Marshall	NH-02	Paul Hodes	TX-23	Ciro Rodriguez
IL-08	Melissa Bean	NY-19	John Hall	WI-08	Steve Kagen
IL-14	Bill Foster	NY-20	Kirsten Gillibrand