E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSThe man heading up Democrats’ fight to take back the House would not say his party would win back the majority, but that it’s within striking distance.
“There are 293 days until the election, and we are on a roll,” boasted New York congressman Steve Israel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee during a briefing with reporters where he unveiled his so called “Red-to-Blue” races – its top candidates and most-targeted districts.
“We are nipping at their heels,” Israel continued, "and we have the potential to overtake them over the next nine months.”
Democrats need to flip 25 seats to regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives after losing an historic 63 seats in 2010. Most analysts project Democratic gains at this point to be in the high single digits.
“Last cycle was a perfect storm,” Israel said, adding that there were “gale-force winds against us.” He also said, “We now have a nice wind at our backs.”
This year, however, he contended that Tea Party enthusiasm and popularity had waned, and that Republicans had done themselves in because of five areas in 2011 – (1) threatening government shutdown; (2) embracing the Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) budget; (3) their handling of the debt ceiling and subsequent U.S. credit downgrade. He termed their handling of the debate the “Cantor walkout” (in reference to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia); and (4) their handling of the payroll tax cut.
He also said Republicans have seen a “catastrophic decline” with independents, key to winning in swing districts (though the only polling he cited from Democracy Corps, a Democratic-aligned polling group).
Israel claimed there were 76 districts that are “real deal” seats in play, and he had wanted at least 50. But he only unveiled 18 “Red-to-Blue” races with a candidate. He listed another 18 districts (which have Democratic primaries that have not yet played out), 12 “emerging races,” and six more “emerging race districts” (in other words, there are no set candidates in those either yet).
He also listed three “majority makers,” including the bombastic former Rep. Alan Grayson of Florida, Nevada’s Steven Horsford, and Joaquin Castro of Texas. Israel said he is “so confident they are coming to Congress,” the DCCC created a program for them to help other members raise money.
Israel was happy to take a shot at his Republican counterpart, Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, for receiving a VIP loan from Countrywide -- the same kind of loan Republicans skewered former Banking Committee Chairman Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) as well as other House Democrats over.
“This is a matter of hypocrisy,” Israel said, responding to a question from a reporter on the matter. “Mysteriously,” Israel added, charges against Democrats over Countrywide “disappeared from their [the NRCC’s] website. How strange. How strange.” He continued, “Where there’s hypocrisy, we’re going to call them out on it.”
The presidential election will also factor into Democratic gains, Israel said, especially if Mitt Romney is the Republican nominee.
“This election is going to be about the middle class,” Israel said, adding that when people realize they are paying a higher tax rate then “someone making more than them,” it “will create fury.”
Republicans, he charged, are for “millionaires over Medicare,” for “ideology over solutions.”
Though the Obama presidential campaign will not likely be a factor in places like California, Illinois, and Texas, where Democrats in the House hope to make gains, it will have an impact in swing states.
Israel said he’s not telling candidates in swing districts to distance themselves from the president, but instead to make sure they match up with their districts.
President Obama has been setting up a campaign of running against Congress. Israel said he has spoken to Obama about that.
“I think he has been more assertive in saying, ‘Republicans,’ since,” Israel said with a smirk.
Here are the districts and races the DCCC lists:
Red to Blue Races (18): Ami Bera (CA-07), Jose Hernandez (CA-10), Mark Takano (CA-41), Sal Pace (CO-03), Val Demings (FL-08), Keith Fitzgerald (FL-13), Christie Vilsack (IA-04), Brendan Mullen (IN-02), Pam Gulleson (ND-AL), Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02), John Oceguera (NV-03), Dan Maffei (NY-25), Charlie Wilson (OH-06), Kathy Boockvar (PA-08), Nick Lampson (TX-14), Denny Heck (WA-10), Jamie Wall (WI-08), Paul Hirschbiel (VA-02)
Red to Blue Districts (18): AZ-01 (Gosar-open), CA-26 (Gallegy-open), CA-31(Open), CA-47 (Open), CA-52 (Bilbray), CO-06 (Coffman), CT-05 (Murphy-open), FL-22 (West), IL-08 (Walsh), IL-10 (Dold), IL-11 (Biggert), IL-12 (Costello–open), IL-17 (Schilling), MD-06 (Bartlett), MI-01 (Benishek), MN-08 (Cravaack)
NM-01 (Heinrich-open), WA-01 (Inslee-open)
Majority Makers (3): Alan Grayson (FL-27), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Joaquin Castro (TX-20)
Emerging Races (12): Clark Hall (AR-01), Raul Ruiz (CA-36), Leonard Bembry (FL-02), David Crooks (IN-08), Rob Wallace (OK-02), Manan Trivedi (PA-06), Jackson Eaton (PA-15), Eric Stewart (TN-04), Pete Gallego (TX-23), John Douglass (VA-10), Rob Zerban (WI-01), Pat Krietlow (WI-07)
Emerging Races Districts (6): AZ-09 (New-open), IL-13 (Johnson), MT-AL (Rehberg-open), NY-13 (Grimm), NY-19 (Hayworth), SC-07 (New district)
NBC's Frank Thorp contributed to this report.
Leave a Comment:
It sure is - the GNOP has no where to run to baby... and no where to hide!
I would be perfectly content to retake the House even if we lose the Senate!
Watching Nancy Pelosi wrestle that gavel out of Boehners shaky, sweaty fingers will be PRICELESS!
*popcorn*?
Life in this country would change for the worse if republicans get control of our government. There will be no job security, no social security, no public education, no medicare but a lousy voucher instead, and no affordable college loans. There will be a huge military industrial complex and plenty of enemies to fight in new wars. Millionaires would become billionaires, and billionaires, who knows? A vote for the republican party is a vote for national downfall, a new depression, new wars to be fought, and perhaps that rapture they are always talking about.
I wouldn't listen too much to experts. There were so-called experts here who said we could never get a million signatures against Scott Walker.
Hard work will make the difference.
As for who will pry the gavel out of Boehner's shaky, sweaty fingers, unless Democrats do their jobs, that could well be Eric Cantor.
And if you think Boehner is bad, try to imagine that.
We'll need something stronger than popcorn.
If they get control, I'll be PRAYING for the rapture.
OWWW! My eyes!
With Congress's current approval ratings, Nancy has a good chance...
I don't see Boehner & Co. doing anything in the future to change paths...
Hey Anna, maybe you have something there! It would be an improvement over what Republicans would provide us!
As far as I'm concerned, Wayne, they can go, as long as we get to stay without them.
@ Feisty -- I'm applying for an SBA loan to start a business manufacturing blindfolds. Want in?
@ Wayne You may be wrong according to this it may just not be republicans you have to worry about. I believe Cuomo is a Democrat.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/gov_public_pension_bomb_4JRP5KYgDOj5grjL2QWIFM
@ ksw62118--
As pension reform plans go, that didn't look so bad. Cuomo is at least taking the proper approach which is to fund it properly, rather than to rip it off and then complain there's no money in it, so it has to be destroyed, like Congress has done with Social Security. And rather than privatizing it completely, he's proposed an option. Overall, I actually liked it better than what we've been hearing about from Congress.
If they get control, I'll be PRAYING for the rapture.
________________________________________________
AM: Looks like that loss to the Giants has taken quite a toll on you.
Count me in Anna Molly!
Given the current climate - we should be mid-western millionaires in no time! ☺
I'm applying for an SBA loan to start a business manufacturing blindfolds.
_________________________________________________
Sorry, AM. The Barry admin only has federal giveaway money for solar blindfolds, made by 2008 campaign cash bundlers.
Let's pray that the Republicans don't gain anything, but instead lose.
Not at all, your honor. I saw it coming. What's that got to do with rapture, anyway?
Or wait. That was "Rhapsody," wasn't it?
Never mind. You wouldn't get that.
By the way, good luck to the Giants this weekend. You're going to need it.
Well, goodness gracious. Maybe I can get the start-up money from Bain Capital.
They certainly know how to pick a loser.
Or make one.
another liberal psmnbc propaganda story to scare the right! demos are crazy
if they think many people want them back in control when we have a demo liberal
dictator telling us we can't have a pipeline to give us cheap gas prices cause he believes
in his radical green agenda so we all have to suffer! fairyland!
goodvsevil So you want a republican/tea bag dictator as president. You really think a republican/tea bag dictator will get us cheap gas. If you do your are choking on his tea bag. That oil coming down that pipeline will be sold off to everyone overseas. You all talk about leaving our grandkids with a big debt. Well lets get rid of the EPA and then we can leave them a broken planet. Cause we all know how well big business will police themselves when it comes to the environment, it will be just like shipping jobs overseas!
A teabagger/dictator would see that gas gets cheaper by about $0.15 by mid October to go up $0.50 around November 5th.
As opposed to your totalitarian, smitty? Now get in line like a good little o'blemming and drink your koolaid...
wayne gas prices are driven by the market. Now tell me how The President or any President can bring down the price of gas. Oil speculation is what's driving up the price of gas.
reality check Totalitarian is a big word. Do you know it means? To me it sounds like the tea bag party. The United States House Of Representatives is the best example of Totalitarian enactments I have ever seen. So please get the tea bag out of your mouth so you can breath. Your turning blue.
Nips at heels now big bites on butt later. With the performance of the just say no to everything GOPTP who wouldn't want a change. They came into office making all sorts of unreasonable nonsensical promises and haven't accomplished any of them, thank God. Now people are seeing what they truly are all about and as we get closer to election day more and more will be exposed. Landslide for Obama and a close but sure take back of House and secure Senate for Democrats.
I find the term "nipping at heels" an interesting choice as it conjures up images of a pack that has to unite and chase down bigger and stronger animals....not sure this is the image that you all want, considering that you firmly believe that you can't lose and can't possibly be wrong.
Some might say That Congressman Israel is "nipping" at something himself, but what would you expect a "chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee" to say?...
It's way too early to be predicting CONGRESSIONAL races, so it's anyone's guess at this point. The one thing that is certain is that any claims of victory on the part of either party are somewhat premature...
dangerfield,
I thought it was Jack Frost nipping at the nose. My bad.
BTW, ever notice how everyone wants to "vote the bums" out, but just not their own representative?
That's the old joke...Congress has a 10% approval rating as a whole but 90% of them are reelected, so it's always YOUR congressperson who has 10% approval, mine is just GREAT!...
My Congressman definitely doesn't have my vote! It's too bad my senator won't be up for reelection any time soon.
hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha................
“Last cycle was a perfect storm,” Israel said, adding that there were “gale-force winds against us".
The gale force windbag was your failure of a President.
Good news for Republicans: the gale force windbag Obama is still there, to drag down what is left of the the Democratic Party with his failed radical left policies.
Another thing that should be considered is this year, more than a dozen states have enacted new voting restrictions, including eight — Alabama, Kansas, Mississippi, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin — that passed variations of a rule requiring photo identification. Idaho and Oklahoma passed similar legislation in 2010, as did Utah in 2009. In 2008 New Mexico pass this legislation. Ohio and Georgia passed voter restrictions in 2006 while Missouritightened their voter laws. In 2003, Voter ID laws passed inAlabama, Colorado, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota where the Republican Party was in charge. Fourteen states dominated by the TEA-GOP-Republican Party have changed the rules for voters since President Obama was elected into office. If you are sick and tired of the constant confrontational attitude of this current Congress, get started. Be sure and register if not registered, get involved local as that's where the most control is exerted and vote in November to clean house of the fringe tangent shutting down progress.
For those of us who are actually American citizens, providing photo id for the privelege of voting doesn't seem at all offensive or extreme....most of us have to show more proof of identification to write a check at the grocery store.
I'm sorry to see my Representative not on the list but I will be doing everything I can to unseat him.
I wouldn't bet the paycheck on it if you still have one. Wait until January's unemployment numbers come out to see the direction this is going. Selling CHRISTmas gifts time is over. Obama just cancelled quite a few jobs with his Keystone rejection.
I'm glad to see Alan West on that list. I sure hope he gets the boot.
But I fear that they will try to defer the reporting of job loss after holiday and seasonal layoff as long as possible to try to dilute the impact-make the numbers look less imposing by spreading it out. All I have to do, is look around the neighborhood at the number of cars that aren't leaving the driveway to go to work, or the lack of traffic congestion on the way to work. My commute has gotten easier and easier, but only because I am sharing the road with fewer and fewer fellow workers.
I am with you Steeler fan! I am going to try my best to turn Virginia BLUE!!
With popular conservative Governor McDonnell, Virginia is a lock for the GOP...we will throw more liberals out!