The Hill: Internal DCCC list pins hopes on 22 challengers

[Pirate Smile]

Internal DCCC list pins hopes on 22 challengers

By Josephine Hearn

Confident that their political prospects are the rosiest in recent memory, House Democrats are planning a more aggressive effort to direct money to promising Democratic challengers this year.
Over the next week, they will kick off a revamped Red to Blue Program that will benefit more challengers and start earlier than in previous election years.

In 2004, Red to Blue raised $7.5 million for 27 candidates, resulting in an average take of more than $250,000 per campaign. Democrats hope to improve on those numbers.

Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), revealed the names of the first 22 beneficiaries of the program in a letter yesterday to his Democratic colleagues. For the most part, they represent the strongest Democratic challengers.

-snip-
Meanwhile, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (Md.), Emanuel and others are drumming up enthusiasm for the Leader’s Dinner on Tuesday, an evening-long affair in which Democrats will plot strategy for the coming elections.

http://hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/042706/news2.html

Most Promising challengers

Democratic challenger Incumbent District’s % for Kerry
Darcy Burner (Wash.) Dave Reichert 51
Phyllis Busansky (Fla.) Michael Bilirakis — retiring 43
Francine Busby (Calif.) Vacant (Duke Cunningham’s seat) 44
Joe Courtney (Conn.) Robert Simmons 54
John Cranley (Ohio) Steve Chabot 51
Jill Derby (Nev.) James Gibbons — running for gov. 41
Tammy Duckworth (Ill.) Henry Hyde — retiring 47
Brad Ellsworth (Ind.) John Hostettler 38
Diane Farrell (Conn.) Christopher Shays 52
Steve Filson (Calif.) Richard Pombo 45
Kirsten Gillibrand (N.Y.) John Sweeney 46
Tessa Hafen (Nev.) Jon Porter 49
Baron Hill (Ind.) Mike Sodrel 40
Mary Jo Kilroy (Ohio) Deborah Pryce 50
Ron Klein (Fla.) Clay Shaw 52
Ken Lucas (Ky.) Geoff Davis 36
Patsy Madrid (N.M.) Heather Wilson 51
Harry Mitchell (Ariz.) J.D. Hayworth 45
Chris Murphy (Conn.) Nancy Johnson 49
Lois Murphy (Pa.) Jim Gerlach 51
Heath Shuler (N.C.) Charles Taylor 43
Peter Welch (Vt.) Bernie Sanders (I) — running for Senate 59

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), co-chairman of the program, said that a second group of beneficiaries would likely be announced in June and another after Labor Day.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. Kick some ass, boys and girls!!

:kick:

[LynneSin]

2. I'm little disappointed - we have great opportunities with other PA races

especially in PA-10 where the incumbant was caught not only with a mistress but accused of abusing the mistress and in PA-8 where for 10 years they had a very very liberal republican representating them and now they're stuck with an uber conservative. I also think there is an opportunity with PA-7 where Curt Weldon is becoming more unpopular by the day.

[Pirate Smile]

4. Well, they will be adding more candidates so hopefully those will include

some of your PA districts.

“It means a great deal for these campaigns. There’s a great deal of competition,” a spokeswoman for the DCCC said, adding that candidates who did not make the list should not despair. “We’ll be continuing to look at names and add to that list in weeks and months to come.”

Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), co-chairman of the program, said that a second group of beneficiaries would likely be announced in June and another after Labor Day.

Wasserman Schultz said Democrats would definitely need to add more names to the list. “If we’re behind by 15 , we’re going to need more than 22,” she noted.

-snip-
Five candidates in the second phase of Red to Blue have already been notified, Van Hollen said, although their names were not readily available. In some cases, primary dates played a role in determining who would be included in the first phase. Leaders hope that some candidates will be able to collect donations from the program both before and after their primaries.

[AtomicKitten]

3. sweet