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.
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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.