Longshot candidate Buz Mills, an NRA board member who owns a firearms training center, is the first to launch a TV spot in the wide-open AZ GOV race, touting his tendency to tell the truth in a 60-second spot.
The ad, entitled "Truth," and produced by Alfano Communications, began airing this week, on both broadcast and cable stations in AZ. Seizing on a popular theme for non-incumbents in '10, Mills seeks to portray himself as an outsider who wants to reign in spending in the ad.
Mills is a fairly recent addition to the race, having entered at the end of Jan. He faces a tall task in running against GOPers who are statewide officeholders, including Gov. Jan Brewer (R) and Treas. Dean Martin (R). Brewer and Martin, meanwhile, have recently been sparring over web videos produced by Brewer's camp that seek to tie Martin to ex-Gov./DHS Sec. Janet Napolitano (D).
The winner of the GOP primary will likely face ex-AG Terry Goddard (D), the favorite for the Dem nomination.
Our latest whip count shows no progress for House Dem leadership. In fact, more members are sneaking onto the watch list, as Rep. Steve Kagen (D-WI) voiced concern over whether the Senate would actually pass a sidecar bill.
For Dems, the problem has become clear: They need legislation before they can sell it to their members. Every day that goes by without a bill gives the GOP more time to pressure wavering Dems.
Here's our latest whip count, spotlighting the members to watch and how they have indicated they will vote on the Senate bill and the accompanying legislative fix:
Dem Targets: No On Reform, No On Stupak (15)
Member District Comments
John Adler* NJ03 Worried about cost controls
Brian Baird WA03 Retiring/Undecided~
Rick Boucher VA09
Allen Boyd FL02
Chet Edwards TX17
S. Herseth Sandlin SDAL
Larry Kissell* NC08
Suzanne Kosmas* FL24
Frank Kratovil* MD01 Spox: Would vote no^
Dennis Kucinich OH10 MSNBC appearance: No
Betsy Markey* CO04
Mike McMahon* NY13
Walt Minnick* ID01
Scott Murphy* NY20
Glenn Nye* VA02
Dem Long Shots: No On Reform, Yes On Stupak (21)
Member District Comments
Jason Altmire PA04 Worried about Senate votes
John Barrow GA12
John Boccieri* OH16 Undecided~
Dan Boren OK02 No~
Bobby Bright* AL02
Ben Chandler KY06
Travis Childers MS01
Artur Davis AL07 Running for AL GOV, firm no^
Lincoln Davis TN04
Bart Gordon TN06 Retiring/Undecided~
Tim Holden PA17
Jim Marshall GA08 No^
Jim Matheson UT02 Undecided
Charlie Melancon LA03 Running for SEN
Collin Peterson MN07 No~
Mike Ross AR04
Heath Shuler NC11
Ike Skelton MO04 No^
John Tanner TN08 Retiring
Gene Taylor MS04
Harry Teague* NM02
House Dems have returned $503K in contributions from embattled Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) after a week-long offensive by GOPers to paint the cash as tainted.
The former chair of the Ways and Means Committee stepped down last week after the House ethics committee found he violated the chamber's ban on accepting gifts from corporations. Now, a total of 36 members have given back some or all of the contributions the influential Rangel handed out.
Rep. John Hall (D-NY) became the latest to return Rangel's cash when he spread $21K among 10 charities in his Westchester-based district.
The NRCC has been hounding incumbents to return or donate the money they received from Rangel, generating significant local news coverage as vulnerable members have raced to return the money.
Most of the 36 members have returned direct donations that came from Rangel's campaign account or his PAC. But the NRCC has hit others, including Reps. Mike McMahon (D-NY), Debbie Halvorson (D-IL) and Walt Minnick (D-ID) for profiting from joint fundraisers with Rangel. Those 3 have returned the direct contributions.
All told, the 20-term NY Dem contributed more than $1.5M to current incumbents, not counting the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, he has given to the DCCC over the years; as chair of a top committee, his dues this year are set at $500K, though FEC records show he has only given $150K so far this cycle.
Coming alongside ex-Rep. Eric Massa's (D-NY) resignation amid an ethics scandal, Rangel's fall has given the GOP the chance to dust off a favorite quote from Speaker Nancy Pelosi. On election night '06, after Dems won back control of both chambers, Pelosi promised "the most open and most ethical Congress in history."
The RNC is using the comment in a new ad that seeks to tie Rangel and Massa to the rest of the Dem caucus. The ad is playing on DC cable stations
After the jump, a full list of members who accepted contributions from Rangel, and what they've done -- or haven't done -- with the money.
Ex-FL House Speaker Marco Rubio (R) is up with his first TV ad in an appeal to Fox News viewers around the state, doubling down on accusations that his primary rival is not a true conservative.
The 60-second ad features Rubio addressing the camera on standard GOP fare like limited government, reduced spending and defeating "the threat of radical Islam."
"As the son of exiles, I understand what it means to lose the gift of freedom. And that's why I know we cannot and will not allow America to fail at this time, in this way," Rubio says. "Washington is broken and too many politicians don't get it. America needs Republicans who will stand up to Barack Obama, not join him. Leaders who will stand for conservative values, not sacrifice them."
Recent polls show Rubio leading FL Gov. Charlie Crist (R) by an increasingly wide margin little more than a year after Crist endorsed Pres. Obama's stimulus bill.
Crist's campaign fought back, accusing Rubio of being a lobbyist who is not the fiscal conservative he claims to be. But the ad does its subtle part to drive home the narrative that has worked for Rubio all year -- that he, not Crist, is the best fit for the FL GOP electorate.
Rubio is spending $104K on the ads, according to 2 sources with knowledge of the FL ad market. He has spent more than $20K each in the Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa markets, along with smaller buys in Ft. Myers, West Palm Beach and Mobile, AL.
Rubio did not purchase ad time in the Miami market.
But the ad still won't be seen by most FL voters. The expense of each FL market means Rubio has purchased no more than 160 gross rating points on Fox News in the Ft. Myers market, and significantly fewer GRPs in every other market.
Crist had more than $7.5M in the bank at the end of the year, more than 3 times what Rubio has in the bank. That means any time Crist wants to respond with his own ad, he can do so at the drop of a hat.
Rubio's ad, "Children":
Note: This post updated with more comprehensive details of Rubio's ad buy.
Dem members of Congress have contributed more than 3 times the amount to their own party committees than GOP incumbents have, a factor that has Dems in their best financial position even as they face a troubling political environment.
According to statistics compiled by the FEC, Dem House members have given $15.7M to the DCCC through the end of '09. By contrast, incumbent GOPers have handed over just $4.7M.
Dems in the upper chamber have given the DSCC nearly $2.6M, while the GOP has given the NRSC only about $450K in direct transfers from campaign accounts.
The figures do not include contributions from members' PACs, but those numbers pale in comparison. PAC contributions are subject to FEC limits, while members can transfer an unlimited amount of money from their campaign accounts to the party committees. And, according to ex-Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), the GOP is historically late in writing their own checks.
"You're going to find a lot of [the GOP's] incumbents don't have races," Davis said. "There's still time to catch up. Historically, it's been a late surge."
House Dem leaders have invested heavily in the DCCC, with many approaching their party-set dues. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has contributed $850K, while Maj. Leader Steny Hoyer and Maj. Whip Jim Clyburn have each donated $785K. Another 16 members have donated at least $200K to the effort.
Davis credited DCCC chair Chris Van Hollen for bolstering Dem defenses, both by stockpiling cash at the committee and by making sure incumbents are in strong financial position.
"Van Hollen's been through this before. He's a smart guy. There's a wave coming toward them and he's building a high wall," Davis said.
House Min. Leader John Boehner has transfered $555K to the NRCC, but records show that no other member of the House GOP has given more than $200K. A total of 10 other members, including Conference chair Mike Pence, NRCC chair Pete Sessions and Conference Vice Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers gave more than $100K.
On the Senate side, 14 Dems have given more than $100K, while just 1 GOPer -- retiring Sen. Kit Bond (R-MO) -- had given more than $100K through the end of last year.
Ex-Christian Coalition executive director Ralph Reed will not run for Rep. John Linder's (R-GA) open House seat, he announced today, opting to continue to lead his national network aimed at bolstering the GOP.
"After much thought and prayer, I have decided not to be a candidate for Congress in Georgia's Seventh district in 2010. I believe I can best advance conservative principles by continuing to serve as CEO of Century Strategies, LLC, and founding chairman of the Faith and Freedom Coalition," Reed wrote in a statement.
"These nationwide efforts offer a much better prospect for changing the direction of the country than winning a Congressional race myself," Reed said. "I believe electing 50 to 100 men and women of character and conservative beliefs to Congress and statewide office over the next two election cycles is a more efficacious way to advance the conservative agenda than seeking public office myself in 2010."
The decision will come as a relief to some GOPers, who worried Reed's entrance into politics would bring an unwelcome spotlight onto his past association with convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. But others will mourn his choice, as Reed remains one of the GOP's top political strategists.
Reed's exit means state Sen. Don Balfour (R) remains the leading contender in the race so far. Gwinnett Co. Commis. Mike Beaudreau (R), state Reps. Mike Coan (R) and Clay Cox and several other potential candidates are considering the race. Gwinnett Co. Sheriff Butch Conway (R), who would have been a quick front-runner, is not going to run.
Linder's district is in no danger of turning blue. It remains the most heavily GOP of any district in the increasingly red state.
The DNC has vacuumed up millions more from big donors now that Pres. Obama lives in the WH, while their GOP counterparts have seen a drop-off in big donor support, according to a new analysis by the FEC.
The DNC raised $16M from donors who gave more than $10K, according to the FEC, accounting for more than 21% of the $76M the party raised from individuals over the last year. That's up from about $9M the party raised from big donors in '07, when they didn't control the WH.
But the GOP has seen a big drop in the number of wealthy donors writing checks. FEC records show donors giving more than $10K accounted for just under $2.8M, or about 3.5% of the individual contributions the party received.
RNC chair Michael Steele has been touting the number of small-dollar donors the party has won over, and FEC records show a surge in donations under $200. The party raised $62.6M from donors giving less than $200, accounting for 77% of the RNC's individual recepits last year; that's up from $51.3M during '07, but on par with '05 and '03.
In total, the DNC saw a 58% surge in individual contributions last year, while the RNC's individual haul slumped by 2.5%. In fact, along with the DNC, only one party committee -- the NRSC -- saw their receipts from individuals rise; the NRSC raised $32.8M from individuals in '09, up from $25.6M in '07.
Amid a slumping economy, big-dollar giving was down virtually across the board. The DSCC, the DCCC and hte NRCC all saw a drop-off among individuals contributing more than $20K.
Meanwhile, most committees had less money in the bank at the beginning of this year than they did at the end just 2 years ago. The RNC, the NRCC, the DSCC and the DCCC all have less than half the amount in the bank now than they did at the beginning of '08. The NRSC has about 2/3rds as much as they did to start the '08 cycle. Only the DNC, which began '08 with a paltry $2.9M in the bank, has seen their cash reserves balloon.
After the jump, we bring you a comparison for each national party committee.
The DCCC is rolling out their roster of promising challengers, determined to stay on offense amid a harsh national political climate.
The party will target 7 GOP incumbents and 4 GOP-held open seats this year, armed with prominent challengers who have demonstrated their ability to raise money and build effective campaign organizations.
Dems are spotlighting contenders aimed at ousting Reps. Dan Lungren (R) and Mary Bono Mack (R) in CA, 2 incumbents who underperformed in '08. Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA) will be a target once more. And the party is optimistic about open seats being vacated by Reps. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Mike Castle (R-DE), both of whom are running for SEN seats.
The DCCC is also highlighting longer shots, like KS state Rep. Raj Goyle (D), running for Rep. Todd Tiahrt's (R-KS) open seat, and NE state Sen. Tom White (D), challenging Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE).
After 2 strong cycles, though, the DCCC is running low on targets. The 13 members of the Red-to-Blue program is far fewer than the 24 who were on the list at this point in '08. And Dems tried some trickery, too -- included on the list are candidates running for Dem-held open seats being vacated by Reps. John Tanner (D-TN) and Joe Sestak (D-PA).
Red-to-Blue contenders are given a liaison member of Congress as a mentor, along with fundraising and logistical help as their campaigns progress. The program is being run by Reps. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), Patrick Murphy (D-PA) and Donna Edwards (D-MD).
A full list of Red-to-Blue members after the jump.
"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with the fallout from the Toyota Prius that malfunctioned on a CA highway.
Ex-Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) went on "Glenn Beck" 3/9 p.m.
Massa, on his decision to resign: "I wasn't forced out. I forced myself out. I failed. I didn't live up to my own codes. ... I own this. I take full and complete responsibility for my misbehavior. And goodness only knows what allegations they are going to throw at me. There's even new ones today and we'll talk about that. I'm not blaming anybody."
Massa, on allegations that he groped a male staffer: "Now, they're saying I groped a male staffer. Yes, I did. Not only did I grope him, I tickled him until he couldn't breathe and four guys jumped on top of me. It was my 50th birthday. It was 'kill the old guy.' You can take anything out of context."
FNC's Beck: "You say that you were leaving because of the cancer scare."
Massa: "No. I decided not to run again. ... And then all of this blew up and I held myself accountable and resigned. Two different things. One happened before the other."
Massa, on his shower encounter with WH CoS Rahm Emanuel: "Rahm was angry at me. He poked his finger in my chest while I was taking a shower. It's exactly -- I mean, I've gone through this on the radio show. Not only did it happen, I'll never forget it. Rahm Emanuel hates me. He doesn't like me. I get it."
After the jump, more Massa, and pols continue the health care debate.
Good Wednesday morning. One Hotline editor is despondent after GW's season came to an end, while another editor is thrilled his Bonnies beat Duquesne last night to stay alive. What's the world coming to?
Here's today's Starting Lineup, previewing the factors that will drive politics today:
MOMENTUM: As we update the whip count, Speaker Nancy Pelosi's task of securing 216 votes for passage is only getting more difficult. Several members who voted against the legislation when it was first before the House in Nov. told Hotline OnCall yesterday they would vote against the measure again, trimming the number of Dems who might be persuaded to make up the difference.
What's more troubling for the majority, one member who once voted for the bill, Rep. Mike Arcuri (D-NY), said he would vote no. The momentum, in other words, is on the GOP's side, as not a single member who once voted no has said he or she will vote for the Senate bill.
The biggest challenge Dem leadership faces is the same thing that got them in trouble before Aug. recess: They have no legislative language to defend, only a nebulous concept of "fixes" and reconciliation. Until they roll out the companion bill that the Senate will pass, Dems are unlikely to win over any new votes, and they risk popular sentiment solidifying against them in the meantime.
Update: An earlier version of this post mentioned Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA) as a "no" voter. McNerney's spokesperson called to correct the record. McNerney is waiting for final legislative language to be released before he makes a decision, the spokesperson said.
U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: As first reported by National Journal's Peter Stone, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is launching a massive TV ad campaign in 20 to 25 top districts aimed at fighting back against the final push for health care. The ads, described as the "closing argument," will aim to keep the no votes steady while pressuring lawmakers who once voted for the bill to flip.
The Chamber has already spent more than $100M, and a SCOTUS ruling earlier this year in the Citizens United case makes it certain they will play a big role in influencing elections this midterm season. Corporations that are now able to spend money for political purposes will not do so under their own names, fearing reprisals, but campaign finance experts believe they will funnel funds through the Chamber and other outside groups, making them a powerful force likely to spend more money than even the national parties this year.
REP. BART STUPAK: Meanwhile, Dem leadership is continuing talks with Stupak (D-MI), who claims he has 11 fellow Dems ready to vote against the bill if no abortion compromise is reached. And Stupak himself is throwing cold water on the notion of an impending compromise: He told the Weekly Standard that no deal is imminent, a day after the AP reported he is "more optimistic" about cutting a deal than he was a week ago.
Treas. Alexi Giannoulias (D) was in DC today for a WH celebration of Greek Independence Day, but the main event was a meeting beforehand with WH advisors David Axelrod and Patrick Gaspard, who know a little something about IL politics.
"My meetings today at the White House have been very productive, and the support of the President is a great asset in a state where 64 percent of voters approve of the job he is doing," said Giannoulias in a statement released today. "While my opponent opposes the White House agenda every chance he gets, I want to help the president change the broken system here in Washington."
Giannoulias, who is in a tight race with Rep. Mark Kirk (R-10), has struggled to move beyond the financial issues of his family's company, Broadway Bank. The bank must raise $85M in capital funds by April 24th to avoid closure.
Kirk has seized on the bank's troubles and accuses Giannoulias of issuing risky loans during his tenure at Broadway Bank. Kirk often repeats President Obama's statement before the MA SEN special: "Bankers don't need another vote in the U.S. Senate."
Giannoulias met with IL media last week to answer questions about the controversy. He said that it is likely that the bank will fail, but one should place most of that blame on the national economic climate. Giannoulias has said that he will do whatever he can give to save the bank, which includes putting any tax refund he might receive from the federal government right bank into the bank for recapitalization.
The WH meeting is a step towards shifting the conversation back to national politics. The IL SEN race is a reversal of a pattern seen in other states. Elsewhere, vulnerable Dems are proclaiming their independence, while the GOPer attempts to tie them to the national Dems.
But Giannoulias would rather talk about national issues like jobs and health care, while Kirk wants to keep it about IL corruption. Both camps agree that Obama is still extremely popular in IL, with approval ratings over 60%. With a heavy voter registration disadvantage, Kirk will need Dem votes, and will have to be very delicate about negatively linking Giannoulias and Obama.
The Giannoulias camp believes the Broadway Bank business will be old news by the November election, but Kirk's campaign makes the case that any association with the ailing financial institution will be bad politics for the Dem nominee.
Giannoulias may also be helped by his ticket mate, Gov. Pat Quinn (D). In the IL GOV race, Quinn will face conservative state Sen. Bill Brady (R), who is already being called a polarizing and weak candidate.
Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) slammed Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) today for refusing to divulge the details of an offer he said the WH made to him last Jul. in an attempt to convince him to drop his PA SEN challenge.
Earlier today, Sestak declined to go into detail when MSNBC's Joe Scarborough asked him about the offer, which Sestak first revealed in a Feb. interview on a local PA show.
"Something happened last July, before I got in the race, and I never got asked about it," Sestak said today. "All of a sudden, someone asked me. And you know, I answered it honestly. I just said, 'yes.' But I didn't go beyond that. And actually, I don't think I should. That's politics."
Specter responded to Sestak's comments this p.m. in an appearance on "Andrea Mitchell Reports," noting that some have called the purported deal a "bribe."
"Horse-trading like that shouldn't go on, but don't conclude that it went on," Specter said. "There have been a number of commentators who have picked up on what Congressman Sestak has said and have identified it as a bribe, punishable by jail. And that's a pretty strong charge to make against the president's administration, implying perhaps even the president himself. ... Making charges without backing it up is not the right way to do business."
MSNBC's Mitchell: "Well, you're telling me that if Joe Sestak is correct, if he can prove that this was actually offered, that that is a bribe, and becomes a legal issue against whoever in the White House offered that?
Specter: "There is a specific federal statute which makes it a bribe, to make an offer for a public office. And when I was district attorney, if somebody came and told me that, I would say, well, name names, name dates, name places. That's a very, very serious charge. It's a big, black smear without the specification. But I'm telling you, it is a federal crime, punishable by jail. And anybody who wants to say that ought to back it up."
Specter said that Sestak has "gotten a lot of political mileage" out of the claim, adding that it's "really an attack" on the admin.
PA Dem chair T.J. Rooney has issued a harshly-worded letter asking a member of his state's Congressional delegation to boost his staffers' pay.
The letter, sent to Rep. Joe Sestak (D), follows reports last week that Sestak paid his staff far below the minimum wage. Sestak is challenging Sen. Arlen Specter (D) in the primary, and Specter used the issue to knock his rival all week.
"As Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman, I am increasingly concerned about the numerous news media reports that you are in violation of state and federal law for failing to pay your campaign employees at least the minimum wage," Rooney wrote to Sestak.
"If you were to be successful in your primary campaign, you would be leading the Democratic ticket in this fall's critical elections for state and local office. It is inconceivable to me that our standard bearer wouldn't be paying his workers the minimum wage. Particularly at a time of deep recession, we can't hand an issue like this to the Republicans or have the candidate leading our ticket being investigated for such violations," Rooney added.
Meanwhile, Rooney also urged Sestak to vote more often on the House floor. Sestak has missed more votes than any other member of the PA delegation, and yet public polls still show Specter with big leads.
"It's clear that while Senator Specter's campaign has progressed and made significant progress - witness his winning our endorsement by a 77-23% vote -your campaign has not moved forward, as recent polls have demonstrated," Rooney wrote. "I respectfully ask that you bring your campaign into compliance with the law, pay your workers their rightful back pay and lawful wages going forward and make a concerted effort to vote consistently on the House floor."
Rooney and most of the Dem establishment are backing Specter, a long-time GOPer who began caucusing with Dems last year.
Dems are aiming to pass health care legislation, once and for all, by Easter recess. But for all their optimistic talk, one thing remains clear: They don't have the votes just yet. Then again, they don't have a bill yet, either.
The first step of what promises to be an arduous process will come when Dem leaders unveil the package of proposed measures to fix the legislation and make it more palatable to some House lawmakers. Once the Senate demonstrates it is able to pass the bill via reconciliation, the House will vote on the Senate legislation.
In our ongoing quest to keep tabs on how key Dems will vote, we've broken Dems into 4 categories based on their votes on the original health care bill, passed in Nov., and on the Stupak amendment, a measure to toughen abortion language that passed with overwhelming GOP support and 64 Dem votes.
Dems believe they have a total of 15 to 20 targets, "no" votes the first time around who can be persuaded to switch their positions. Those in the first category, members who voted against the bill and against the Stupak amendment, may be their easiest targets. Those in the second category, who voted against the measure but for the amendment, will be harder to win over.
GOPers are not without their own targets. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) claims he has up to a dozen votes among the second group, those who voted for health care but who are willing to vote against it if abortion language isn't strengthened. The third category include those members who voted for both the bill and the amendment, and the reservoir from which Stupak is likely to find his backers.
Finally, the fourth category will be harder for the GOP to win over. They include 17 junior Dems, some liberal, some centrist, who voted for the measure but against the Stupak amendment. The most effective argument to win over these members will be an appeal to their re-election chances.
Then again, the one member who voted for the bill and now says he will vote against it -- Rep. Mike Arcuri (D-NY) -- falls into this category, suggesting the GOP's target list is far wider than we lay out here.
Below the jump, our latest whip count. Click here for our first vote count, and for more background on how Speaker Nancy Pelosi wins the 216 votes she needs to pass the bill.
AG Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) has yet to publicly declare his GOV plans, but that doesn't mean his fundraising machine is slowing.
Major Dem players Bill and Maria Keating Titelman are hosting a $500-$5K per-person fundraiser for Cuomo at their NW Washington home Mar. 22 with Cuomo expected to be in attendance.
According to Opensecrets.org, the Titelmans are major donors, handing out checks to AG Martha Coakley (D-MA), Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA), Rep. Paul Hodes (D-NH 02), AG Jack Conway (D-KY), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) as well as Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-PA) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. Bill is an attorney and Maria is a consultant.
Co-hosts for the event include MPAA Chair and CEO/ex-Sec. of Agriculture/ex-Rep. Dan Glickman (D), Dem consultant Joe Eyer, government affairs and public policy attorney Doug Kantor, intellectual property attorney Daniel Mandil, lobbyist Amy Maxwell, public policy advisor Katie Whelan and congressional policy adviser Mike McKay.
Attendees can "co-host" for $5K, be a "patron" for $2.5K, act as a "supporter" for $1K and be a "friend" for $500.
The invitation e-mail for the event came on behalf of Andrew Cuomo 2010 from Matt Everett of the fundraising group Berger Hirschberg Strategies, whose clients included the presidential campaigns of Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) and ret. Gen. Wesley Clark (D).
A series of special elections this spring will give the GOP high-profile opportunities to take advantage of a favorable political landscape, but they will also put pressure on a party that has been singularly unsuccessful in winning back House seats.
Ex-Rep. Eric Massa's surprise retirement last week, and subsequent resignation, brings to 5 the number of special elections expected to occur before the Nov. midterms. And with at least 3 of those seats expected to be contested, the GOP has a chance to demonstrate their electoral advantages this year.
But despite Sen. Scott Brown's (R-MA) win earlier this year, the fact remains that the NRCC has a terrible record when it comes to special elections. The party has not won a seat since May '08, when it kept LA Gov. Bobby Jindal's (R) district in the fold.
Even that wasn't a solid win; the same day, Dems picked up a GOP-held seat in the neighboring LA district. It has been since June '06 that the GOP won a contested race, when Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-CA) beat Francine Busby (D) in a seat vacated by ex-Rep. Duke Cunningham (R). The party hasn't won a Dem-held seat since Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA) replaced the late Rep. Norman Sisisky (D) in '01.
"Just winning makes people happier, and they see momentum," Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) told Hotline OnCall. McCarthy, who is in charge of recruiting for the NRCC, touted the GOP's prospects in 2 of 3 competitive open seats while expressing concern about a third.
"They need a win here. They need it to show momentum," said ex-Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), a former NRCC chair. "I think they're likely to get [a win] just on the macro level, but they still need to run a campaign. And the Democrats know how to win a campaign."
The party is under pressure to actually win a race, according to top GOP strategists who asked for anonymity. The GOP will contest races in districts held by Massa, ex-Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) and the late Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) -- all seats where the party can win, but where victory is far from assured.
"House Republicans have tried to make the case, all the more so post-Brown, that they think they can somehow win anywhere in the country. In this environment the pressure is totally on them," said Ryan Rudominer, a DCCC spokesperson.
In HI, the GOP will lean on Honolulu City Councillor Charles Djou (R), a centrist GOPer running against ex-Rep. Ed Case (D) and state Senate pres. Colleen Hanabusa (D). Because of HI's election rules, there will be no runoff; the winner of the May 22 vote will take Abercrombie's seat, and GOPers hope Dems will split the vote to allow Djou a win in a district that ordinarily tilts toward Dems.
Dems have settled on ex-Murtha aide Mark Critz (D), while PA GOPers will choose their candidate on Thursday. But registration in the district tilts heavily toward Dems, and the fact that the May 18 special election falls on the same day as several contested Dem primaries gives the party a clear head start.
GOP strategists are quietly watching the race, but the NRCC has not made the decision to invest money in the seat. "Murtha's seat is a very difficult seat," lamented McCarthy.
But it's also the only district that voted for Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) in '04, only to vote for GOP nominee John McCain in '08. "It's not a lay-down, given the registration and the primary date," Davis said. "But the constituency in that district is the kind of constituency that Democrats have been losing."
Massa's resignation has scrambled the GOP field in NY-29, with some favoring Corning Mayor Tom Reed (R), who is already in the race, while others prefer Monroe Co. Exec. Maggie Brooks (R). Ex-Rep. Randy Kuhl (R), who lost the seat in '08, is also considering a comeback. If the GOP can avoid a repeat of the NY-23 imbroglio, the party stands a strong chance to win back a district that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) won in '08.
Making matters more difficult, there is no guarantee a special election will even occur. Gov. David Paterson (D) has the option to call a special, but he can also leave it vacant until voters pick a replacement for Massa in Nov.
Dems may have a slight lead in Gallup's inaugural weekly generic Cong. ballot tracking poll, but the survey also reveals a significant enthusiasm gap that threatens to imperil the party's hopes of averting an electoral disaster this fall.
The poll was conducted Mar. 1-7 among 1,585 registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.5%.
As with most generic ballot polls, each party nearly sweeps its own voters. Dems keep 92% of their voters, while GOPers hold 95% of theirs. Indies break 43%-37% for the GOP candidate.
But GOPers and GOP-leaning voters are far more excited about casting their votes in Nov. Fully 42% of GOPers describe themselves as "very enthusiastic" about the '10 elections, while just 24% of Dems feel that way. 44% of Dems aren't enthusiastic about voting, while just 30% of GOPers share that sentiment.
Gallup also points to a lack of enthusiasm among younger voters. Just 20% of voters aged 18-29 are very enthusiastic about voting, while the enthusiasm of older age groups ranges from 31%-39%.
As noted above, the poll was conducted among registered voters. Gallup intends to apply a likely-voter screen before the Nov. elections. They note that, on average, the GOP candidate gains 4 points in the final pre-election poll when such a screen is applied.
Gallup promises updates on the generic ballot and enthusiasm questions on a weekly basis between now and Nov.
Ex-Christian Coalition executive director Ralph Reed could be headed to DC -- not as a lobbyist or an advocate, but as a member of Congress.
Reed will announce tomorrow whether he will seek the seat held by retiring Rep. John Linder (R-GA), The Brody File reports this morning. His announcement will come via Twitter, Facebook and his website, which has some speculating that Reed will make the race.
GOP sources take the prospect seriously. Reed has been making calls to influential GA politicos to discuss the race, though he still remembers the bruising LG race he lost in '06, and he has ambitions to make his Faith and Freedom Coalition a national organization with serious sway over the GOP.
The eventual GOP nominee in Linder's Gwinnett Co. seat will be heavily favored in Nov. The district gave Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) 60% of the vote in '08, and Linder himself never had a problem winning re-election. And many believe Reed would be the instant front-runner if he joined the race.
But should the GOP be nervous about the prospects of Reed heading to Congress? He has close ties to jailed ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff, something that played a big role in his failed LG bid. Reed's return to politics would give Dems the opportunity to attack the GOP for a scandal that has already taken its toll.
Then again, Reed is one of the party's leading political strategists. If he wins the seat, he would quickly become an influential voice within the GOP conference.
NRSC chair John Cornyn indicated Monday he's got plenty of time to make the race against Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) competitive ahead of its June 11 filing deadline.
Top on the list appears to be ex-state Sen./2-time GOP GOV nominee Dino Rossi, who is considering the race.
"We did have a conversation," Rossi said of conferring with Cornyn about the race. "You never say never."
Rossi said he's gotten calls from all over the country encouraging him to run against Murray: "People I don't know, people I've never met -- you don't get that when you run for governor."
He said the dynamic developing is bigger than just anti-Dem, but centers on Murray's leadership position: "She's an appropriator, so she's one of those responsible for spending America into bankruptcy."
"We're not going to take any lessons on the economy from someone so out of touch that he wants to lower the minimum wage, deregulate industry, and weaken government oversight," DSCC spokesperson Eric Schultz retorted.
Rossi added that nearly every candidate now in the race, including state Sen. Don Benton (R), called him before launching their candidacies and have told him they would get out of the race if he got in.
But he noted that he has four children 19 and younger, and joked, "I do like having dinner at home right now." He went on, "I could run for governor again, Senate, or nothing at all, and I'm comfortable with all 3."
The argument for a Senate run now, he said, is that "the state is in need of help, and if something doesn't change up there, there might not be much of a path left."
Should Rossi decide to stay home, Cornyn said Monday, "There are others who are looking at it -- Susan Hutchinson -- and perhaps there will be others that step up before that filing deadline."
Hutchinson is a philanthropist and former local news anchor whose husband is an executive with Boeing. She waged an unsuccessful battle to become King Co. executive in '09, but she has yet to make up her mind.
"I have decided that I've not decided yet," Hutchison said in a brief interview. She suggested Rossi's answer might be more important than her own.
"World News" led with an investigation into osteoporosis medications. "Evening News" led with Toyota's continuing safety problems. "Nightly News" led with Pres. Obama's Philly health care speech.
FL Gov. Charlie Crist (R) talked with FNC's Van Susteren about his SEN battle against ex-FL House Speaker Marco Rubio (R) in an interview that aired 3/8 p.m.
Crist, on Rubio: "He's trying to pawn himself off as a fiscal conservative. And yet just in recent weeks, about two weeks ago, it's come out in news accounts he had a Republican Party of Florida credit card that he charged a $130 haircut, or maybe it was a back wax -- we're not really sure what all he got at that place. But in addition to that --"
Van Susteren: "Wait a second, stop. A back wax? Wait a second."
Crist: "I don't know what it was, you know?"
Van Susteren: "I know, but was there a suggestion it was for a back wax, or a haircut? Or are you being flip?"
Crist: "I don't know what it was. Initially, we were told it was a haircut. And then he said, 'Well no, it wasn't a haircut.' Then he had the gall to go on [FNC's] Neil Cavuto's show and said it was his money. It was a credit card from the Republican Party. It was party donors' money. The detachment from reality is stunning to me. And to try to say that you're a fiscal conservative, yet you spend $130 for maybe a haircut and maybe other things -- I don't know what you do at a salon when you're are a guy" ("On the Record," FNC, 3/8).
After the jump, more from Crist's interview, Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) defends his voting record, and the exec. ed. of the National Enquirer discusses his pub's Pulitzer bid.
Good Tuesday morning. Eric Massa is a former member of Congress, but he's an impending guest on Glenn Beck's radio show. We can't wait.
Here's today's Starting Lineup, featuring the people who will play a role in politics today:
THE CHC: GOP strategists know they need to make inroads among Hispanic voters if they are to avoid pushing away a large and growing segment of the electorate. Many suggest making those inroads via social issues; that Hispanic voters tend to be more socially conservative than the rest of the electorate is a common refrain among those who have studied poll results.
In the health care debate, that has become evident: 7 Dem members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus voted in favor of the Stupak amendment and in favor of the final reform bill. And if the GOP is able to make inroads among that group, Speaker Nancy Pelosi's path to the 216 votes she needs for final passage will become all the more difficult.
PRO-LIFE DEMS: In fact, those who backed Rep. Bart Stupak's (D-MI) amendment are going to be the GOP's best options as they try to sway votes against the proposal. 40 members voted for both the amendment and the final reform package, and already some of those members have said they may oppose the Senate bill because of the lack of stronger anti-abortion language.
Stupak claims he has 11 other members ready to vote against the bill rather than wait for the package of legislative fixes that will become the reconciliation package. The Susan B. Anthony list, a pro-life group that supports GOPers, has identified 18 members, including Stupak, who have strong pro-life records. Dems are trying to find the votes they need without Stupak's gang, but if the numbers get tough, they may have to cut a deal.
Keep an eye on Hotline OnCall's whip count, which we will update each day during the debate as Dems struggle to find the 216 votes needed to pass the bill.
ENERGY SEC. STEVEN CHU: As if Pres. Obama didn't have enough to deal with. Remember the cap and trade debate? We're sure a number of House Dems do. It was one of the early tough votes vulnerable incumbents had to take, and a number of members weren't happy when the roll was called, especially given the snail's pace the Senate took in developing their own version.
When is an endorsement not really an endorsement, anymore? When NRSC Chair John Cornyn gives every indication, as he did today, that he kinda regrets endorsing FL Gov. Charlie Crist (R) for SEN.
During a pen-and-pad session with reporters this a.m., Cornyn, trying to navigate through a FL SEN primary that has turned upside down since his cmte reflexively endorsed then-frontrunner Crist over former state Hous Speaker Marco Rubio (R) last summer, admitted he's only sticking w/Crist because he's "honor-bound" to do so. But he also dismissively explained the process by which he chose Crist over Rubio last year.
Cornyn: "I looked around to see who was the most popular Republican in the state and somebody who was a good fundraiser, and that was Charlie Crist. And selfishly, given the limited resources we have and the national scope of our responsibilities here, I didn't want to spend any money in Florida if we didn't have to to help. So Charlie Crist seemed like the ideal candidate. This had nothing to do with Marco Rubio, who I subsequently met and have a lot of respect for."
Cornyn then took additional teeth out of the NRSC's endorsement, saying it doesn't mean they'll spend any money in the primary. And, he said, "it doesn't mean we're going to be saying anything bad about Marco Rubio."
The extent to which Cornyn has diminished his cmte's already questionable level of influence in GOP primaries cannot be underestimated. The NRSC chair not only neutralized the significance of his FL nod, but he also lifted the curtain on criteria upon which many establishment endorsementsare based. In a year of when establishment candidates are already on the defensive, Cornyn's words didn't help.
The PA Dem Exec. Cmte this p.m. picked ex-Murtha staffer Mark Critz (D) to be the party's PA-12 special election standard bearer, reaffirming the choice local Dems made on 3/6. According to PoliticsPA, the Critz received 30 votes, ex-Treas. Barbara Hafer (D) took 18, and ex-Navy vet. Ryan Bucchianeri (D) 1.
"For years I've been working hard to help bring jobs and economic development to our communities," Critz said in a statement following tonight's vote. "While I'm proud of what we've accomplished, more needs to be done so that we can get folks back to work and get our economy back on track."
Critz also won the majority of support of local Dems in a 3/6 non-binding straw poll, and those results were thought to play a big role in tonight's decision. But immediately after the 3/6 vote, PA Dem Chair T.J. Rooney reiterated the point that the state cmte -- not local Dems -- would pick the nominee.
While Critz has the support of much of the establishment in the CD -- including of Murtha's widow and several prominent Dems -- Hafer worked in the campaign's closing days to raise doubts about Critz's electability, pointing to his testimony in front of the ethics cmte during an investigation into then-Rep. John Murtha (D) and his earmarks. Murtha was exonerated, but Hafer called on Critz to release his testimony in that case.
She also jumped on reports that a company where Critz worked as a bookkeeper had tax liens filed against it earlier this decade. Critz promised to answer those charges, but didn't do so before tonight's vote.
Still, Hafer, Bucchianeri and Cambria Co. Controller Ed Cernic (D) have all vowed to fight for the party nod, which will also be decided on 5/18. Filing for that race closes tomorrow.
Rooney, in a statement released after the vote, called on Dems to unite behind Critz. "Democrats across the 12th District should know that Mark Critz will be a phenomenal candidate for this important campaign," Rooney wrote. "Now is the time for Democrats across the district to stand behind Mark in the same committed way that he has stood with them over the years."
Meanwhile, Critz will learn who his special election challenger will be on 3/11, when local GOPers meet to pick between businessman Tim Burns (R) and '08 nominee William Russell (R).
NRSC chair John Cornyn thinks Dems haven't learned anything from Sen. Scott Brown's (R-MA) win in Jan., and he's OK with it.
Speaking to reporters at a briefing this morning, Cornyn posited that if health care reform passes, it will be "the No. 1 issue that the election is won or lost on in November."
"Obviously the No. 1 issue that the American people care about is jobs with the 9.7% unemployment rate," he said. He pointed out that Pres. Obama said during his SOTU address that the government would turn its attention to jobs but instead, health care has gotten more of the focus.
Cornyn wants GOPers to kill health care reform -- so long as they take pains to explain how they'd like to restart the process. And if it does pass, he presumes that GOPers will campaign on trying to repeal it.
As for a larger bank of issues, Cornyn wavered on whether GOPers should lay out a comprehensive agenda, though he did say that Brown's focus on national security, fiscal responsibility and stopping health care reform in its current form was a good mix.
"I think there is some talk about having another sort of contract," he said, referring to the highly successful "Contract with America" that GOP leaders unveiled in Sept. 1994. "And I believe there will be a move toward trying to come up with a sort of consensus document, but I think this is different from 1994 in that I don't think that the voters are looking for Washington insiders to tell them what their agenda should be."
Instead, he hinted that he liked the slightly different "Contract from America," an idea that's been floated more recently to take advantage of listening to voters. Similarly, he called the Tea Party movement important in that regular citizens who may previously not have been engaged in politics are "taking to the streets."
After the jump, Cornyn offers his thoughts on several hot races.
Dems are aiming to pass health care legislation, once and for all, by Easter recess. But for all their optimistic talk, one thing remains clear: They don't have the votes just yet. Then again, they don't have a bill yet, either.
The first step of what promises to be an arduous process will come when Dem leaders unveil the package of proposed measures to fix the legislation and make it more palatable to some House lawmakers. Once the Senate demonstrates it is able to pass the bill via reconciliation, the House will vote on the Senate legislation.
Still, the math for Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Maj. Leader Steny Hoyer and House Maj. Whip James Clyburn isn't adding up at the moment. In order to keep an ongoing tally, Hotline OnCall brings you our whip count, the list of Dems who may be vulnerable to overtures from Dem leaders and the WH -- or to overtures from GOPers who continue to believe they can defeat the bill.
We've broken Dems into 4 categories based on their votes on the original health care bill, passed in Nov., and on the Stupak amendment, a measure to toughen abortion language that passed with overwhelming GOP support and 64 Dem votes.
Dems believe they have a total of 15 to 20 targets, "no" votes the first time around who can be persuaded to switch their positions. Those in the first category, members who voted against the bill and against the Stupak amendment, may be their easiest targets. Those in the second category, who voted against the measure but for the amendment, will be harder to win over.
GOPers are not without their own targets. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) claims he has up to a dozen votes among the second group, those who voted for health care but who are willing to vote against it if abortion language isn't strengthened. The third category include those members who voted for both the bill and the amendment, and the reservoir from which Stupak is likely to find his backers.
Finally, the fourth category will be harder for the GOP to win over. They include 16 House Dem freshmen, some liberal, some centrist, who voted for the measure but against the Stupak amendment. The most effective argument to win over these members will be an appeal to their re-election chances.
Then again, the one member who voted for the bill and now says he will vote against it -- Rep. Mike Arcuri (D-NY) -- falls into this category, suggesting the GOP's target list is far wider than we lay out here.
A reminder of where we stand now: Health care legislation passed by a 220-215 margin on Nov. 7. Since then, Reps. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), Robert Wexler (D-FL) and Eric Massa (D-NY) have resigned. Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) passed away. Of that group, Abercrombie, Wexler and Murtha voted in favor. Massa voted against. Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao (R-LA), who voted for the bill, has said he will vote against.
That means Pelosi has lost 4 votes, bringing her to 216. Because there are only 431 members of the House, thanks to the vacancies, Pelosi needs exactly that number to pass reform. Arcuri's decision today brings the number of yes votes down to 215 -- one below the number needed to pass.
Enter Stupak, who claims to have a dozen total votes against the bill if abortion language remains the same. For each member Stupak has convinced to switch their vote, Dems will need to convince another "no" voter to vote yes the second time around.
As always, we will update the list over the course of the next month, as health care legislation moves through Congress. Check out the full chart after the jump.
The NRCC is advising candidates to slam incumbents on health care in hopes they can impact legislation before Congress, according to a memo distributed today.
"Over the next several weeks Republican candidates have a rare opportunity to affect the outcome of legislation that is currently in front of Congress. Make no mistake about it: The last front in the health care fight is in the House of Representatives," NRCC deputy executive director Johnny DeStefano writes in the memo.
And though the Senate version of the bill House Dems are being asked to vote for would cost far less than the measure the House passed in Nov., GOPers will paint any flip-flop as a vote for some of the Senate bill's most controversial items, including sweeteners aimed at winning over Sens. Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA).
"In addition to the broad political toxicity of the Democrats' health care agenda, a vote for this bill opens an entirely new line of attack on House Democrats," DeStefano writes. "By supporting this bill, your opponent would go on record in support of the Cornhusker Kickback, the Louisiana Purchase, and every other backroom deal cut to sneak the legislation through the Senate."
The NRCC is urging candidates to hold town hall meetings, ask their supporters to write letters to incumbents and to focus virtually non-stop on health care, through earned media and social networking. The GOP even offers ways to turn a vote against health care into a political liability.
"Candidates running against Democrats who previously voted 'NO' can keep them in that column by reminding voters that your opponent could be preparing to make the Democrats' health care agenda the prevailing law of the land. These Democrats might think that they have a free ride since they are not under direct fire for a previous 'YES' vote, but they must be held accountable for their possible support of this bill and their party's broader push for unpopular health care legislation," wrote DeStefano, who is also House Min. Leader John Boehner's political director. "And regardless of their earlier vote, these Democrats should not be let off the hook for supporting Speaker Pelosi as their party leader and enabling their party to enact a radical big-government agenda."
Dems argue the attacks won't work, and that the short-term wins for the GOP will eventually morph into long-term victory for their party.
""The DCCC and our 4 million grassroots supporters will continue fighting back against the shameless fear mongering and outrageous lies being told by House Republicans, their flawed candidates, and right wing extremist groups on behalf of health insurance companies," said Ryan Rudominer, a DCCC spokesperson.
But Pelosi, House Maj. Leader Steny Hoyer and the WH are still canvassing for Dem votes. Despite pledges that the legislation will be finished by Easter recess, it remains an albatross for incumbents seeking another term.
As Pres. Obama makes his latest health care pitch, several Dems who will have to answer for the legislation didn't bother to join him on the first leg of his trip.
Obama is in Glenside, PA, today, before traveling to the St. Louis area tomorrow. But Reps. Patrick Murphy (D-PA), Chris Carney (D-PA) and Tim Holden (D-PA), 3 incumbents who could face tough re-election fights, were not expected to attend the event, according to the WH.
Carney represents a district several hours north of the Philadelphia region, while Holden's seat is north and west of the city. They can both use geography as an excuse for skipping out, even though the House has no votes slated today, though their spokespeople did not immediately return calls for comment.
Murphy, on the other hand, is handing out a $300K grant for first responders in his Bucks Co. district, an event that has been in the works for weeks. What's more, a local medic was killed late Sunday night in Bensalem Township.
Still, Obama had plenty of other fans at Arcadia Univ., where he delivered his defense of health care reform. Obama even managed to bring together bitter rivals Sen. Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA), who are battling in a Dem primary over Specter's SEN seat.
GOPers who are keeping an eye on Dems, optimistic they will be able to use health care as a cudgel against the majority in Nov., will also take note of attendence at Obama's stop in the St. Louis area tomorrow.
The party is targeting Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO), whose district takes in an area south of the city along the Mississippi River. And Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL), who represents the district just across the river in the neighboring state, is one of the key Dems who voted for the Stupak amendment and may be willing to oppose the Senate version of the legislation without stronger anti-abortion language.
Meanwhile, Obama will hold a fundraiser for Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) while he's in town. McCaskill, a close ally of the WH, is willing to associate herself with Obama, and the GOP will suggest the same about Sec/State Robin Carnahan (D).
Carnahan raised money with VP Joe Biden in Oct. and with Pres. Obama during a visit last spring, and she will benefit from Obama's visit this time. The first $4,800 from each donation will go to McCaskill's campaign, but the rest of the money will be funneled to the DSCC, which sees the race between Carnahan and Rep. Roy Blunt (R) as a top pickup opportunity this year.
NRSC chair John Cornyn sounds less than enthusiastic about his once-ringing endorsement of FL Gov. Charlie Crist (R).
Meeting with reporters today, Cornyn said he is "honor-bound" to leave his endorsement as it is. Crist faces a tough primary against ex-state House Speaker Marco Rubio, a darling of the conservative right. Cornyn is not going to lift a finger against the insurgent Rubio.
Cornyn explained that he made the call before the primary became a race, when he "selfishly" went looking for the most popular politician who could raise the most money -- hardly a vociferous defense of the candidate Cornyn has long touted as a virtual shoo-in for the seat.
"I looked around to see who was the most popular Republican in the state and somebody who was a good fundraiser, and that was Charlie Crist. And selfishly, given the limited resources we have and the national scope of our responsibilities here, I didn't want to spend any money in Florida if we didn't have to to help. So Charlie Crist seemed like the ideal candidate. This had nothing to do with Marco Rubio, who I subsequently met and have a lot of respect for," Cornyn told reporters this morning.
"So I think our posture here is I endorsed Gov. Crist early on, really before this became a real contest. I'm not going to do anything to change that. I think I'm honor-bound to leave it as it is, but it doesn't mean that we're going to be spending any money in the primary," Cornyn added. "It doesn't mean we're going to be saying anything bad about Marco Rubio. To the contrary, I think Marco Rubio, if he wins the nomination, will beat Kendrick Meek (D)."
The good news for Republicans, he said, is that their maneuvering kept FL CFO Alex Sink (D) out of the race and helped shaped the playing field. Sink is the likely Dem GOV nominee.
Rumors have run rampant that Crist could bolt to become an independent candidate -- something Crist's camp has denied vehemently. Cornyn said he's heard nothing to suggest that Crist would leave the GOP.
The DCCC will hand responsibility for a key offensive program to 4 younger members who have already shown a penchant for getting involved, even as the party faces a troubling election cycle that will sap Dem efforts to attack GOP incumbents.
Reps. Bruce Braley (D-IA), Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), Patrick Murphy (D-PA) and Donna Edwards (D-MD) will lead the DCCC's "Red to Blue" program, chair Chris Van Hollen announced Monday.
Braley, a 2nd-term incumbent who snagged a GOP-held seat in '06, is a DCCC vice chair. In fact, with just 3 terms under her belt, Schwartz is the group's longest-serving member.
They will be tasked with efforts to target GOP incumbents for defeat; early committee focus has been on Reps. Anh "Joseph" Cao (R-LA), Jim Gerlach (R-PA) and Charlie Dent (R-PA), and on seats being vacated by Reps. Mike Castle (R-DE) and Mark Kirk (R-IL).
But in such a negative political environment for Dems, the party is likely to spend much more of its money to save incumbents. Van Hollen has tapped Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Steve Israel (D-NY) to head re-election efforts for members who are not on the Frontline list of vulnerable incumbents.
Wasserman Schultz is a co-chair of the DCCC, while Israel headed the committee's recruiting efforts. Their work together this cycle will be informative; both are seen as likely candidates to replace Van Hollen as DCCC chair once this cycle ends.
From Friday's "Last Call" feature for Hotline subscribers:
Shot: "This country has no place and no patience for those who root for failure" -- Senate Maj. Leader Harry Reid, responding to criticism of his statement that today's jobs report was "really good" ("RalstonFlash," 3/5).
Chaser: "This war is lost and the surge is not accomplishing anything" -- Reid, on Iraq ("Political Hotsheet," 4/20/07).
Brutal. More on Reid's ill-planned comment on the Senate floor on Friday here.
Embattled Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) lashed out in an emotional radio appearance Sunday, accusing Dem leaders of what he suggested was an orchestrated campaign to force his resignation.
"There's a reason that this has all happened, frankly one that I had not realized," Massa said on WKPQ radio on Sunday. "Mine is now the deciding vote on the health care bill, and this administration and this House leadership have said, quote unquote, they will stop at nothing to pass this health care bill. And now they've gotten rid of me and it'll pass."
Massa addressed rumors circulating on blogs about his personal behavior, including incidents during an informal Navy ceremony in '83 on the USS New Jersey and one that occurred in a state room later during his Navy career. He insisted he had done nothing uncommon, insisting his sin was foul language.
A complaint before the House ethics committee, he said, stemmed from a wedding Massa attended over New Years, when he made an inappropriate comment to an aide, according to Roll Call, which first reported the radio program.
Massa maintained his comments were inappropriate, but he blamed "political correctness" and accused Dems of a setup. Massa voted against health care legislation in Nov., and he has not been a reliable vote for Dem leadership. That, he said, has put a target on his back.
"When I voted against the cap and trade bill, the phone rang and it was the chief of staff to the president of the United States of America, Rahm Emanuel, and he started swearing at me in terms and words that I hadn't heard since that crossing the line ceremony on the USS New Jersey in 1983," Massa said. "And I gave it right back to him, in terms and words that I know are physically impossible."
"If Rahm Emanuel wants to come after me, maybe he ought to hold himself to the same standards I'm holding myself to and he should resign," Massa said.
Massa slammed House Maj. Leader Steny Hoyer for discussing a House ethics committee inquiry, accusing Hoyer of lying in an effort to eliminate an opponent of health care. Hoyer said last week he heard in early Feb. about allegations against Massa, and that he told Massa's office to report the allegations to the ethics committee.
"Steny Hoyer has never said a single word to me at all, never, not once," Massa said. "Never before in the history of the House of Representatives has a sitting leader of the Democratic Party discussed allegations of House investigations publicly, before findings of fact. Ever."
"I was set up for this from the very, very beginning," he added. "The leadership of the Democratic Party have become exactly what they said they were running against."
Massa bemoaned the state of the nation's politics, which he said is perpetuated by the constant need for money to run for re-election. And, he said, he has been made an example by Dem leadership.
"There is not a single member of the Democratic freshman class whi is going to vote against this health care bill now that they've got me," he said. "Eric Massa's probably not going to go back to Congress, because the only way I would go back there would be as an independent. A pox on both parties."
Massa has held the radio program, in which he took calls from constituents, during his 14 months in office. He said yesterday's episode would be his last as an incumbent.
Good Monday morning. The one thing the Oscars does every year is make us aware just how many good flicks we missed.
Here's today's Starting Lineup, previewing the people who will make news in politics today:
TOP WH AIDES: Success has a thousand fathers. Failure is an orphan. Unless you're in DC. Then, losing a battle or falling short of goals means someone's getting the blame. Pres. Obama is famous for his aversion to drama, at least during the campaign, but now drama pervades every level of the admin.
Is it CoS Rahm Emanuel's fault? Some Dems think Emanuel has not been forceful enough in pushing Obama to adopt a more politically winning tone while others accuse him of leaks aimed at bolstering his reputation, all as rumors swirl that other top aides are angling to get him canned. Or is it David Axelrod who deserves the blame? The old Chicago hand could be out of his depth in DC, others say, a blind loyalist unable to meld the above-it-all Obama with the harsh political realities of legislative horse-trading.
With sinking approval ratings and a signature accomplishment still resting on shaky ground amid legislative disputes, top WH aides are now subject to the crossfire that has consumed other admins. There's one thing the admin can learn from its predecessor: Everyone is in the same boat, and if it rocks too much, the boat could flip 4 years early.
SENS. CHUCK SCHUMER AND LINDSEY GRAHAM: The GOP was done in by years of incompetent management of natural disasters and 2 unpopular wars. But what may have done more to hurt the party in the long run was Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner's (R-WI) '06 drive for immigration reform. In '08, the GOP saw its vote share among Hispanic voters plummet to new lows, and top strategists say the damage could be permanent, if the party can't find new ways to appeal to the nation's fastest-growing minority population -- and, they suggest, tough talk on immigration isn't the right approach.
It's a third rail in politics, one that makes the righty base rise up and, as demonstrated by protests 4 years ago, can enrage the left just as much. Now, in an election year in which not much is expected to be accomplished, Pres. Obama will meet with the NY Dem and the SC GOPer to talk about their renewed efforts to come up with a compromise solution, during a sit-down at the WH today. It's doubtful that any immigration measure will be passed this year, given the political toxicity the issue engenders.
This year, though they face an excellent electoral climate, any GOPer willing to negotiate with the WH will find themselves in even more dangerous territory. Though the Tea Party movement focuses more on spending and taxes than it has on social issues, some in the organization are anti-illegal immigration advocates. The Tea Party hasn't had a lot of success at the ballot box yet, but they could give some GOP incumbents headaches if they decide to punish anyone willing to take a comprehensive approach rather than an enforcement-only look at the issue.
The chaos among House Ways and Means Cmte Dems is not over, according to a well-sourced report by veteran Boston Globe reporter Susan Milligan.
Her clip, which does not appear to have received much Washington-based attention since its Friday publication, reports that Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) "is planning to seek the chairmanship of the powerful Ways and Means Committee later this year or early next year, once the House resolves ethics questions about the panel's former leader, Charles Rangel."
Among those quoted favorably on Neal is Rep. John Larson (D-CT), who chairs the House Democratic Caucus and is a close ally of Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Larson, whose Hartford-based district borders Neal's Springfield-based district, also serves on Ways and Means and is a long-time friend of Neal. "I think Richie is probably the most capable and knowledgeable person that we have on the Ways and Means Committee,'' Larson told the Globe. "I think he has extraordinary ability, and I think he has the confidence of the members of the Ways and Means Committee."
Although her piece did not quote Neal, Milligan wrote that he did not dispute reports of his serious interest in the chairmanship. "And [Neal] said he was not deterred by Pelosi's decision to give the chairmanship temporarily to Levin," the Globe reported. The top post on Thursday went to Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), based on seniority--at least, in part.
This development is ominous for House Democrats for several reasons.
-- The expressed interest by Neal and his friends is disruptive for Pelosi, who is coming off a very rocky week--including the Democratic Caucus's forced dismissal of Reps. Rangel and Pete Stark (D-CA) as Ways and Means chairman despite the Speaker's initial support for each. Now, a third chairman (Levin) is being undermined for reasons that seem driven mostly by ambition as opposed to real policy differences. Neal, 61, has not been shy in recent months in signaling his hopes for the chairmanship. This adds to the House Democrats' instability at Ways and Means, and beyond.
-- Neal's interest makes it harder for Levin to settle in and perform his already daunting tasks at Ways and Means. In addition to finding his way on various issues and running the committee, Levin must decide whether and how to take on a challenger in a contest later this year. Another relevant issue, of course, will be whether Democrats retain House control.
--Plus, Levin is 78, recently widowed, and he faces the prospect of significant difficulties in '12 redistricting--in which his district and Detroit's two inner-city districts, now held by Democratic Reps. John Conyers and Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, each must gain about 100,000 people, thus pushing Levin farther into the suburbs. Or, Levin might find himself forced to run against another incumbent.
--These factors suggest that Levin may soon be a lame duck.
As the Globe's Milligan noted, another potential complication might be resentment over the planning of Pelosi allies to oust another senior House Dem from Michigan, following the successful Caucus challenge in November '08 by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) to remove long-time Energy and Commerce Committee chairman John Dingell (D-MI). MA already has one influential House chairman--Rep. Barney Frank of Financial Services. Plus two MA Dems are next in line at other powerful House committees: Reps. Ed Markey at Energy and Commerce, and Jim McGovern at Rules.
In a non-binding preference poll, local Dems this morning picked ex-Murtha aide Mark Critz (D) to be the party's nominee in the 5/18 special election to replace the late-Rep. Jack Murtha (D-PA 12), according to pa2010.
It was the expected outcome, as Critz had locked up key local support -- including an endorsement from Murtha's widow, Joyce. Ex-Treas Barbara Hafer (D) also seemed to expect the result, as she spent the days leading up to the convo. bashing the process.
Critz won 46 votes at the convo, beating Hafer, Cambria Co. Controller Ed Cernic (D)and Navy vet. Ryan Bucchianeri (D) who trailed with 22, 14 and 1 votes, respectively.
But today's vote isn't the final word in the process. State Dems will meet on 3/8 to officially name the nominee, and PA Dem Chair TJ Rooney issued a statement after today's vote to reinforce that point. "The members of the Executive Committee will certainly take these results under consideration this Monday when they decide our nominee," Rooney said. "It should be noted that the final decision rests solely with the 50 members of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party Executive Committee."
GOPers will nominate a candidate on 3/11.
The Dem process, though, has caused divisions that may hurt the party's nominee in May. All but two members of the Washington Co. Dem delegation -- who represented the third largest delegation of the CD's nine counties -- boycotted today's meeting. Leaders there objected to the inclusion of state cmte people participating in the process.
And in the days leading up to today's convo, Hafer also attacked the process -- and Critz. She pointed to an interview Critz conducted last weekend with PoliticsPA in which he said he had 50 of the 100 votes at the convo "locked up." That was several days before the state party cmte released the official list of delegates to the convo. "I think the southwest caucus vote is flawed and non-transparent and non-democratic," Hafer told pa2010.
She also took aim at Critz's past work, including with the revered Murtha, in order to cast doubt on his electability. She asked Critz to release the testimony that he gave last year to the House ethics cmte, which was conducting a probe into earmarks. She also asked the cmte to release Murtha's testimony to the panel (he was ultimately exonerated by the cmte). In a CD that easily re-elected Murtha despite ethics accusations, it was a risky move to take.
Critz has embraced his ties to Murtha, touting his work in the CD and the backing of Joyce Murtha. He also has plenty of local establishment support; Ex-LG Mark Singel (D) -- who was considered the party's top contender after Murtha's passing -- dropped out and endorsed him.
If she loses the special election bid, Hafer has vowed to campaign for the 5/18 primary (held the same day as the special), and said she has $125K lined up in contributions for that race. If she's in that position, and uses those funds to hammer on Critz's negatives, she could do much damage to his special election race.
Critz, meanwhile, has announced he's raised over $100K for his bid. And considering his ties to Murtha and the overwhelming Dem registration advantage in the CD, he should have a leg up in the special election, should the local Dem vote be ratified by the state cmte on 3/8.
GOPers will pick a nominee on 3/8 between the party's two frontrunners: businessman Tim Burns (R) and '08 nominee Bill Russell (R).
Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-IA) has filed to run for re-election, a move that appears to dash the GOP's hopes that the 76-year-old incumbent would retire and leave an open seat ripe for the taking.
Rumors of Boswell's retirement pop up every two years, but this cycle they were particularly strong, fueled by talk of polls testing potential Dem replacements for Boswell.
The overall environment for Dems has also contributed to the feeling that Boswell would decide to walk away. His marginal Des Moines-based CD gave Pres. Obama 54% in '08, and George W. Bush won it with 50% in '04. It's Cook PVI rating is a D+1.
Furthermore, Boswell seems to have his most difficult re-election contests in mid-term elections. In '02 and '06, he didn't take more than 53%. In '04 and '08, he's won with more than 55%.
A strong group of GOPers have lined up to take on Boswell, and state Sen. Brad Zaun (R) and ex-IA State Univ. wrestling coach Jim Gibbons (R) lead the field. Zaun would appear to start with the highest name ID (he recently released a poll showing him with a big primary lead), but Gibbons has impressed with his fundraising. He out-raised Boswell in the 4thQ, pulling in over $200K, a number that dwarfed the GOP field. That number was strong enough to put him on the NRCC's "Young Guns" program.
Boswell's decision to seek re-election may put a bit of a damper on the GOP's chances here, and Boswell starts off with the advantage. But considering the current environment for Dems, and the strong GOP field, this seat will surely be in play this cycle.
Your Hotline OnCall editor writes in this week's National Journal:
Conventional wisdom holds that a party out of power can more easily win an open gubernatorial seat than defeat a sitting governor. But with an ailing economy and several incumbents facing personal challenges of their own making, governors seeking re-election are some of the most endangered political animals of the year.
Four years ago, the 11 governors who were first elected in 2006 were their party's future. Many of them were seen as possible national ticket leaders and as chief executives whose innovative state policies would play well nationally. Now they're facing the fights of their political lives, and many first-term governors will not get a second chance.
It does not help that some of those governors will go before voters and ask for another term with few accomplishments behind them. The struggling economy has forced most states to focus on cutting costs and raising revenue, rather than on the ambitious agendas that their governors once hoped to pursue.
The economic recession "certainly slowed" Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley's agenda, he said in an interview. O'Malley, a Democrat, ticked off a list of things he would like to do if he had more budgetary leeway: cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay area; promoting cover crops that reduce nutrient runoff and prevent soil erosion; and encouraging smart and sustainable growth in Baltimore and its inner beltway region. These would all be priorities, he said, "if we had more flexibility in our budget."
"We've assumed that we will have a very tough race, given the nature of the economy," O'Malley added. "Anyone who is in office will undergo intense scrutiny in these midterms because we haven't had an economic contraction like this since the Great Depression."
Across the country, governors running for re-election find themselves in jeopardy. In Iowa, polls show Democratic Gov. Chet Culver badly trailing former Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, who ran the Hawkeye State for four terms in the 1980s and 1990s. In Ohio, GOP former Rep. John Kasich is running close to, if not ahead of, Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland. And in Massachusetts, Democrat Deval Patrick has seen his poll numbers drop as he faces challenges from a Republican and an independent candidate.
...
Democrats and Republicans will battle over 37 governorships this year, including at least 24 open seats. (Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal, a Democrat, is fighting his state's term-limits law in court.) The Democratic Governors' Association and the Republican Governors Association have raised record sums this year; because they are able to raise money from corporations, each has more money in the bank than its national party has.
Like 2010 Senate and House races, the contests for governor appear to hold clear advantages for Republicans. The Cook Political Report ranks four Democratic-held seats as leaning Republican or likely to turn Republican. It rates 17 seats -- seven held by Democrats and 10 by Republicans -- as toss-ups.
Statewide polls show that the economy remains the greatest concern of most voters. Even though the recession goes far beyond a single state's economy, and it began before incumbents won office the first time, voters are not looking to the past. Polls show that the public still overwhelmingly blames President Bush or Congress for the economic slowdown but expects governors to come up with plans to bounce back; that, in essence, is why they were elected in the first place.
"The average person on the street who doesn't have a job and who's lost their health insurance and who's worried about their family isn't interested in hearing about whose fault it is. They want their jobs back," said Democratic consultant David Kenney, who guided Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter to a surprisingly big win in 2006. Kenney said that Democrats cannot "allow ourselves to get trapped in this narrative of explaining that it's not our fault, because people don't want to hear that."
...
To Kenney, the dangers of looking backward and casting blame are unmistakable. After all, the last time a Democratic president failed to offer a forward-looking solution, Jimmy Carter and his party took an electoral drubbing. "We can't do the 'malaise' speech," Kenney said.
Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) will resign Monday at 5pm, a source close to the embattled incumbent tells Hotline OnCall.
Massa has been pressured by House Dems to step aside amid an ethics controversy that caused him to announce earlier this week he would not run for a second term.
Earlier this week, the House ethics committee confirmed it was looking in to allegations against Massa. Those allegations reportedly include sexual harassment of a member of the Congressman's staff.
Massa's decision to retire came as a surprise to both parties. While he said his decision was based on a recurrence of cancer, the ethics committee investigation made Dems push him out the door.
In a statement posted on his website, Massa maintained his medical issues were his reason for stepping down, but for the first time he acknowledged the ethics committee investigation.
"After I decided not to run again I was told, for the first time, that a member of my staff believed I had made statements that made him feel 'uncomfortable.' I was told that a report had been filed with the Congressional Ethics Committee. At no point prior to this had any member of the Ethics Committee communicated with me directly - if [sic] fact I first read it on the internet," Massa said in the statement.
"In fact, there is no doubt that this Ethics issue is my fault and mine alone. But in the incredibly toxic atmosphere that is Washington D.C., with the destruction of our elected leaders having become a blood sport, especially in talk radio and on the internet, there is also no doubt that an Ethics investigation would tear my family and my staff apart," Massa said. "My difficulties are of my own making. Period."
Massa's resignation doesn't necessarily mean there will be a special, as state law doesn't require that Gov. David Paterson (D) call one. If he does choose to declare a special, he'll have to issue a proclamation setting the date of the election. The election will then be held between 30-40 days from the date of that proclamation.
If there is a special election, it would be the fifth such contest between now and Nov. There will be a 4/13 contest to replace Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL), where Dems are strongly favored, and two May contested specials in HI and PA. Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA) plans to resign at the end of Mar., and a date has not yet been picked for an election to fill that heavily GOP seat.
Before the news of Massa's resignation hit today, candidates were already emerging for the open seat contest. The GOPer on the top of the party's wish list -- Monroe Co. Exec. Maggie Brooks (R) -- appears ready to make a decision within the week. If she doesn't run, there are a bevy of legislators ready to jump into the contest.
But Corning Mayor Tom Reed (R) has been in the race for months, and appears loathe to exit. (For more, check out our earlier coverage of the emerging GOP field)
On the Dem side, Massa's pick appears to be Hornell Mayor Shawn Hogan (D), but he has yet to decide on a bid. Assemb. David Koon (D), though, has told county chairs he'll run. And several other legislators are also taking a look at the contest.
A special would benefit GOPers, should Brooks -- with her considerable name ID in the CD's largest county -- get into the race. She should have the ability to raise a quick amount of money for the race as well. Reed has been a solid candidate, but his fundraising isn't particularly strong, and county chairs -- who would pick a nominee for a special election -- would surely favor Brooks over Reed.
State Sen. Kirk Dillard (R) conceded the IL GOV GOP primary to state Sen. Bill Brady (R) this afternoon, just hours after the IL Board of Elections declared Brady the official winner.
Brady beat Dillard by 193 votes, a margin of .02%. Dillard cited the need for party cohesion and the prohibitively high cost of a statewide recount as reasons to drop his bid.
"As we have seen by the shrinking totals, from 450 votes on election night to 193 this morning, it's important to count every vote accurately," Dillard said. "That's all I ever wanted."
Dillard said he would "help Sen. Brady in any way I can to ensure the Republican Party wins back the governor's office in November." He thanked Brady and his supporters for their patience, but rued the close vote. The final difference was "a little less than two votes per county," as Dillard put it wistfully.
"It was a hard fought race. It was very, very close," Dillard said. "But now it's clear that my colleague and friend Bill Brady has won the Republican nomination for governor."
The moderate Dillard was widely viewed to be the tougher GOPer against Gov. Pat Quinn (D), while the conservative Brady has struggled as the presumptive GOP nominee. He held a much-derided press conference yesterday, where he called on Quinn to create a list of prisoners released in the infamous early parole program, only to be told by reporters present that Quinn's administration had already created such a list.
Brady also not-so-subtly dropped his sponsorship of 2 controversial bills pending in the IL legislature, including a bill that would have exempted religious organizations from IL's gay rights law and a bill to allow mass euthanasia of pets. Quinn seized on the euthanasia issue, appearing at a Chicago dog show later that week to tout his pet-owner status.
The race between Brady and Quinn will be fought in the Chicago collar counties. Brady was the only Downstater in the large GOP primary field, and received just 5.47% of the GOP vote in Cook County, while Quinn was strongest against Comp. Dan Hynes (D) in Cook County. Brady will need to adjust his message to appeal to independents and crossover Dems if he has any chance of beating Quinn. A 2/27 Research 2000 poll showed Quinn leading Brady by 15%.
Brady will hold a press conference this afternoon and thank-you party for his supporters this evening.
The RNC will launch a new TV ad featuring chairman Michael Steele next week, taking the unusual step of appealing for donations via the airwaves in heavily GOP markets.
The 60-second spots will run in Tulsa; Oklahoma City; Cincinnati; Greensboro, NC; and West Palm Beach, FL. Steele will follow up the ad with personal visits to each market, where he will hold fundraisers.
"Pres. Obama and Nancy Pelosi are experimenting with America. Massive government expansion, government takeovers, redistribution of wealth, and staggering debt to countries like China and the Middle East," Steele says in the ad. "It's wrong, we can't afford it. It threatens our freedom."
"But if people pull together, people can take our government back. Go to OurFreedomMatters.com. Make a donation. Washington is not listening. The President is not listening," Steele continues. "Make them listen. Join with us. Go to OurFreedomMatters.com. Or dial 1-800-524-9004. Make a donation today, because our freedom is worth fighting for."
The website will be launched on Monday, according to an RNC source, and the ads will run on Fox News Channel. Another source with knowledge of the ads said the initial buys are aimed at relatively inexpensive markets in order to test their effectiveness. If the party is able to raise big money off the spots, it will expand their reach further.
The fundraising television spots come after the RNC had to distance itself from a PowerPoint presentation in which the party said it would capitalize on fear in order to raise money for small donors. An RNC spokesperson called the language and images, including comparing Obama to the Joker, "unacceptable."
Update: DNC spokesperson Hari Sevugan takes issue with the ad, accusing GOPers of playing again to fear: "Democrats believe that we should work together to offer solutions for American families, but If there was any doubt that Republicans believe that peddling fear is their path back to power this ad and their misleading attacks on health reform removes them," Sevugan said.
Here are the scheduled guests for the Sunday public affairs shows and other weekend programs:
SUNDAY
Meet the Press hosts HHS Sec. Kathleen Sebelius. The roundtable features Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), ex-Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN), Washington Post's E.J. Dionne and National Review's Rich Lowry.
Face the Nation hosts Sens. Evan Bayh (D-IN), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Washington Post's Dan Balz and Politico's Jim VandeHei.
This Week hosts Sebelius, Senate Min. Leader Mitch McConnell and Washington Post's George Will. The roundtable features Dem strategist Donna Brazile, ex-Pentagon spokesperson Torie Clarke and ex-Clinton Labor Sec. Robert Reich.
Fox News Sunday hosts ex-MA Gov. Mitt Romney (R) and Reps. John Adler (D-NJ) and Jason Altmire (D-PA). The panel features Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol, NPR's Mara Liasson, ex-WH press sec. Dana Perino and NPR's Juan Williams.
State of the Union hosts ex-House Maj. Leader Tom DeLay, Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) and DCCC chair Chris Van Hollen.
Contributing Editors: John Mercurio, Quinn McCord, Tim Sahd, Maura O'Brien, and Abby Livingston
Contributing Writers: Holly Noe, Ian Faerstein, Rachelle Douillard-Proulx, Steven Shepard, Felicia Sonmez, Jamie Shufflebarger, Dan Roem, and Sean Sullivan
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