Republicans look to November and play defense, not offense

July 2, 2008

The congressional campaign committees for both major parties create target lists of key, competitive campaigns. The idea, of course, is to find the defining contests that the parties see as vital to the strength and size of their caucuses.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has its “Red to Blue” initiative. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) launched a “Regain Our Majority Program,” or “ROMP.” As of now, there 236 Democrats and 199 Republicans in the House, and if either side is going to improve their numbers, it’s going to start with these targets.

But you can learn a lot about the political landscape by taking a closer look at the parties’ lists. The DCCC’s “Red to Blue,” as the name implies, features 38 House campaigns in districts currently held by Republicans. The goal, obviously, is for Dems to build on their House majority.

So, Republicans are thinking along the same lines? Not so much.

A leading GOPer in the House, whip Roy Blunt, sent out a release [yesterday] touting a new fundraising effort on behalf of Republican candidates. The program has this rather optimistic title: “Regain Our Majority Program (ROMP) II”

But in the same release, it also contains a list of all the GOP House candidates that will benefit from this program designed to regain the GOP’s majority. […]

Get this — only two of the names on this list are challengers running to unseat House Dems — [Chris Hackett (PA-10)] and [Pete Olson (TX-22)]. The rest are incumbents, with the exception of [Steve Stivers (OH-15)], who’s running for an open GOP-held seat.

But to regain their majority the GOP would need to knock off 19 House Dems. So this program to win back the majority is approximately 17 candidates short of what they need to accomplish its stated goal!

By any reasonable measure, that’s pretty embarrassing. Dems are on offense, eyeing seats currently held by Republicans, and the GOP is on defense, targeting districts they already have.

Given this, “Regain Our Majority Program” is almost certainly the wrong name. I suppose, “We Hope To Avoid Getting Embarrassed Program” doesn’t have a catchy acronym.

I’d just add, by the way, that Senate Republicans are about as confident as their House counterparts.

“We are not going to be back in the majority in the Senate next year,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ken.) told CNN. “The numbers make that impossible.”

The good news is, the chances for a Democratic Congress next year look pretty good. The bad news is, this probably means Republicans are going to put everything they’ve got into winning the White House, the only race in which they have a legitimate shot.

Well, pissing themselves in fear is what Republicans do best.

  • The good news is, the chances for a Democratic Congress next year look pretty good.

    The bad news is that we’ll still have the same sorry ass leadership in both houses that we’ve suffered under since 2006. I hope president Obama can get Harry and Nancy to grow some spines, because they haven’t fought for anything yet, other than the status quo.

  • The Senate is really the key, since the GOP will force the majority to have at least 60 votes for anything before the Republican leadership will let it pass. With Lieberman all but openly declaring himself a Republican, this is a difficult thing.

    Of course a House with more Donna Edwards and fewer Blue Dogs would be helpful too.

  • I’ll be voting against my Blue Dog (Dan Boren) in the Democratic primary.

  • I’m with Racer X. I’d be perfectly happy if Obama was elected and then every incumbent (Republican and Democrat) was kicked out of Congress.

  • I hope president Obama can get Harry and Nancy to grow some spines, because they haven’t fought for anything yet, other than the status quo.

    We need to keep the pressure on them, but we really need to work to get more true liberals in the House and Senate. 2006 was a start for us, and 2008 will do a lot more. When then numbers reach a strong core, they can vote out the spineless ones and get us the fighting leadership we demand.

    On the bright side, once the transition takes place, it’ll be in place for a while.

  • ROMP! Republcan’ts can’t see the irony.

    Here’s what it should be called: Keep Our Organization Kickin’ Y’all !!!

    KOOKY.

  • Yes, the leadership is the key. Reid in particular needs to go. I’d be happy with a Clinton or Biden taking the Senate majority slot. I’d prefer a Dodd or Feingold but they are probably too ‘left’ to get the nod.

    But getting a ‘filibuster proof’ majority is even more important. That’s why the ’50-state’ strategy matters. Democrats need to find and exploit every weakness they can, in any state that can. Even if they fall short this year, it builds up the organization (donor lists, volunteers etc etc) for 2010 and 2012 cycles.

  • I hope president Obama can get Harry and Nancy to grow some spines, because they haven’t fought for anything yet, other than the status quo.

    Oh don’t worry, RacerX, I’m sure that as soon as Obama is President Harry and Nancy will grow a spine and start fighting as fiercely as any politician has ever fought against a President. Why I remember when the dishrag Dems in Congress suddenly found their spines after 12 years of Reagan/Bush and were able to stand fiercely up to President Clinton as soon as he came to office.

    Oh wait – that’s probably not what you meant…

  • “Regain Our Majority Program” is almost certainly the wrong name. I suppose, “We Hope To Avoid Getting Embarrassed Program” doesn’t have a catchy acronym. — CB

    I’ll add my own to the ones suggested above: PAW. Stands for “Prevent Arse Whipping”.

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