Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Steve Israel's advice for the party's recruits next year: "Run like mayors."
House Democratic leaders have put renewed emphasis on recruiting nontraditional candidates, like doctors, police chiefs and military veterans. They've avoided going after candidates who've spent most of their career in politics.
House Democratic leaders have put renewed emphasis on recruiting nontraditional candidates, like doctors, police chiefs and military veterans. They've avoided going after candidates who've spent most of their career in politics.
Israel also said that their candidates' ability to localize elections and run as problem-solvers against unpopular incumbents would be key to regaining their House majority - even as they themselves must contend with an increasingly unpopular president at the top of the ticket. The comments echo what Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee executive director Guy Cecilsaid at a briefing yesterday.
"If I were the House Republicans, I think I'd be more worried about the House Republicans' numbers than the presidents' numbers," said Israel. "Look, the presidents' numbers need to improve, but House Republican numbers are toxic, radioactive."
"I think this could be one of the most challenging environments incumbents have ever had to run in," Israel added, "The good news for us is they've got 50, 60 incumbents that they've got to protect, and we estimate that we're going to have 12-15 Frontliners that we've got to protect. Their field to defend is much larger than our field." Israel pointed to other encouraging signs for their attempt to regain their House majority, noting that the DCCC has bested their GOP counterpart, the National Republican Congressional Committee, in overall fundraising for the year. The committee has also paid off its debilitating $19 million debt. Israel pointed to severalrecently-conducted polls showing Democrats with an advantage on the generic Congressional ballot as evidence that Democrats have made up gains with both independent and older voters since last November. "I think it's safe to say that we have gone from a gale force wind against us to a sustained wind at our backs," said Israel. Exactly a year ago Democrats woke up after the election depressed. We were doubtful about our ability to raise the next dollar, to recruit the next candidate, to win the next seat. There has been a fundamental transformation of the political landscape since that time one year ago." "Unfortunately, the only people feeling gale force winds are the middle class families struggling with the devastating effects of Washington Democrats' job-crushing policies," NRCC spokeswoman Joanna Burgos responded.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2011/11/dccc-chair-all-politics-is-local-04
"If I were the House Republicans, I think I'd be more worried about the House Republicans' numbers than the presidents' numbers," said Israel. "Look, the presidents' numbers need to improve, but House Republican numbers are toxic, radioactive."
"I think this could be one of the most challenging environments incumbents have ever had to run in," Israel added, "The good news for us is they've got 50, 60 incumbents that they've got to protect, and we estimate that we're going to have 12-15 Frontliners that we've got to protect. Their field to defend is much larger than our field." Israel pointed to other encouraging signs for their attempt to regain their House majority, noting that the DCCC has bested their GOP counterpart, the National Republican Congressional Committee, in overall fundraising for the year. The committee has also paid off its debilitating $19 million debt. Israel pointed to severalrecently-conducted polls showing Democrats with an advantage on the generic Congressional ballot as evidence that Democrats have made up gains with both independent and older voters since last November. "I think it's safe to say that we have gone from a gale force wind against us to a sustained wind at our backs," said Israel. Exactly a year ago Democrats woke up after the election depressed. We were doubtful about our ability to raise the next dollar, to recruit the next candidate, to win the next seat. There has been a fundamental transformation of the political landscape since that time one year ago." "Unfortunately, the only people feeling gale force winds are the middle class families struggling with the devastating effects of Washington Democrats' job-crushing policies," NRCC spokeswoman Joanna Burgos responded.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/blogs/hotlineoncall/2011/11/dccc-chair-all-politics-is-local-04