stupid picks

OH-02 on our side, probably.  Unless Jean steps up her gaffe machine.  And of course, DE-AL and FL-10 if the incumbents don't retire, but even so, with our current candidates, they'd be at worst relegated to third-tier opportunities.

On their side: MS-01 and NH-01?  Are they crazy?

Bill Posey is not half-alligator...and is outclassed by Davy Crockett anyway: http://www.washingtonmonthly.c...

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by: Glenn Magus Harvey @ Mon Jun 15, 2009 at 15:13:38 PM CDT

rest of comment

...They would probably have better luck going after NY-20 and CT-04.  I would say NY-13, but given their luck there, and given how soundly MacMahon was received, I doubt they have much of a chance with that seat.

Bill Posey is not half-alligator...and is outclassed by Davy Crockett anyway: http://www.washingtonmonthly.c...

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by: Glenn Magus Harvey @ Mon Jun 15, 2009 at 15:14:52 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

NH-01 makes sense

In that they have Manchester mayor Frank Guinta running for them, who's one of their best recruits this cycle, and CSP's 2008 victory wasn't exactly emphatic. The GOP has a couple state senators looking at MS-01, one of whom (Alan Nunelee) is from Tupelo and could eat into Childers' dominance there (which is how Childers won in the first place, because he was up against a guy from DeSoto County instead).

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by: Crisitunity @ Mon Jun 15, 2009 at 15:22:27 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I think it's last call in NH-1

It's slowly solidifying around 55% D.  Democrats are playing for the shutout, really- Hodes looks good to take the U.S. Senate seat and Democrats will hold onto his U.S. House seat.  

The most powerful R officeholders in the state after November 2010 will probably be some mayors and their ~10 state senators, with constituencies of 60-70,000 each.    

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by: Baystater @ Mon Jun 15, 2009 at 20:28:15 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Agree

NH-1 will keep getting tougher and tougher.  This is like SD At Large.  It starts close and it will produce comfortable margins.  For the first time, Carol Shea-Porter is the better known candidate.  Manchester has  108,000 people in a district of 600,000.  This is not nearly as good a deal as advertised.  Giunta has been elected in 20% of the district (CSP's weak spot but one she's worked on).

CSP was under rated in 2006 and 2008.  Now 2010.

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by: David Kowalski @ Mon Jun 15, 2009 at 21:06:52 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Interesting

Seems that AL-02 and AL-05 have replaced GA-08 and GA-12 as far as GOP targets in the South.

I can understand the reasoning, it is just surprising to finally see those two seats not listed. Barrow and Marshall should be fine until after the census when the GOP will likely try again to throw them out.

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by: RuralDem @ Mon Jun 15, 2009 at 15:26:34 PM CDT

CA districts?

There were several races in California where GOP incumbents barely hung on (Lungren, Calvert, Bilbray), even though these races were not seen as highly competitive. Plus, Obama narrowly won all of those districts. I wonder why the DCCC has not placed them in the top or second tier...

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by: possumtracker1991 @ Mon Jun 15, 2009 at 15:36:56 PM CDT

Calvert might be top-tier

but I'd classify Lungren at second-tier.  Bilbray second-tier at best.

Bill Posey is not half-alligator...and is outclassed by Davy Crockett anyway: http://www.washingtonmonthly.c...

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by: Glenn Magus Harvey @ Mon Jun 15, 2009 at 19:34:26 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

One of the first things that pulled me into politics

was the special election for the Bilbray seat.  I got all sorts of emails from Moveon.org and that special election made me start investigating politics down ballot more so.

There have now been three separate elections for that seat that I have had to follow and Im sick of caring about until I see something happen with redistricting.

I like targeting Calvert and Lungren.  Bilbray's district can be tweaked to get us that last 5%.

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by: Andrew @ Mon Jun 15, 2009 at 22:44:06 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Mostly Obvious Picks for the Dems

First half is a huge "You better" as far as targeting. MN-6 is no real surprise. OH-2 is a bit shocking. As for TX-10, let's roll. The Dem will probably perform better in the rural areas in an off year, but have smaller turn out in travis and Harris. Again, the trick to the district is convincing the straight ticket Republicans in Harris county to stay home or some how switch (and yes, this is a VERY straight ticket area, they will hear you, like what you say, know your name, and won't even look at your race when they get in the voting booth).

As for the R targets, for some reason I feel confident about Markey in CO-4. Glenn Nye surprised me by winning in 2008 and I kinda forgot about him quickly afterward as though he had always been there or something. MS-1, they know this is their last opportunity to go after that district before Childers is safe for life, including with a better district in 2012.

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by: trowaman @ Mon Jun 15, 2009 at 16:22:39 PM CDT

Bachman and Schmidt?

Bachman and Schmidt both seem less vulnerable to me than some of the CA reps who did not face particularly tough challenges last time.  For whatever reason, their districts have supported Bachman and Schmidt even after putting their feet in their mouths and even against well funded challengers.  Not saying we shouldn't take another shot at them, but they do seem lower priority than the CA races.

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by: sicembears @ Mon Jun 15, 2009 at 16:42:02 PM CDT

Totally agree

If they couldn't be ousted in the last two cycles, which were very advantageous to the Democrats, it's doubtful that they will be defeated in 2010. Those districts are heavily Republican.

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by: Pan @ Mon Jun 15, 2009 at 17:44:24 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Also agree

Don't see any pickups after PA-6 on this list. Unless Kirk or others retire.

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by: conspiracy @ Mon Jun 15, 2009 at 17:48:18 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

As a resident from Bachmann's district

I really worry that 2008 was our chance.  I mean if she wasn't ousted in 2008.  I've only been following politics hardcore for two cycles now but Bachmann's gaffe ranks pretty high up there I'd say.

The district is simply the most right wing of the 8.  And not just in Republicanism but in extreme right ideology, this one tops the others and there is a very strong base for it.  Just enough when paired with more mainstream Republicans in the other parts of the district.

Although I do have a research paper from a friend from my poli sci seminar on how opposing parties do better at capturing seats in mid-terms in Minnesota so I'll read that and see what I think then.  I can see low turn-out bringing out mainly the more informed voters who would find her comments ridiculous but with extreme right wing ideology, they are going to come out because God tells them too.

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by: Andrew @ Mon Jun 15, 2009 at 22:48:50 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Nye

Republicans are going to have a tough time unseating Glenn Nye. He's fundraising like a madman, he's staking out a position as a moderate Dem, and he's been doing a lot on veterans' issues. Currently their only candidate is former VB Republican party chair Chuck Smith, who is not going to get anywhere. State Sen. Frank Wagner might run, or outgoing VB Sheriff Paul Lanteigne, but at this point, they're the only ones that could make it a race.

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by: Johnny Longtorso @ Mon Jun 15, 2009 at 17:07:14 PM CDT

Obviously defense is the priority

But good that some offense is still possible. Frankly, pretty amazing there are as many as five top-tier shots after the gains of the last two cycles.

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by: conspiracy @ Mon Jun 15, 2009 at 17:46:16 PM CDT

Where is Walt Minnick for the GOP?

I figured he'd be their number one target.

I'm really surprised they'd presume to have such a great shot at unseating CSP in NH-01 that they'd rank her above Bright, Griffith, etc. I really don't think Steve Driehaus is in that much trouble either, considering he's running against the guy the district just threw out last year.

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by: NCDem @ Mon Jun 15, 2009 at 22:53:54 PM CDT

Loyalty to old friends... That's all there is to it.

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by: JeremiahTheMessiah @ Mon Jun 15, 2009 at 23:04:14 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Sorry for the double post

I was refering to why I think OH-01 is on the list.

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by: JeremiahTheMessiah @ Mon Jun 15, 2009 at 23:04:47 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Chabot is banking

on a much lower African-American turnout from the Cincinnati  area in the off-year election to try and get his seat back.

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by: gomer @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 00:51:31 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Minnick is there

He's in the header of the table by mistake, but he's definitely the GOP's top target.

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by: TrueBlueDem @ Tue Jun 16, 2009 at 04:49:58 AM CDT

[ Parent ]