Dems Ready to Take the House in 2014

Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) is trying to stir up confidence among House Democrats for 2014, claiming that they are in better shape than they have been for years. Israel released a three-page memo delineating different reasons for his confidence. Among them are:

1. Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign is still in place
2. While Obama concentrated all the finances he could raise on his own reelection, leaving congressman twisting in the wind, he has promised to hold 14 fundraisers for House and Senate Democrats now.
3. The DCC has $5 million less debt than in 2012.
4. The super PAC called House Majority PAC, which didn’t exist in 2010, geared up in 2012, spending $40 million, and is ready for 2014.
5. Israel thinks that the Democrats that the GOP has targeted for defeat are invincible. These include Reps. John Barrow (Ga.), Mike McIntyre (N.C.), Nick Rahall (W.Va.), Jim Matheson (Utah), Collin Peterson (Minn.), Ann Kirkpatrick (Ariz.) and Ron Barber (Ariz.) Israel stated that most of those targets survived the massive GOP victory in 2010 and were reelected in the presidential election year of 2012, when “the top-of-the-ticket lost their districts by double digits.”
6. The redistricting of the House that favored the GOP made districts more red, which will make the GOP candidates hew to the right in order to win their primaries, which will hurt them in the general election.
7. Democrats will win on the issues; a February Public Policy Polling said congressional approval languished at 9% and a Gallup poll said Democrats are ahead in name identification; Israel bloviated that “approval of this Tea Party Republican Congress continues to plummet.”

But National Republican Committee Chairman Liesl Hickey was not disturbed. She said,

“As a result of redistricting, which favored Republicans, and this well-executed [offensive] strategy — the House is well-aligned and firmly in GOP control. The national map of competitive House races looks very different headed into 2014. Namely, it’s smaller and Republicans have the upper hand.”