Generally, I try to think of what I should do or what we should do, rather than what they should do. But if I were in charge of the DNC, this is what I would do.
For every incumbent Republican member of the House where the Democrats have any chance of a take-over, I'd run a TV ad. Either:
In early 2009, the nation was in grave economic danger. The first month of that year, the economy shed 800,000 jobs. President Obama's first response was to propose a stimulus plan, both to keep people at work and to improve the crumbling infrastructure of our nation. Representative Roskam voted "No." The country was in danger of another Great Depression, but Pete Roskam was more worried about President Obama getting bipartisan support for his proposal.
Well, despite Roskam's opposition, the bill was passed. The job loss slowed, and by a year later the economy started actually gaining jobs, if only slowly. Here are two of the projects which were built over Congressman Roskam's opposition. [Here show and describe two popular physical improvements located within the current CD.] Do you want to move the country forwards like Leslie Coolidge does? Or do you want a representative in congress who blocks every attempt to help our economy like Representative Roskam?
Or,
When President Obama was inaugurated, the economy was losing 800,000 jobs a month, and the pace was accelerating. The president proposed and Congress passed legislation that turned that loss around. But it wasn't enough. Some people were getting jobs, but many more were still unemployed.
In 2011, the president proposed a jobs bill to put more people back to work and to help state and local governments who had laid off experienced workers providing vital services because local taxes weren't providing enough money to pay them. Like [Here provide examples of a local school without enough teachers and an undermanned fire station.] Congressman Joe Walsh voted "no." The Republican presidential campaign needed that unemployment, and he put the interests of his party over the interests of our country. Tammy Duckworth has always put the needs of her country first. If you want the economy to grow and citizens' needs to be served, vote Tammy Duckworth in and Joe Walsh out.
Even more after the jump.
Now, obviously, I've put specific names in. Actual ads have to use the local candidates. The ads are different because some incumbents weren't around in 2009.
Real Clear Politics rates 2 races with Republican incumbents as "Lean Democratic," 13 races with Republican incumbents as "Toss Up," and 21 races with Republican incumbents as "Lean Republican." I have no idea how many of these incumbents are running again, but history says that most of them are.
Something like this could be used for Republican reps, like Akin, trying to move up, too, but it would be more expensive -- depending on the state.
In presidential election years, the habit is for the DNC to put all its resources into the presidential race. I'd make an exception this year because:
1) These ads make a major point about the presidential race. Obama works for all the country. These Republican congressmen worked for their narrow partisan interest.
2) 2012 looks like a Democratic sweep, partially because the Republican candidate is a prick. If the economy recovers by 2016, the White House will be blue for a generation.
3) For the country to work for the next 2 years, we need a Democratic House.