DCCC to focus cash on challengers

With nearly $30 million in the bank compared to $1.6 million for the GOP (plus another $3-4 million in debt), the DCCC has decided to cut off all but the most threatened incumbents in order to focus on the 30 most endangered Republican incumbents.

With a huge cash advantage over the National Republican Congressional Committee, Van Hollen and Emanuel are cautioning their colleagues that the DCCC wants to have money to put into 40 challenger races next year — and if these vulnerable Democrats are not facing serious races or any effort by the National Republican Congressional Committee to unseat them, the DCCC will spend its resources elsewhere.

In an interview, Van Hollen said it was always the goal of Democratic leaders to “graduate” members from the Frontline program if they were no longer in need of special fundraising help.

And he noted that the DCCC has been successful in recruiting viable challengers to take on dozens of GOP incumbents.

Van Hollen believes that Democrats have a chance to add a “significant number of seats” next year, giving them even tighter control of the House.

“We’re all part of a team,” Van Hollen added. “The goal of this team is to win more seats and increase our majority.”

One Frontline Democrat, who asked for anonymity, said Emanuel and Van Hollen “want everyone to know that they will be constantly evaluating where they stand.”

“Look, if you don’t have a serious challenger or someone who can pull out his checkbook and write a check for $500,000 or $1 million or something, the [DCCC] is not going to put money into your race,” the Democrat said.

House Republicans are essentially broke, and the RNC will be spending its money on the presidential race. They have no one to bail them out.

As such, the NRCC will be forced to husband its meager resources to try and save as many of its incumbents as possible. They have no money to go on the attack. Therefore, it makes perfect sense for Democrats to cut their incumbents loose (all of which are experiencing great fundraising successes anyway) and focus on putting as many Republican seats in play.

The best defense is always a good offense.