[crushkerry]

Pat Hynes is a freeper (Screen Name: Kerry Crusher)who has worked for a national GOP campaign consulting firm, and has helped manage Congressional races for the NRCC. He's the past political director of the New Hampshire Republican Committee. He's now working for the CATO Institute on media management and lobbying for Social Security reform. He's also the proprietor of AnkleBitingPundits.com

[crushkerry]

Ping

[jwalsh07]

Right up you alley. Comments?

[Recon Dad]

I would agree with all the points made in this article with one caveat. If we are still perceived as playing defense in Iraq the GOP base will not be rushing to the polls. Also if the loyal GOP feels that their reps are no better at spending their money as the Dem's, they'll say what's the point.
I know I'm getting there, fast........

[Redmen4ever]

Between 2002 and 2004, we lost two seats in by-elections in deep red districts, one in ND and the other in KY. (By-elections are always tricky things, where the party out of power has a chance to do "surprisingly" well.) In 2004, we came close, but failed to get those two seats back. The usual rule is that Congress-entities are hard to defeat after they have been re-elected at least once. Does mean that these two seats, which should be ours, are lost for the foreseeable future?

Also, in MD, do we have a chance to pick-up the southeastern Baltimore suburban district being vacated by Congressman Cardin, who is running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senator? I am also curious about the northeastern suburban seat that we lost when then Congressman Erlich ran for Governor. What do you see for us in Maryland, especially if we have two strong Republican candidates at the top, running for Governor and Senator?

[Fenris6]

I'm more concerned with the Senate. Apparently, our congress-critters think they need a super-majority before they'll start behaving like a Majority Party. Any thoughts?

[jmaroneps37]

This all looks about right. One element of elections not touched here is that of guys who will be "Black or Red" what I mean is the guys who just want to get involved in a race as a "bet" in hopes of backing a winner who will owe them something. Because of these guys, the same amount of money will be spent on fewer races. The CD races that cost 3 million last time will be 4.5 or more this cycle.
We will pick up seats.

[xzins]

I live in Ohio 2.

Schmidt ran a terrible campaign in outlying counties. Something to think about: they are conservative, patriotic, and PATRIARCHAL. (I know these places.)

Schmidt was hurt by Hackett being a soldier and hurt by herself being a female. Not trying to stir anything. I just think it's a point that needs considering.

What it means is that the Republicans should run veterans and males in this area. It also means that Hillary is toast in some telling regions of Ohio.

Republicans win when they take Ohio.

[ken5050]

Another reason Dems have trouble recruiting candidates for House races..while in theory any particular Dem candidate might well win his own race, as you point out it's highly unlikely that the Dems will retake the House in the near future. So, a prospective Dem candidate asks himself.."why do I want to do this? If I win, I get to serve in the Minority in the House, and that's akin to being a limited partner of George Steinbrenner. And, further, I'd have to go to those inane weekly Dem caucus luncheons with Nancy Pelosi, and listen to the rantings of the Black Caucus all the time." Ergo..no way..

May I yet again reiterate my fave stat: 60% of House Dems have NEVER served in the majority!!

[NeoCaveman]

media markets, as well as in pricy Pittsburgh and Cleveland to defend CO-03, IL-08, and OH-6, respectively.

If you advertise for OH-6 in the Cleveland market no one will see it. Better to advertise in the cheaper Youngstown and Stuebenville markets (where the voters will see them)