Posted on 07/22/2010 4:38:33 AM PDT by iowamark
The National Republican Congressional Committee Wednesday added 33 Republican candidates to its “On the Radar” and “Contender” lists.
Those are levels one and two of the committee’s “Young Guns” program — a status which signals a high level of attention from the national party.
Reaching “Contender” status are 14 candidates including Jon Runyan (N.J.), who’s challenging Rep. John Adler (D), and John Koster (Wash.) who’s challenging Rep. Rick Larson (D).
The candidates making the NRCC’s “On the Radar” list include Hunt Downer (La.) and Jeff Landry (La.), both running for the seat left open by Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-La.), and Tim Burns (Pa.), who lost a special election in May to fill the seat of the late Rep. John Murtha (D).
While many of the additions are currently outside shots to win this fall, the argument from the NRCC is that the playing field is rapidly expanding.
“These candidates have worked hard to meet the benchmarks set to place them on the road to victory,” said NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions (Texas) in a statement. “With voters frustrated with an out-of-touch Democrat majority, these candidates are willing to take the necessary steps to achieve our goal of retiring Nancy Pelosi and winning and building a lasting Republican majority.”
Below is a full list of the candidates elevated by the committee.
On the Radar: Dee Adcock(Pa.-13), Jason Allen (Mich.-01), Dan Benishek (Mich.-01), Susan Bitter Smith (Ariz.-05), Tim Burns (Pa.-12), Donna Campbell (Texas-25), Peter Corrigan (Ohio-10), Hunt Downer (La.-03), John Gomez (N.Y.-02), Rich Iott (Ohio-09), Bill Johnson (Ohio-06), Jeff Landry (La.-03), Ben Lange (Iowa-01), Delia Lopez(Ore.-03), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Iowa-02), Star Parker (Calif.-37), Keith Rothfus (Pa.-04), Frank Scaturro (N.Y.-04) and Brad Zaun (Iowa-03).
Contender: Charlie Bass (N.H.-02), Francisco Canseco (Texas-23), Dan Debicella (Conn.-04), Randy Demmer (Minn.-01), Chris Gibson (N.Y.-20), Jaime Herrera (Wash.-03), Dan Kapanke (Wis.-03), Mike Kelly (Pa.-03), John Koster (Wash.-02), Michele Rollins (Del.-At Large), Jon Runyan (N.J.-03), Bobby Schilling (Ill.-17), Scott Sipprelle (N.J.-12) and Steve Southerland (Fla.-02).
Especially Ben Lange(Iowa-01), Mariannette Miller-Meeks(Iowa-02), Brad Zaun(Iowa-03), and Bobby Schilling (Illinois-17). All four of them are running against guaranteed Pelosi votes.
Star Parker, you go girl!
Michigan primary is still coming up, isn’t it?
Yeah in a couple weeks.
I’m pulling for Benishek in the 1st and voting for Walberg in the 7th.
A little help and Hanna will have it!
One of the NRCC’s “TopGuns” Stephen Fincher Tn.08 voted democrat as late as
May ‘10. He also has an 80% democrat voting record. I am assuming he looked
good to the NRCC before they did much looking into his background. He is a big
time cotton farmer who has received over 3 million dollars in subsidy money,
and he has the backing of all of the farmers. He is running for John Tanner’s
position. There are three other conservative candidates who are really good
candidates, but the NRCC is trying to save face down here. Right now, it is a
two way tie between Fincher and Dr. Ron Kirkland. We are expecting the
NRCC to come down hard on Dr. Kirkland. Dr. Kirkland has been active in tea
parties in the region. Hopefully, we can keep his momentum going.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.