Elections 2012: Democrats See Chance Of Taking Back The House

WASHINGTON -- Pundits don't think Democrats have much chance to take back the House of Representatives this year, but suddenly their party is finding reasons to hope they might actually pull it off.

Democratic sources said a big cause for optimism is that the 2012 recruitment class, which the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will announce later Thursday, has reached an impressive 75 candidates for open and GOP-held seats.

"Strong Democratic candidates have now stepped forward in 75 Republican and open districts -- more than we ever could have predicted or imagined," said Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), chairman of the DCCC.

That number is important because Democrats need to take back 25 seats to win control of the House.

Israel thinks it's possible, because he believes he and his team have recruited a group of prospective officeholders who are more attuned to their communities than to specific party doctrine or ideology.

"These candidates not only fit their districts, but they're real problem-solvers who are committed to reigniting the American dream and rebuilding the middle class," Israel said, giving credit for the bumper crop of candidates to Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.), chairwoman of the DCCC recruiting committee.

"We continue to expand the map of competitive races and have surpassed our recruitment goals for the entire cycle," Israel added.

There are other reasons why Democrats think they will do better than predicted, including the pounding Republicans took in December during the debate over extending payroll tax cuts. The Democratic Party's poll numbers remain generally stronger than those of the GOP, with a Reuters/Ipsos poll out this week finding Democrats leading Republicans 48 to 44 percent in generic ballot match-ups that ask if people would vote for the Democratic or Republican candidate for Congress.

"Momentum is at our backs," said Israel, whose committee also led its GOP counterpart in fundraising last year, taking in $4.3 million more than the National Republican Congressional Committee. The NRCC still has more money in the bank because the DCCC had to pay off debts.

Although the national mood is decidedly different than the last time they turned the House in 2006, Democrats say the class of 2012 is beginning to remind them of the '06 bunch. There are many candidates Israel could point to, but Thursday alone saw two new ones jump into the fray.

In Pennsylvania, lawyer Kathryn Boockvar announced she will challenge GOP Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick in a key suburban swing district based in Bucks County outside Philadelphia.

In California, even as incumbent Republican Rep. Jerry Lewis decided to retire, Democrats declared that Redlands Mayor Pete Aguilar would run for the seat.

Update 2:50 p.m.: The NRCC was not impressed with news of the candidates, or with Israel's thinking.

“You have to feel sorry for many of these pathetic candidates who have been fooled by the same House Democratic leadership that told us the stimulus would keep unemployment below 8 percent," said NRCC spokesman Paul Lindsay. "When they’re defeated in November, they’ll realize that Steve Israel’s promises to find them jobs in Congress are as empty as President Obama’s promises to find jobs for Americans.”

Michael McAuliff covers politics and Congress for The Huffington Post. Talk to him on Facebook.

Comments

[LithiumAM]

05:56 PM on 04/26/2012

They HAVE to appeal to Occupy Wall Street. Just get out the message that yes, the Democrats didn't rise to the occasion after 2008, but they've learned and will listen. It's the only OWS has to atleast see progress in issues they care about. The Democrats are the best option in this case. Just make sure they know it...

[nosamall]

04:17 PM on 02/06/2012

****NEWS FLASH****

THE DEMOCRATES WILL HAVE A SLIGHT MAJOITY IN THE HOUSE AFTER THE NOV 4, 2012. ELECTIONS.

THE SENATE WILL REMAIN IN CONTROL OF THE DEMOCRATES.

ROMNEY WILL WIN THE RACE FOR PRESIDENT.... IN A VERY CLOSE RACE, WOW !!!

[pezdrake]

12:29 PM on 01/31/2012

The closer Newt gets to the nomination, the higher the odds that Democrats will take back the House.

[Drumbeato]

08:37 PM on 01/14/2012

This Republican led Congress has the worst approval ratings in history. The last Congress, led by Democrats & Pelosi, had an approval rating in the upper teens to the mid 20's, while the current Republican led Congress had a rating that went as low as 6%. In 2010, Republicans were swept into power in the House while Democrats under Pelosi had an approval rating in the low 20's. If Republicans think they won't get tossed to the curb when their approval is under 10%, they have another thing coming. They will be in for a rude awakening come November.

[Michele Macdonald]

09:39 AM on 01/14/2012

I say Elizabeth Warren, Jennifer Granholm and Hilary Clinton would all make good candidates for this.

[Daniel Kemetick]

04:08 PM on 01/13/2012

@daddycool67: I saw your comment and agree 100%

[C Winebrinner]

02:05 PM on 01/13/2012

This is a breath of fresh air!

And to all those progressives who are thinking of writing in a third party ticket, please realize two things:

1. You don't climb a ladder by stepping from the floor to the top rung; all you'll do is fall down and have to start all over again. Stick with the center Democrat in the office currently, and work towards getting your progressive candidate to run for the 2016 election; and

2. We must all hang together, or we will surely hang separately!

[Daniel Kemetick]

04:11 PM on 01/13/2012

Amen to that! As an addendum to what you say here, there is only one more thing to say. That is Obama needs to be president simply to tip the Supreme Court back to progressive. Dems, do NOT stay home 298 days from now!!!!!

[jcarr12217]

12:35 PM on 01/13/2012

Elizabeth Warren......she puts the fear of God into republicans...shes coming to Washington...she adds backbone to the party....she cant be shouted down...her logic is perfect and backed up by facts....see..once again a DEMOCRAT ...from New England....will revive the middle class and wrench their dismal future from the greedy hands of the gop

[TSRVT]

02:15 PM on 01/13/2012

Yes I have, but I doubt very much you have. She is going to be a difference-maker. I know you righties are doing everything you can to defeat her, that makes her all the more worthy of the seat. If she says things you are opposed to, then I'm in favor of them. I don't expect people like you, with your limited cognitive abilities, to understand.

[axoaxo]

08:24 PM on 01/18/2012

Fanned!

[Equinator]

12:25 PM on 01/13/2012

Who says OWS is not having an effect.

[Equinator]

12:20 PM on 01/13/2012

Is it possible? Could the DNC lambs be turning into lions

[aburch9351]

11:33 AM on 01/13/2012

i am to the point if they no matter what the party IF they are not for All the American people they do NOT get my vote i listen, read, watch and try to make some kind of sense out of all they say and its getting harder and harder. children, disabled, vets srs. are a big part of this country and like it are not they need to address their issues as well as SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS AGAIN NO MATTER WHAT THE PARTY.

[woodsjs]

11:15 AM on 01/13/2012

All the dems are going to get excited over this... But it's not like the democratic party is really any different nowadays lol. It's like voting on the which color m

[wiseoldgranny]

04:06 AM on 01/14/2012

Eight False Things The Public “Knows” Prior To Election Day

By Dave Johnson

October 22, 2010 - 1:07pm ET


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are a number things the public "knows" as we head into the election that are just false. If people elect leaders based on false information, the things those leaders do in office will not be what the public expects or needs.

Here are eight of the biggest myths that are out there:

1) President Obama tripled the deficit.
Reality: Bush's last budget had a $1.416 trillion deficit. Obama's first budget reduced that to $1.29 trillion.

2) President Obama raised taxes, which hurt the economy.
Reality: Obama cut taxes. 40% of the "stimulus" was wasted on tax cuts which only create debt, which is why it was so much less effective than it could have been.

3) President Obama bailed out the banks.
Reality: While many people conflate the "stimulus" with the bank bailouts, the bank bailouts were requested by President Bush and his Treasury Secretary, former Goldman Sachs CEO Henry Paulson. (Paulson also wanted the bailouts to be "non-reviewable by any court or any agency.") The bailouts passed and began before the 2008 election of President Obama.

4) The stimulus didn't work.
Reality: The stimulus worked, but was not enough. In fact, according to the Congressional Budget Office, the stimulus raised employment by between 1.4 million and 3.3 million jobs.

[axoaxo]

08:26 PM on 01/18/2012

Good post! FF'D!

[wiseoldgranny]

04:15 AM on 01/14/2012

As you can see, the following was written just prior to the 2010 election. It is even more relevant today.
8) Government spending takes money out of the economy.
Reality: Government is We, the People and the money it spends is on We, the People. Many people do not know that it is government that builds the roads, airports, ports, courts, schools and other things that are the soil in which business thrives. Many people think that all government spending is on "welfare" and "foreign aid" when that is only a small part of the government's budget.

This stuff really matters.

If the public votes in a new Congress because a majority of voters think this one tripled the deficit, and as a result the new people follow the policies that actually tripled the deficit, the country could go broke.

If the public votes in a new Congress that rejects the idea of helping to create demand in the economy because they think it didn't work, then the new Congress could do things that cause a depression.

If the public votes in a new Congress because they think the health care reform will increase the deficit when it is actually projected to reduce the deficit, then the new Congress could repeal health care reform and thereby make the deficit worse. And on it goes.

[Homer Booz endormi]

06:16 PM on 01/14/2012

@wiseoldgranny. Thanks.

[edognight]

10:59 AM on 01/13/2012

I seem to remember Karl Rove giving an interview in 2006 (or was it 08?) and the main point was, there is no way the American people want to make Nancy Pelosi, the liberal democrat from SF the speaker of the house. I don't think the political parties can be trusted to bespeak any objective news, they're in it up to their collective necks. But here's to hoping!

[wiseoldgranny]

04:08 AM on 01/14/2012

5) Businesses will hire if they get tax cuts.
Reality: A business hires the right number of employees to meet demand. Having extra cash does not cause a business to hire, but a business that has a demand for what it does will find the money to hire. Businesses want customers, not tax cuts.

6) Health care reform costs $1 trillion.
Reality: The health care reform reduces government deficits by $138 billion.

7) Social Security is a Ponzi scheme, is "going broke," people live longer, fewer workers per retiree, etc.
Reality: Social Security has run a surplus since it began, has a trust fund in the trillions, is completely sound for at least 25 more years and cannot legally borrow so cannot contribute to the deficit (compare that to the military budget!) Life expectancy is only longer because fewer babies die; people who reach 65 live about the same number of years as they used to.

[nypapajoe]

10:58 AM on 01/13/2012

The goal is to clean house and to stay clear of any candidate that is a multi millionaire, career politician or is being financed by a nameless group that is throwing money around which is clearly corporate petty cash! Their agenda should be clear that they are anti job out sourcing, creating a stable middle class, taxing of all public and private entities without exception, no federal Substidies, environmentally friendly, progressive and not affiliated to any religious organization! Lobbyist need not apply!

[woodsjs]

11:17 AM on 01/13/2012

That would LITERALLY clear house. Do we have any politicians that aren't millionaires anymore?

[TSRVT]

01:17 PM on 01/13/2012

Bernie Sanders.

[Polar Shift]

12:41 PM on 01/13/2012

nypapa, An individuals wealth isn't the issue. The prime directive should be to make ALL elections publicly funded.And, there is nothing inherently wrong with lobbyists. BUT they should not be able to BUY a vote, they should be required to ARGUE their cause to successful conclusion. Money is like CANDY. A little is good, but too much will make you sick. Otherwise, I like your post a LOT. I WOULD add just one more thing. TAX THE CHURCHES at the same rate you would any other BUSINESS. After all, that is what they are.

[Pollitrix]

10:49 AM on 01/13/2012

For the trolls who keep stating European Socialist it would help if you had an explaination of the term along with examples of where it has been practiced. You would be more believeable other than that your just a right wing talking point.

[axoaxo]

08:29 PM on 01/18/2012

might also note social and economic mobility is now higher in most European countries than it is in the U.S.

anymore seems most Europeans have a better chance at the American Dream

Obama's not even close to a European Socialist, but I wish he was