Tuesday, July 22, 2008

DCCC Ad Buys Ignore KY-1, KY-2, KY-4

TPM Election Central has the latest list of swing district Congressional races to which the Democratic National Committee has allocated ad money, and it mostly ignores Kentucky.

The latest list, which adds up to $17.6 million in 20 districts across the country, paints an extraordinary picture of just how grim the GOP's outlook is in House races: About three fourths of the money the DCCC is plunking down is going to races for seats that the GOP currently holds and now has to defend.

But the new list, as well as the previous list, ignores three GOP-held seats being challenged by Democrats in Kentucky.

Heather Ryan in the First, David Boswell in the Second and Michael Kelley in the Fourth don't make the DCCC's lists of races worth spending money on, even though Boswell is running for an open seat and recent polls showed him slightly ahead.

Now I'm no fan of Boswell's, but the Second is a probable dem pickup - certainly more likely than the First or Fourth, even though Ryan and Kelley are far better Democrats as far as I'm concerned.

What's more, some of these districts where Dems are vying to knock off GOP incumbents are historically hostile territory for Dems, such as the open Second District in Alabama, or the Idaho seat now held by right-wing Rep. Bill Sali.

But in Kentucky, the DCCC is playing it safe by supporting only John Yarmuth, incumbent in Louisville's Third District, who is up by double digits over two-time loser Anne Northup.

I realize that even in this year of Democratic campaign wealth, the DCCC's resources are limited, and I am grateful that the DCCC is actually fighting to win in 50 districts, as opposed to its usual 10 or 12.

But I can't help but resent that national Democratic resources are being sunk into Idaho, of all the dem-forsaken places, when a courageous Navy veteran like Heather Ryan, who personally challenged Mitch McConnell, fights a tough campaign with chewing gum and paper clips.

Check out the full listing.

Cross-posted at BlueGrassRoots.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

The DCCC has a pretty long history of only helping those who help themselves. I think that Boswell's status as the worst fundraiser among the red-to-blue or emerging candidates pretty much put the nail in the coffin for him getting a piece of the limited national funds.

Anonymous said...

What are the chances of Ben Chandler helping out his fellow Dems?

Slim and none, you say?




kentondem1

Yellow Dog said...

Anonymous at 12:53 - very true, but I think still a little short-sighted.

kentondem1 - I don't think he helped anybody in '06 when he had no opposition, so even though his repug challenger is doomed, I doubt Ben will pry open his wallet this time.

Anonymous said...

Has Ben even paid his dues to the DHCC?




kentondem1