Archive for the ‘Blog’ Category
RSLC REDMAP Rundown – October 19th, 2010
Last Updated on Tuesday, 19 October 2010 11:49 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 19 October 2010 11:49
Welcome to this week’s edition of REDMAP Rundown, a synopsis of redistricting news brought to you by the RSLC’s REDistricting MAjority Project (REDMAP). This weekly update gives you the latest on what those in the Beltway, and across the country, are saying about the impending reapportionment and redistricting process.
In this week’s REDMAP Rundown: No region untouched, Getting it right and having a big impact, New York turnout gimmicks and Decked in Wisconsin.
“From Virginia to Florida and South Carolina to Texas, nearly two dozen Democratic seats are susceptible to a potential Republican surge in Congressional races on Election Day,” according to the New York Times. “… Districts, along with others held by incumbents in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi and North Carolina, are central to the Republican strategy to win the [U.S.] House. For the first time since Reconstruction, Republicans also are well-positioned to control more state legislative chambers and seats than Democrats in the South, which would have far-reaching effects for redistricting. ‘It’s not a good prospect for the Democratic Party in the South,’ said Glen Browder, a former Democratic congressman from Alabama.’”
Stateline.org weighs in saying, “The last time Republicans controlled a statehouse chamber in Alabama, Ulysses S. Grant was president and Thomas Edison still hadn’t perfected electric lighting. But if the GOP’s gains are as big as many predict this election, Alabama could be one of many states that will see one or both statehouse chambers go from Democratic blue to Republican red. … Tim Storey, an elections expert at the National Conference of State Legislatures, says … ‘If Alabama were to move to the GOP column, it would reflect a 20-year trend of Southern legislatures re-aligning under the Republican banner.’ … Other state chambers that insiders say could flip to Republican control include the Senate in New Hampshire and New York; the House in Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania; both chambers in Wisconsin; and the Montana House and Alaska Senate, both currently tied in terms of party control.”
“Political strategists are studying their electoral maps as Republicans and Democrats vie for victory in state legislature and gubernatorial races next month that could give them huge influence over the composition of congressional districts for the next decade,” reports the Financial Times. “The winners at the state level will then have the once-in-a-decade opportunity to redraw congressional districts according to this year’s census results, to be implemented by 2012, a presidential election year. Republicans appear likely to take control of the House and are hoping for a “wave election” that would also give them the upper hand at a state level, handing them an advantage for years to come. ‘If [we] can get this right in 2010 it will have a big impact in 2012, in 2014, ’16, ’18, ’20,’ Ed Gillespie, head of the [RSLC], told National Public Radio recently.”
In New York, “Republicans are criticizing Democratic Senate candidate Did Barrett’s campaign for sending out an e-mail that pledges to redraw congressional districts along ‘blue lines,’” reports The Journal News. “Barrett’s campaign manager Aaron Dickerson defended the e-mail, saying … that it was simply a motivational tool to get Democrats out to the voting booths.
“A group dedicated to electing Republican state lawmakers has booked $318,150 in ad time in the backyard of Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-Wausau),” reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “The RSLC ads started running on Wednesday and they are scheduled through November … The RSLC has already targeted the Wisconsin Senate as one of four state legislative bodies it is counting on winning back from Democrats around the country.”
The RSLC is the only national organization whose mission is to elect down ballot state-level Republican office-holders. To sign up for the REDMAP Rundown, or for more information or media inquiries, please contact Adam Temple
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at 571.480.4891.
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Wall Street Journal: Democratic Funding Fades
Last Updated on Friday, 15 October 2010 11:56 Written by rslcpol Friday, 15 October 2010 11:56
From WSJ.com:
“We are David vs. Goliath,” said Ramona Oliver, a spokeswoman for the new Democratic group, called America’s Families First Action Fund. Founded this summer, it began raising money after Labor Day to help counter Republican fundraising efforts. It once hoped to help protect up to 30 Democratic House seats, but is now focusing on just 18 campaigns, Ms. Oliver said.
In total, outside conservative groups—such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Action Network and American Crossroads—could spend more than $300 million on TV advertisements, campaign mailings and other efforts to elect Republicans to Congress this year. Outside Democratic groups, by contrast, plan to spend about $100 million on those activities. The largest labor unions say they will spend $200 million combined, but most of their focus will be on rallying union voters.
The spending by outside GOP groups is key because in the last three election cycles Democratic outside groups have substantially outspent their GOP rivals.
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RSLC Chairman Ed Gillespie on the Laura Ingraham Show
Last Updated on Friday, 15 October 2010 09:16 Written by rslcpol Friday, 15 October 2010 09:12
Ed Gillespie on the Laura Ingraham Show to discuss the Democrat’s latest desperate attack against him and other conservative leaders. Click on the Play Button below to hear the entire interview.
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RSLC Chairman Ed Gillespie on the Sean Hannity Radio Show
Last Updated on Wednesday, 13 October 2010 01:46 Written by rslcpol Wednesday, 13 October 2010 01:22
Ed Gillespie on the Sean Hannity Show to discuss the Democrat’s latest desperate attack against him and other conservative leaders. Click on the Play Button below to hear the entire interview.
Obama Attacks American Crossroads then Group Raises $13 million
Last Updated on Wednesday, 13 October 2010 12:11 Written by rslcpol Wednesday, 13 October 2010 12:11
From The Hill:
The GOP-aligned American Crossroads said Wednesday it has raised over $13 million since coming under attack from President Obama.
The group and its campaign affiliate, Crossroads GPS, said it had easily surpassed its initial fundraising goal of $50 million to spend on behalf of Republicans, and has increased its target to $65 million, according to spokesman Jonathan Collegio.
The boffo numbers come after a week in which Obama led Democrats in attacks on the group, which is affiliated with GOP strategists Ed Gillespie and Karl Rove. Both are veterans of President George W. Bush’s White House.
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RSLC REDMAP Rundown – October 12, 2010
Last Updated on Tuesday, 12 October 2010 02:54 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 12 October 2010 02:51
Welcome to this week’s edition of REDMAP Rundown, a synopsis of redistricting news brought to you by the RSLC’s REDistricting MAjority Project (REDMAP). This weekly update gives you the latest on what those in the Beltway, and across the country, are saying about the impending reapportionment and redistricting process.
In this week’s REDMAP Rundown: Pouring political muscle, Population shifts, Tennessee Dems have “no chance” and New Hampshire loves Nashua.
“Republicans and Democrats, hoping to pick up seats in Congress through redistricting, are pouring money and political muscle into statehouse races in about 16 states. State legislatures will next year redraw congressional districts based on the 2010 census,” reports the Wall Street Journal. “The key national organizations seeking to influence state elections will spend about $200 million this year, double what they spent in 2006, the most recent comparable contest. The cash is allowing local candidates to adopt tactics more typically used by national politicians: time on cable TV, advanced polling techniques and direct mailings. … The Republican State Leadership Committee created the Redistricting Majority Project, whose sole purpose is ‘dedicated to keeping or winning Republican control of state legislatures that will have the most impact on Congressional redistricting in 2011.’ … The state races can be critical in determining control of Congress.”
“The country’s balance of population, and hence its balance of political power, continues to shift to the South and West, as it has for the past six decades.” Bob Benenson writes in CQ that, “the census figures being released in December, which will decide the reapportionment of House seats among the states starting with the 2012 election, will probably show less dramatic changes than in the recent past. But they also could upend much of the advance planning of the nation’s political mapmakers, if the final and official count varies even a little from current projections. Texas clearly will be the big winner and stands to gain as many as four seats, due in large part to its fast-growing Hispanic population. But it could be limited to a three-seat gain if the state’s population surge proves to be just 38,005 smaller (in a population of 25.3 million) than expected. And similarly minuscule differences — in relative terms, at least — could make the difference for as many as 16 states that might gain, retain or lose congressional seats.”
“The 107th General Assembly, which will be collectively chosen on the same day, will be projecting political power for the next decade,” according to the Knoxville News-Sentinel. For that reason, Republican and Democratic organizations in Washington as well as Nashville are paying as much attention – if not more – to a handful of legislative contests in Tennessee’s small towns and big cities. As a practical political matter, there is no chance Democrats can regain control of the Senate. … In the House … Democrats thus have more challenged seats to defend than do Republicans. Further, 2010 is widely seen as a banner year for Republicans because of perceived voter discontent with President Obama and the Democrat-controlled U.S. Congress.”
In New Hampshire, The Telegraph writes, “When you get down to it, elections are a numbers game, and here’s a number that has state Republicans excited: 27. That’s the number of GOP candidates vying for seats in the Statehouse who will be on Nashua ballots on Nov. 2, and it’s the most that has been seen in the Democrat-dominated city in many years. ‘Usually, we don’t have as many people even running, let alone candidates as strong as we have this year,’ said Ryan Williams, communications director for the New Hampshire Republican State Committee. ‘We don’t just have names, we have candidates who are running and running hard.’ That aggressiveness reflects a statewide push by the GOP, which hopes to use economic concerns to rebound after two election cycles that saw it dethroned as the dominant party in New Hampshire. Andy Smith, polling director at the University of New Hampshire, has predicted that the GOP will take back the state House of Representatives, although he said the race for state Senate is too close to call. He also predicted GOP success in the U.S. Senate race and at least one of the two Congressional seats. Party control of the Statehouse has extra rewards this year because the winner gets to control the redistricting that’s done once every decade.”
The RSLC is the only national organization whose mission is to elect down ballot state-level Republican office-holders. To sign up for the REDMAP Rundown, or for more information or media inquiries, please contact Adam Temple at 571.480.4891.
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Watch RSLC Chairman Ed Gillespie on “Face The Nation”
Last Updated on Monday, 11 October 2010 10:00 Written by rslcpol Monday, 11 October 2010 10:00
Check out the video below of RSLC Chairman Ed Gillespie on CBS Face the Nation.
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RSLC Chairman Ed Gillespie on CBS Face the Nation
Last Updated on Saturday, 9 October 2010 08:52 Written by rslcpol Saturday, 9 October 2010 08:50
Tune in tomorrow morning to watch RSLC Chairman Ed Gillespie on Face the Nation. Check out the Face the Nation website for more info.
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RSLC REDMAP Rundown – October 5th, 2010
Last Updated on Tuesday, 5 October 2010 02:09 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 5 October 2010 02:09
Welcome to this week’s edition of REDMAP Rundown, a synopsis of redistricting news brought to you by the RSLC’s REDistricting MAjority Project (REDMAP). This weekly update gives you the latest on what those in the Beltway, and across the country, are saying about the impending reapportionment and redistricting process.
In this week’s REDMAP Rundown: Obama’s gift to the GOP, Dems losing sleep over Ohio, Conspicuous losses, Pennsylvania battle is on and Hurricanes in North Carolina.
Kim Strassel opines in the Wall Street Journal, “Come Nov. 3, the bigger criticism may be the extent to which the White House has cost Democrats their grip on the electoral map—not just this cycle but for some time to come. … Mr. Obama’s other gift to Democrats is that he’s managed all of this in a year ending with ‘0.’ We just had a census. Come 2011, state legislatures and governors will use the results to redraw congressional lines. The party that controls the state is able to draw the lines in ways that benefits its side for the next 10 years. And as big as the GOP revival is looking nationally, it’s looking even bigger from a state level. Republicans are expected to finish this election with between 30 and 36 of the governorships. The Republican State Leadership Committee, which backs state legislative candidates, is already claiming victory in six state chambers and estimates that another 11 are in play. More important is where these gains take place—Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania, for starters. These are states expected to lose House seats because of the census, and the GOP may control the cutting. Or, consider this: Of the 75 most competitive House districts, 35 are in areas where Republicans feel confident they will take control of a legislative chamber. The GOP could be redrawing the map in its favor for nearly half the nation’s swing districts.”
Eleanor Clift writes in Politics Daily that state legislative races are “hugely important, and the political professionals are working these races like crazy, with Republicans pouring money into them and Democrats ringing the alarm bell that their party better wake up or risk being the minority in Washington for a decade. ‘Losing a few seats in Massachusetts won’t cost us any sleep,’ says Tom Bonier with NEC Services, a group that advises Democrats on redistricting. But losing seats in Ohio, where Democrats have a 53-to-46 edge over Republicans, could cost Democrats three or four House seats next time around. After gaining state legislative seats in the ’04, ’06 and ’08 elections, the Democrats are looking at a scenario where these gains could be swept away in the one election that particularly matters, the one that creates the power grid for redistricting.”
“A new study has blue states seeing red,” according to the American Spectator. “Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania will likely each lose a congressional seat in redistricting. New York and Ohio should lose two seats. … Conspicuously, states that voted for Barack Obama in 2008 are projected to lose eleven of those twelve subtracted seats. Conspicuously, states that voted for John McCain are expected to gain ten of the twelve new seats. Should Election Data Services, Inc.’s numbers hold up, Texas would gain four seats, Florida would add two, and Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, South Carolina, Utah, and Washington would each claim a new seat. Red states are gaining political clout at the expense of blue states. This makes the electoral map an even more elusive puzzle for President Obama to solve in 2012.”
“The battle for control of the state House of Representatives is on” in Pennsylvania, reports The Patriot-News. “Republicans see nothing standing in the way of them regaining the majority after four years of Democratic control. … House Democratic campaign operatives … want a seat at the table next year when the Legislature and governor tackle the once-in-a-decade task of redrawing congressional district boundaries. Republicans are virtually assured that they have a say in that process. The GOP holds a 10-seat advantage in the 50-member state Senate. … Rep. Dave Reed, chairman of the House Republican Campaign Committee, expressed optimism that Election Day will end on a happy note for the GOP. ‘We feel very good about where we’re at,’ said Reed, R-Indiana County. ‘Our incumbents are very strong across the board. Certainly, a couple of them will be targeted along the way just as there will be a number of Democratic incumbents targeted. But we feel overall we’re going to be back in the majority.’”
“No hurricanes for North Carolina so far this year. But we know one storm that is coming to our state this fall. In fact, we know the exact date: Nov. 2.” UNC-TV’s D.G. Martin writes, “the early political hurricane-watch reporters are predicting it could be a Category 5 storm, blowing away everything in its path. North Carolina Republican leaders are drooling at the prospect of taking charge of both houses of the legislature and overseeing the post-census redistricting of every congressional and state legislative seat. Some North Carolina Democrats are walking around in a daze, shell-shocked at the turn in public opinion from the time of the great Democratic victories of two years ago.”
The RSLC is the only national organization whose mission is to elect down ballot state-level Republican office-holders. To sign up for the REDMAP Rundown, or for more information or media inquiries, please contact Adam Temple at 571.480.4891.
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Don’t Miss RSLC Chairman Ed Gillespie on CNN’s State of the Union this Sunday
Last Updated on Friday, 1 October 2010 05:41 Written by rslcpol Friday, 1 October 2010 05:34
RSLC Chairman Ed Gillespie will be on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday, October 3rd.
You can learn more on the CNN Website.
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