DGA Portraying GOP Nominees As Extreme
The DGA unveiled a blueprint on Wednesday that calls for painting GOP nominees as "extreme" in its effort to minimize losses this fall.
Dubbed the "Extreme GOP Makeover," the DGA will seek to focus on attacking conservative GOP candidates that emerged from tough primaries in states like Florida and Colorado.
The strategy is threefold, according a memo penned by Executive Director Nathan Daschle. First, "GOP candidates are not mainstream candidates." Second, "they hold radical policy positions that are contrary to the values of moderates and independents." And third, "their extreme policies pose a clear and present danger to our economic recovery and the future of their respective states."
With this argument, the DGA is taking a page out of the DNC playbook -- DNC chairman Tim Kaine is attacking several leading GOP Senate candidates with the same message in a speech today in Philadelphia.
The electoral landscape for the DGA is challenging this year. Currently, Dems hold 26 governorships to the GOP's 24. This year there are 37 gubernatorial races; Dems hold 19 of those seats and the GOP controls 18. Republicans have said they will pick up at least 6 governorships, bringing their total to 30 this year.
The DGA seeks to set the bar low early in the memo, noting that the party that controls the WH typically loses 6 governorships in its first midterm election.
"The current anti-incumbent mood of the electorate still endangers more Democrats than Republicans," Daschle wrote.
Notably, the DGA picks 4 races as key indicators for how well the GOP will do, and they aren't all races where the Dems are currently running ahead: California, Colorado, Florida and Texas. In CA, former eBay CEO Meg Whitman (R) has led AG Jerry Brown (D) in most surveys, and the same can be said for GOP Gov. Rick Perry (R), who is facing Houston Mayor Bill White in TX.
Dems were relieved in Florida when the GOP nominated businessman Rick Scott, believing it boosts FL CFO Alex Sink's chances. The same can be said in CO, where businessman Dan Maes (R) is trailing Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper (D).
In CO and FL, Dems believe tough GOP primaries have left the GOP base divided, creating an opportunity for their candidates. And in order to win these primaries, GOP nominees had to move farther to the right than the general electorate's in their states.
GOP nominees who "pitched the Tea Party right are now married to those extreme and radical positions," Daschle wrote. "These positions, as public and private polling shows, alienate moderate and independent voters.
Beyond the gubernatorial races, these races will bear an outsized influence on Dem redistricting efforts following the census. In TX, for example, even if White loses a close loss could help Dems in the Texas House, a critical factor in redistricting. Redistricting is also a top priority for Dems in CO, FL and CA because they are among the country's most populous states.