Where we stand now... what are the best chances for picking up seats

[xultar]

in the House for 2k6.

What are you thinking?

I've been talking up Texas in the Houston Area.
I'm headed to Chicagoland and northern Indiana just over the border.

I'll see if I can blend business with political work.

[rpannier]

1. I used to live in Lake County in Indiana

It's solidly Democratic (the county), except for Munster, Crown Point and St. John's. Hell, Dukakis won the county in '88. It's the only county in Indiana that's Democratic.

As a side note:
You'll love East Chicago. It's old style politics. Mayor Pastrick is a corrupt, criminal Mayor in the mold of the Mayors of Chicago and New York at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century.

[Clark2008]

2. Harold Ford Jr. has a decent chance in Tennessee

believe it or not.

He's polling within the margin of error compared to any of his potential Republican opponents.

Oh - and he isn't as DLC as many on this board believe.

[OKNancy]

3. He's going for Senator

the OP wanted House analysis. I made the same mistake at first and was going to direct the OP to this great Senate analysis by Stepping Razor, before I re-read the post.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=2505496

[xultar]

4. The house is where impachment starts! That is where I'm going to start.

[xultar]

5. Kick!

[High Plains]

6. Sorry, no time for electoral politics.

Too busy worrying about how all men are sexists, whether to ban indoor cigarette smoking, how bad Joe Lieberman is, and trying to dig up dirt on the UAE. Did you know they make little kids race camels?

[TahitiNut]

7. .

:rofl:

[julialnyc]

20. all politics starts locally

It's not a bad way to spend your time

[Sapphire Blue]

8. Races to Watch: Filed Candidates

http://www2.dccc.org/races/

[xultar]

14. Thanks so much for the link. I'm gonna use it like it s 1999.

[julialnyc]

9. link is here

http://www.modernvertebrate.com/elections/2006-national/

[xultar]

15. That is a good link. I'm excited cuz my parents have a home in

Chicago too. They will be interested in the scene. They are going to move up in the summer. This will give them some head start info on where they are needed.

GREAT!!! I love it.

[salin]

10. three seats in play in Indiana

one near where you are heading in No Indiana. Chris Chocola (South Bend) has only a loose hold on his seat.

Down in the southwest part of the state, John Hostettler is loosing ground - all of his reelections have been very narrow - and he has only gotten loonier over time. Add some overall disastisfaction with the GOP (both bush and daniels have approval ratings in the thirties) - and a strong dem candidate and this seat comes further into play.

In the south central/eastern part of a state is the best chance - Mike Sodrel who relies on DeLayian rhetoric (which is growing less popoular) barely defeated dem Baron Hill last election... with the help of some now known last minute shenanigans. Baron is running again and seems to be benefiting from the new antipathy towards republicans.

Dare I say it - but there is a shot (long shot - but the first shot in a long time) that the composition of the Indiana delegation to Congress might shift to be majority dem (5-4).

[xultar]

13. What's the deal why only a loose hold in South Bend. You'd think

with Chicago right next door he'd be doin' o.k.

I'll check in with the local scene when I get in the week of March 20th and see what it is I need to do.

[salin]

19. closest to Chicago is Visclosky

Big Dem and he's had a lock for YEARS.

Little known factoid... in Indianapolis the consistently elected Julia Carson is the only member of the Black Congressional Caucus to be elected from a predominantly white district. In red Indiana, no less.

Sadly, as much as I would like it to be otherwise, those districts are rather outstandingly unrepresentative of much of this state. *sigh.*

Then again, as I said before - I honestly think that this is a bellweather election in Indiana... there really is a chance for THREE congressional districts to turn over to dems. A strong chance for one (Hill), a decent chance for two others (turning out Hostettler and Chocola) - and one of the best weapons... ironically enough... the distrust growing for bush's boy Gov. "My Man" Mitch Daniels.

[julialnyc]

11. I'm in CT and think it could be an interesting primary

I'm all for trying to get rid of Lieberman (who would win in a general election in CT, but could lose in a primary---- and CT would stay blue).

My Congressman Christopher Shays is a bit tougher. I live in the most Republican district in the State and many people love Shays around here--- but I'll try!

[salin]

12. KICK

[xultar]

16. Thanks for the kick baby. I've been a little down but now I'm ready

to fight for 2k6. I've had to do a lot of soul searching to continue to deal with the bullshit here @ DU so I can get my mojo on for 2k6.

[salin]

18. I am big for the bigger cause

and for the bigger picture.

and 06 is the most urgent thing going, in my mind... And like you - my sights are on the House.

[catmandu57]

17. There is a very good chance of Missouri turning blue

Democratic candidates have won three special state election recently, one in a puke stronghold down in god and guns county. If our candidate gets going here there is a very good chance of taking the 6th district back, and you can rack up a senate seat as well, things are looking good here. It's hard not to get optimistic, but the reptiles have really shot themselves in the foot here.

[Emit]

21. Jill Derby in NV

Derby, 65, of Gardnerville, is the only declared Democrat in the race to replace U.S. Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Reno, in Nevada's 2nd Congressional District. Three Republicans are vying for the GOP nomination: Assemblywoman Sharron Angle, R-Reno; former Assemblywoman Dawn Gibbons, Jim Gibbons' wife; and Secretary of State Dean Heller.

The district, which spans the entire state except most of Clark County, has never been won by a Democrat since it was created in 1982.

http://www2.dccc.org/races/candidates/NV_02_Jill_Derby.html


I saw her speak today at our County Dem Party Convention, and she was impressive. She's 'old' Nevada and a lot of Republicans have a great deal of respect for her.

This will be an interesting race, as it might put us in the position of gaining a Dem SOS. Vacating the position is Congressman Jim Gibbons (yack!), who is running for NV Governor (double yack!), the position currently held by Kenny Guinn. Gibbon's wife is trying to take his old seat in Congress (yikes!), as are the current SOS (Heller- he's the one who threatened to arrest the activist, Patricia Axelrod, who was wanting him to hand over all the voting records from 04 to challenge the results) and a crazy, right wing Norquist wannabe, Angle, who's big into advancing coorporate welfare 'issues'.

Sadly, our two Dem candidates for Governor against Gibbons didn't impress me much.

The Dem who is running for SOS (Ross Miller) is the son of one of our ex-Governors, Bob Miller, and will likely have a good chance. I don't know who the Repubs have lined up against him yet.

Wow. It's all in the family here.

Also, had a chance to meet and see Jack Carter (running for Senate against fundy John Ensign) speak today to our small crowd. He's really quite funny and is very smart. Very personable. I would really like him to beat out Ensign.

Anyway, Jill Derby has a chance to win a seat in Congress and help turn NV blue.