Comfortable that Udall is a Lock, DSCC Pulls Out

The only day I'm looking forward to more than 11/5

Is the day Dick Wadhams resigns as Colorado GOP Chairman. Who knows? Maybe they'll be the same day.

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by: redstateblues @ Wed Oct 22, 2008 at 22:17:23 PM UTC

Excuse me...

It is not "U.S. Rep. Mark Udall", it is "Boulder Liberal Mark Udall".
I have that on good authority from DickWad hams.

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by: davebarnes @ Wed Oct 22, 2008 at 23:06:59 PM UTC

Nervous Nelly

...but this seems like a strange message to the voters at this time (during early voting and right before election day):  "we have it the bag!"

I'm not as sweet as I used to be.

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by: Jambalaya @ Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 00:35:53 AM UTC

They are not wanting to send any kind of message

That is an unfortunate side-effect of this move.  However, they do need to move resources to other more competitive races where they may be able to pick up an additional seat:  Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, Minnesota?????

Frankly, this race has been over for some time.

Udall wins this by at least 10 points.

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by: Roger D @ Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 01:42:46 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I think Udall wins, but more like by 6 points

After all, he IS a "Boulder Liberal."

"Why not do the right thing for the American people, even though it's not exactly what we want." - Speaker Boehner

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by: Half Glass Full @ Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 03:02:04 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Better than "Oops I crapped my pants!"

GOP "Death List" Predicts Democratic Blowout in the House

Voter displeasure with the war and economy, coupled with Sen. Barack Obama's popularity, has the House GOP running for cover. Even though polls have shown that Americans don't like congressional Democrats any more, a new internal GOP tally of House races suggests a Democratic route that could keep the Republicans in the minority for decades. A document provided to Washington Whispers from a House GOP official shows that they could lose a net 34 seats. That means the Democrats would have a 270-165 advantage in the 111th Congress. In the Senate, Republicans expect to lose also but to keep up to 44 seats, ensuring their ability to stage a filibuster.

Take a wild guess which 5 Senate Seats they anticipate losing.  

"Suddenly, it may be cool to be American again" - William J. Kole

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by: Go Blue @ Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 02:21:25 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Remember when the '92 elections?

Supposedly the GOP was dead after that massacre, but they seemed to have risen from the Grave, pissed off and ready to rumble.

I doubt that the GOP will lie on the ground, and let the Dems bleat their victory call. In fact, they're already plotting their triumphant return in '10.

Decades? Give me a break. They'll be back in 2 years with a new phony Contract with America Part Deux, and all kinds of maliciously crafted wedge issues.  

"The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten." Calvin Coolidge

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by: SSG_Dan @ Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 02:40:56 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The only bright side?

The 2010 Senate map isn't any better for Republicans than this year's.  In 2012 they've got some strong races to run.  In 2010, though, their best bet is to try to reclaim some of their soon-to-be-lost House seats.

"We're below sharks and contract killers." -- Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), speaking on Congress's 9% approval rating

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by: Phoenix Rising @ Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 02:51:46 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

So when the RSCC pulls out it's because they're losing, and when the DSCC pulls out it's because they're winning?

I'm not saying that's the case - but it just seems a little odd for the DSCC to pull out lock, stock and barrel.

Better to run a token presence.

"Why not do the right thing for the American people, even though it's not exactly what we want." - Speaker Boehner

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by: Half Glass Full @ Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 03:04:25 AM UTC

yeah

this is just what i was thinking... do we really think the RNCC is going to abandon Musgrave and the RSCC is going to abandon Schaffer and the McCain Camp is going to completely give up on Colorado all at the same time?  that's too good to be true, frankly.

plus, I'm as much of a partisan Dem as anyone on here...but it really seems like a complete double standard...i know the polls favor Udall right now, but when the RSCC gives up on Schaffer it's because he sucks and Udall rules, and when the DSCC gives up on Udall it's because he rules and Schaffer sucks

i agree with HGF, but thankfully Forward Colorado, the Udall camp, and all of the various committee people in each of the counties are going to (and are currently) work(ing) very hard on GOTV, which is where our efforts are best spent in the next 12 days for sure.

we got this.

"NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO GIVE UP FIGHTING FOR HEALTH CAFE WITH A PUVBLIC OPGION" - Senator Michael Bevnett

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by: Jersey Transplant @ Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 03:11:15 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I think it all makes sense

If Udall is set to win, then they should take those bucks and put them where the race is still in doubt. Better for Udall to win by 5% and Franken by 3 votes than Udall by 8% and Franken loses.

I'm sure the DSCC, RSCC, etc wish they could do this quietly, but they can't. So we do get to hear about it.

And the DSCC assumes that the Udall team will continue to work their ass off. They aren't leaving assuming Udall will relax, they are leaving assuming that if Udall & team keep doing their job - then it's a win.

Where all the cool kids will be on Saturday - Code War!

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by: DavidThi808 @ Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 03:44:45 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Exactly

I don't know how much Udall has left, but between Udall's remaining funds and the overwhelming GOTV effort that's going to happen here in Colorado, the DSCC has done the wise thing and redirected the money somewhere else.

Begich in Alaska is too close.  Franken is too close.  Martin in Georgia is almost tied (and revenge against Chambliss would be sweet).  Musgrove could win against Wicker in MS if the African-American GOTV is good enough.  And Dems want a shot at taking out Mitch McConnell, too.

Lots of good places to put that cash, not so much cash to spend.

"We're below sharks and contract killers." -- Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), speaking on Congress's 9% approval rating

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by: Phoenix Rising @ Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 04:57:33 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Revenge for Daschle

Taking out McConnell is Schumer's wet dream. It's complete turnabout, and it's gotta really steam Dick Wadhams that they may be about to do unto McConnell as he did unto Daschle.

Given that his own candidate this cycle is such a dunderhead I have to think he must secretly be hoping the NRSC redirects some resources to save McConnell so that Wadhams can keep the title of being the only guy to ever unseat a Senate caucus leader. (I don't know if that claim is actually true, but it's one that he makes)

Non impediti ratione cogitationis.

BTW, I "adduced" this all by myself, you total fucking assclown.
-Laughing Boy

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by: ThillyWabbit @ Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 05:17:56 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Beating Schaffer

on top of beating Allen --

is the best revenge for Daschle.

But you're right, unseating the Republican leader would be an extra sweet revenge. I don't see it happening though ...

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by: RedGreen @ Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 05:33:29 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

From a Udall e-mail

...We received over $2.7 million from nearly 20,000 individual donors in the third quarter

The e-mail also said they were pushing to raise another quarter million dollars for the final two weeks.

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by: redstateblues @ Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 05:44:24 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I got the same email BUT

The same email said that Schaffer had over 3.4 million saved up for the last few days....Anybody else get that one?

I do not think this race is over.  

 For politics, geezers are golden.
by: BlueCat @ Tue Aug 16, 2011 at 19:19:14 PM MDT

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by: dwyer @ Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 15:28:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I forgot to mention that part

Yes, Schaffer has 3.4 mil lying around apparently. I think he'll save some of it and try to run for office again. If he spends every last penny, I don't think it would be enough to catch up.

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by: redstateblues @ Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 15:48:14 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Yes

They pull out when the deem a race is no longer competitive, whether they find themselves on the winning side or on the losing side.

It only makes sense to direct a finite amount of money where there's a good chance it will affect the outcome.

Non impediti ratione cogitationis.

BTW, I "adduced" this all by myself, you total fucking assclown.
-Laughing Boy

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by: ThillyWabbit @ Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 04:01:04 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Exactly

There's ALWAYS this kind of shuffling in the last three weeks. It didn't used to be news within hours of the ad changes, but it's always worked this way, and why shouldn't it?

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by: RedGreen @ Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 04:41:33 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Interpreting the facts on the ground

The narrative is the NRCC abandoned CO-04 as a lost cause simply because all the available facts on the ground say Musgrave is losing the race.

The NRCC is broke; they took out an $8m loan the other day hoping to plug a few holes in the dam.  The DCCC went in the red the next day, hoping to wedge those cracks in the dam wide open.  The overall theme of this season is that the Republicans are on the defensive almost everywhere this year; they only have high hopes of picking up three seats, and will be losing perhaps 20.  Musgrave is a casualty of a bad year for the NRCC, combined with her own lackluster campaign performances.

"We're below sharks and contract killers." -- Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), speaking on Congress's 9% approval rating

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by: Phoenix Rising @ Thu Oct 23, 2008 at 05:03:18 AM UTC

[ Parent ]