Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

If you take a historical look at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s upgrade of the First district’s Frank Kratovil to their Red-to-Blue program two weeks ago, you may find yourself asking, ‘Why?’

Because outside of a self-funder or war hero, rookie candidates in red districts don’t get this kind of national attention.

Frank KratovilThe First congressional district has been added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's (DCCC) 'Red to Blue' program, which provides support in races where Republican-held seats are viewed as possible or likely takeovers. The addition of Democratic candidate Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) as part of the DCCC's third wave of Red to Blue districts.

According the DCCC's website, candidates earn their spot on the list "by surpassing demanding fundraising goals and skillfully demonstrating to voters that they stand for change and will represent new priorities when elected to Congress." Kratovil had raised over $435,000 this cycle by the last filing deadline at the start of April.

First instituted in the 2004 cycle, the Red to Blue program raised nearly $22.6 million for 56 campaigns in 2006 -- an average of $404,000 per campaign. Red to Blue also offers candidates professional guidance on communications and campaign strategy.

Maryland's First has long been considered a safe Republican district, voting for President George W. Bush over the Democratic candidate in 2000 and 2004 by an average of 10 percentage points. Yet the GOP primary defeat of Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R-Kennedyville), who has held the seat for the last eighteen years, by the more conservative state Sen. Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) has given Democrats new heart.

First, to co-opt a line from the Trix cereal commercials: 'Silly Republicans -- beating Van Hollen is for Democrats!'

Remember how Chris Van Hollen said the best defense in a post-landslide cycle is an early, tenacious offense?

Yeah, he really meant it.

U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Kensington) had a lot of discussions over the weekend about where he sees the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee heading.

Rep. Chris Van Hollen: Appearing on Fox News Sunday.Democratic Congressional Campaign Chairman and Eight District Rep. Chris Van Hollen will take on his Republican counterpart, Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma on this week's Fox News Sunday.

The two will debate the direction of the campaign committees after the recent special elections in Mississippi, Lousiana and Illinois.

Van Hollen last appeared on the program opposite former Bush strategist Karl Rove.

Through his personal campaign committee and his leadership fund, AmeriPAC, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer gave out $169,000 to fellow members’ committees in the first quarter of this year alone.

Rep. Chris Van HollenRep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Kensington), the chairman of the 2008 Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), was the honorary host of a fundraiser held on behalf of congressional candidate and State’s Attorney Frank Kratovil (D-Stevensville) at Cottingham Farm in Easton, this evening.

Kratovil will face Andy Harris (R-Cockeysville) in the November election in Maryland’s First Congressional District.

Speaking with PolitickerMD.com, Van Hollen called Kratovil a “terrific candidate” who “fits the political temperament of the district” and has a “good chance” of winning.

“We will do everything we can to support his effort,” Van Hollen said of the DCCC.

Erik Gulbrandsen, Kratovil’s communications director, said he did not know how much money the campaign expected to raise from the event, but said the cost was $250 per person.

On the fundraising question, Kratovil told PolitickerMD.com that he was pleased with the recent numbers from the first financial quarter reports, saying, “We’re dead even in cash on hand.”

The Hill has a piece out this morning about the success of Chris Van Hollen's early hardball tactics in discouraging Republican incumbents and challengers to the 30 freshman Democrats from running this year. He credits much of it to taking the opposition research operation in-house at the DCCC, and his efforts have now turned to targetting even more incumbents -- something few thought possible.

So the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced today that they have over $44 million cash-on-hand and no debt.  The National Republican Congressional Committee has not released their most recent fundraising numbers, but earlier this month they had around $5 million on hand and nearly $2 million in debt.