NRCC Creates Campaign Outreach Program -- For Safe-Seat Candidates

The National Republican Congressional Committee, which is tasked with electing Republicans to Democratic-held House seats and protecting vulnerable GOP-held seats, has now rolled out a new program -- for candidates in open safe GOP seats.

The new Young Guns Vanguard program, an NRCC press release announced, will "assist candidates running in Republican-leaning open seats as they head into the fall. It kicks off a working relationship between the NRCC and these Vanguard candidates, as well as their future colleagues in the House Republican Conference, in advance of the election."

The first seven candidates announced for the program are all in seats that are GOP-leaning or fully safe for the Republicans.

Here are the seven candidates, along with John McCain's percentage in each district: Jeff Denham (CA-19, 52%), Jeff Duncan (SC-03, 64%), Trey Gowdy (SC-04, 60%), Todd Rokita (IN-04, 56%), Tim Scott (SC-01, 56%), Marlin Stutzman (IN-03, 56%), Steve Womack (AR-03, 64%).

We didn't quite get the point of this, so we asked NRCC deputy communications director Paul Lindsay: Will party resources and fundraising energy end up going to these candidates who are already in safe seats? What is the purpose and benefit of this program?

"The NRCC's primary focus will remain on winning as many competitive Democrat-held seats as possible," said Lindsay. "With that being said, the Young Guns Vanguard gives these candidates an opportunity to be brought into the fold and establish a relationship with their future colleagues well before the Election."