Democrats

Dead Dems Walking: TPM's List Of Candidates Who've Been Written Off By Their Party

Brian Beutler | November 2, 2010, 7:24AM

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer with other House Democrats

Returns for 435 House elections will start rolling in a few hours from now. Well before they do, though, most Dems had long conceded that more than a handful of races are already lost. With these seats for all intents and purposes off the table before the polls opened, the number of truly contested seats the GOP needs to win control of the House is effectively much smaller than the magic 39.

Assuming the House does change hands, then, the big open question is how big the swing will be. There are scores of seats in play, but the battle lines have already moved past over a dozen House members who, in most cases, have already been written off by their own party.

If you're keeping score tonight, don't hold your breath for any of these Democrats.

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Health Care

Bucking The Trend? Dems In Tough Races Run On Vote For Health Care Reform (VIDEO)

Brian Beutler | October 14, 2010, 9:10AM

Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Rep. John Larson (D-CT)

The conventional wisdom suggests that Democrats are "running scared" from health care reform. But the truth is that most Democrats have nothing to be afraid of -- and those who do, by and large, voted against it. Of course, some of the vulnerable Dems who voted for the bill are happy to avoid the subject. But a surprising number are running on reform, in ads, op-eds, and debates in their states and districts.

While it's true that a number of the most conservative and vulnerable Dems are outwardly repudiating their party's leadership, Speaker Pelosi herself yesterday sought to set the record straight on Democratic pride in reform.

"It's important to note -- and I say this all the time -- the plural of anecdote is not data," she told reporters. "At least 200 members are out there boasting the benefit of the health care bill. At least. There may be some who did vote for the bill who are not talking it up -- they didn't vote for it. There are others who are soft peddling it, maybe, because other issues are working for them better. "

Below the top five examples of Democrats turning the CW on its head.

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2010 elections

Chamber Of Commerce Unloads New Ads Against Dems (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | October 6, 2010, 11:27AM

Ad from Vote For Business, "FL 8 Grayson"

The Chamber of Commerce has a whole bunch of new ads in key Congressional races, targeting big-name Dems.

One ad goes after freshman Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL), who is known for his vitriolic attacks against Republicans. "Tired of big-mouth politicians ignoring our big problems? Alan Grayson is the most extreme," the announcer says, followed by past video of Grayson famously declaring on the House floor that the Republican health care plan was for sick people to "die quickly," and also the occasion when he crashed a local Republican meeting.

"But when it comes to Nancy Pelosi, big barker Grayson turns into a lapdog."

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