DNC targets Lance and LoBiondo over opposition to healthcare

by: Jason Springer

Thu Nov 12, 2009 at 05:30:00 PM EST

The DNC announced the other day that they will target Congressmen Lance and Lobiondo as part of their effort to focus on the group of 32 House Republicans who opposed the healthcare bill that are in Congressional Districts won by President Obama in 2008:

Through this campaign, the DNC will send a message to Republicans who have reflexively said no to health insurance reform by urging them to do the right thing and support reform when it comes to the House again for a final vote. The campaign will include press releases, Op-Eds and letters to the editor, local events and will leverage the energy and enthusiasm of the DNC's grassroots supporters and its email list in holding these members accountable for their vote. The effort may also include paid advertising. DNC National Press Secretary Hari Sevugan released the following statement on the effort:
"You would think a Member of Congress should think twice about voting against health insurance reform that their families and small businesses so desperately need and want. But you have to think to vote against health insurance reform in a Congressional District won by President Obama just a year ago could be a political death knell at a time when Americans are clamoring for solutions to vexing issues like health care," said Sevugan. "These members not only represent districts that voted for President Obama, but also where health insurance reform, as in the rest of the country, is badly needed and where passing it will be politically popular. Some on the very far right wing would have people believe that voting for health insurance reform is a mistake politically - when the truth is that any Republican who votes against reform, especially those from districts won by the President, will undoubtedly place themselves in real political peril."

We've focused here at Blue Jersey a good deal of a attention and effort on getting the people in our own party on board with healthcare reform, but the DNC is taking a look at the other side of the aisle and lining up their targets for the next election based on what they see. In separate releases, the DNC noted that President Obama received 54% of the vote in Congressman LoBiondo's district and didn't give a percentage in Lance's district, but pointed to the President's victory. In fact, they and Organizing for America started putting out those releases hitting Lance and LoBiondo immediately following the vote on Saturday night. Congressman LoBiondo's spokesman had a simple, short response to the targeting:

Asked about the DNC's targeting of LoBiondo, Galanes asked, "Are they targeting John Adler? ... Just curious."

Are we in Congress or pre-school? A bad vote by Johnny doesn't excuse Franky from doing the right thing by his people.

Jason Springer :: DNC targets Lance and LoBiondo over opposition to healthcare

Tags: John Adler, NJ3, nj-3, NJ-7, NJ-2, NJ7, NJ2, healthcare, DNC, Frank LoBiondo, Leonard Lance, (All Tags)

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DNC targets Lance and LoBiondo over opposition to healthcare | 4 comments

Stupid move on the DNC's part... (0.00 / 0)

just bringing attention to the fact that John Adler voted against the bill.

by: Matthew Jordan @ Thu Nov 12, 2009 at 22:56:42 PM UTC

not quite sure I follow the DNC argument... (0.00 / 0)

both Lance and LoBiondo outpaced President Obama by large margins but the president's victory somehow trumps?

clearly the 2008 election day numbers show that more voters in the 7th and 2nd would potentially agree with their congressional reps than with the president on this issue.

by: maxidoodler @ Thu Nov 12, 2009 at 23:29:13 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

by: you @ soon

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actually you are mistaken (0.00 / 0)

You are thinking of the percentage of the votes.

Leonard Lance got 148,461 votes
Barack Obama got 177,471 votes

The difference was that Stender did much worse than McCain and a lot of people don't bother to vote for Congress.

http://www.njelections.org/200...

http://spreadsheets.google.com...

Even LoBiondo got hardly any more votes than Obama, at that against a candidate who was completely unknown and unsupported.

LoBiondo: 167,701
Obama: 165,983

Frank LoBiondo Record and Jon Runyan Watch

by: Hopeful @ Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 00:51:45 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

there is another problem with this strategy (4.00 / 1)

If I remember correctly, 4 million people voted in 2008. This year, half as many people voted, which was the main reason Corzine lost.

I don't know how many people voted in 1998, the last year where there was no statewide election in the state, but my guess is that turnout will approximate 2010's.

If Assemblywoman Linda Stender and whomever challenged LoBiondo were unable to beat Lance in 2008 with the highest possible voter turnout, the DNC is fooling itself if it thinks that it can use the 2010 elections to scare them into voting with them on healthcare reform.

Even if Senators Van Drew or Whelan and Assemblywoman Stender had already announced their intentions to run in 2010 with the full backing of the DCCC, it is unlikely that these formidable challengers would be enough to get them to do the right thing.

In 2010, Lance and LoBiondo will have much more to fear from a far-right-wing primary challenger, which is what they would face if they voted for healthcare reform, than the strongest Democratic challenger.

That said, for reasons that I have already explained here, I don't think that it makes sense for the grassroots to to give John Adler too hard of time over his vote unless it is absolutely essential for passage. Pelosi will have a nosecount when the time comes and will put the necessary pressure on Adler if she thinks that his vote is needed.

by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Fri Nov 13, 2009 at 01:07:59 AM UTC

[ Parent ]