Democrat Grassroots Program for 2008

Date: July 30, 2007

TO: Dedicated Democratic Leaders

FROM: Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD),Chairman Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) RE: Growing the Democratic Majority in Congress EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The 2008 election is already in full swing and our candidates are hard at work across the country, campaigning for their vision of America’s future. They are meeting voters, mobilizing activists, and fighting for early support. And the stakes could not be higher. Will the Democratic Party stay on offense and finish the job we began in 2006 by taking back the White House and strengthening our majorities in Congress?

Or will the Republican Party, funded by powerful special interests, fight back and hold the White House while taking back one or both houses of Congress? The answer to these questions will depend on what we do together right now. If you have had enough of the lack of accountability, massive corruption and failed policies of the Bush Administration, then join with me and hundreds-of-thousands of your fellow Democrats in the most important campaign in a generation. Together we can make lasting change for America. This Victory in 2008 memorandum lays out “Phase I” of our strategy – building on our momentum from 2006 and setting the stage for an even bigger victory in 2008. This is our plan for building on what we started in 2006 and finishing the job in 2008. I urge you to review this plan for victory and then join with me and your fellow Democrats and support the DCCC today. We will finish the job in 2008, but only with your support. Please consider rushing a generous donation of $20, $25 or even $50 to the DCCC right now. Your gift will be put to work immediately, helping to implement our Victory in 2008 Campaign Plan. The only way we can finish the job in 2008 is with your support. Together we can make lasting change for America.

INTRODUCTION

We need your support now in order to mount a strong offense. To protect and expand our Majority in 2008, we need to mobilize voters, get our message out, and counter the vicious attacks and distortions already being fired from the Karl Rove spin machine. Our plan for expanding our Majority consists of four fundamental steps:

Putting Republicans on the defensive

1. Aggressively targeting ethically-challenged Republican incumbents
2. Continue our work bringing change and accountability to Washington
3. Strongly supporting our Democratic candidates

We also need to continue reminding the American people of the progress that we’ve made in only six short months in the Majority. Within the first 100 days of Congress, House Democrats passed a minimum wage increase, approved sweeping ethics reform, authorized new stem cell research, and held more than150 oversight hearings — more than the Republicans did in 12 years. As proud as we are of these accomplishments, I can assure you that it's just the beginning. With six years of failed and disastrous policy from the Bush Administration, it will take a stronger Majority and a Democrat in the White House to repair the damage and put our country back on track. In order for us to win the White House and increase our Majority, the DCCC is going to need your dedicated and sustained support. You are the base of our Party and the foundation of victory. Your immediate help is critical to the success of our plan to move America forward.

STEP 1: PUTTING REPUBLICANS ON THE DEFENSIVE

The best way to keep the Republicans on defense is for Democrats to build an early and aggressive offense. That is exactly what we have done so far and we intend to keep it that way. We are aggressively targeting Republican-held seats where the right Democrat can win in 2008. To make sure that we succeed, the DCCC is expanding the playing field by recruiting strong candidates in competitive districts focusing on four key areas:

1. Districts where Republicans won by less than 10% in 2006;
2. Seats where the Republican incumbent plans to retire;
3. Districts held by ethically challenged Republican incumbents; and,
4. Republican-held seats in districts that John Kerry won in 2004.

Targeting vulnerable Republicans early accomplishes two key objectives:

1. It expands the number of seats that Democrats have a chance to pick up, giving our party critical momentum, energy, and resources nationwide; and
2. It forces the Republicans to spend their limited resources defending their vulnerable seats instead of using those funds to attack Democrats.

In 2008, Democrats will compete in all 32 districts where Republicans won with less than 10% in 2006. And, as the graph above shows, there were proportionately more Republican seats that were held onto with smaller vote margins then Democrats, making them prime targets for a Democratic pick-up. This is only the beginning. In 2008 the national playing field will be even bigger. Democrats will be on the offensive, playing district by district across the country.

STEP 2: TARGETING ETHICALLY CHALLENGED MEMBERS

The 2006 Elections proved that trust and accountability matter a great deal. In 2006, years of Republican corruption and abuse of power was exposed. And these elections showed that Democrats could win in Republican districts where an ethically-challenged incumbent was on the ballot. As we continue to uncover the Republicans’ culture of corruption in 2007, Democrats are holding Republicans accountable. Over the course of the past few months we have watched these headlines hit the newspapers:

“Arizona GOP Rep. Rick Renzi steps down from all committees after FBI raid” (AP, 4/24/07)

“Rep. Doolittle resigns panel seat after FBI raids home…” (Chicago Sun-Times, 4/20/07)

“FBI asking Tom Feeney about trip with Abramoff” (St. Petersburg Times, 4/24/07)

Make no mistake about it: Democrats are committed to holding Republicans’ feet to the fire by exposing corruption and recruiting the strongest possible challengers to sweep them out of office. STEP 3: ACCOUNTABILITY Last November, Democrats promised to give the Bush Administration and the Republicans in Washington something they desperately tried to avoid for six years – accountability. Since taking control in January, we have delivered on that pledge. Democrats have left no stone unturned and brought unprecedented accountability to Washington. We ended the President’s blank check to wage an endless war in Iraq. But that was just the beginning. We have held more than 150 oversight hearings to expose the Bush Administration’s failed policies - from the disastrous planning and execution of the war in Iraq to Hurricane Katrina to the Justice Department’s politically motivated firing of some of our best U.S. Attorneys. Democrats have also brought new accountability to Washington. We restored fiscal responsibility to our budget and passed one of the strongest lobbying reform packages in history. Thanks to your help, we have placed the Republicans on notice that Democrats will not stop working for a better America that improves people’s lives and is once again respected around the world. STEP 4: SUPPORTING OUR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES Democrats have a strong record of defending tough incumbent seats. Democrats have lost only six incumbent seats since 1996, three of which we’ve already regained. The DCCC is setting up a mentor program to dispatch battle-tested elected members to help newly recruited candidates battle their opponents. The new class of Democrats are battle tested and heading into 2008 with a better command of what it takes to win. Many ran tough races and, thanks to our Majority standing in Congress, now have a solid record of accomplishments to take back to their constituents. We cannot afford to take any chances. That is why we have set aggressive goals for each of our new members to help ensure they get their campaigns off and running early:

• Outreach programs: In order to build the best local grassroots networks, the DCCC is asking new Members to put together outreach and volunteer programs in their home districts. Members will be required to build and execute a rigorous house party and grassroots plan with the goal of identifying 1,000 volunteers.
• Online networks: Since the support of Internet organizations was a vital part of the Democratic success in 2006, we will continue to develop our online presence on behalf of our Democrats, seeking to involve at least 30,000 new supporters via e-mail and Webbased outreach.
• Rapid Response Network: We have established a special network (and a fund to support it) that hits back hard when Republicans spin the facts to distort the truth. We have set a goal to recruit 500,000 activists dedicated to ensuring that the truth –not Republican spin – is getting through to the media and to voters.

People and grassroots participation count, but our candidates will not win if they don’t have financial resources to get their messages out through the media and fight back hard when attacked by Karl Rove’s hatchet men and their allies on right-wing talk radio and in other media. Early success with fundraising will give pause to Republican challengers and help us recruit strong Democrats to take on Republicans in open seat races or in soft Republican-held districts.

CONCLUSION: GOOD POLICY IS GOOD POLITICS Sustaining our Majority requires more than good candidates and well-funded strategies. We have to prove why a Democratic Majority is worth fighting for. What we’ve achieved so far in 2007 not only offers the clearest picture yet of the difference between a Republican-led Congress and a Democratic one, but it is the strongest argument for keeping the Democrats in power. As Speaker Pelosi says, Democrats are committed to improving lives, creating opportunities and providing a helping hand when needed. We Democrats intend to wage a smart, aggressive campaign to expand our majority in both Houses of Congress — and we intend to win the White House too. Our success depends on three key things:

1. Getting an early start – which we have done;
2. Having a plan of action;
3. Winning the early support of concerned people like you.

I urge you to join us at the DCCC with a generous contribution. Just complete the enclosed form and return it promptly to me. I will make sure that you get ongoing updates and information as the campaign progresses. Thank you in advance for your support and participation. The most effective place for your financial support right now is not in a Democratic primary campaign — which pits Democrat against Democrat — but here, at the DCCC, where we work for all Democrats to sustain and expand the Majority we must have to govern on your behalf.