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DCCC To Target Fitzpatrick During August Recess

Fitzpatrick Head Shot 2012
Mike Fitzpatrick

August, with its long congressional recess and vacuum of news, has increasingly become the cruelest month for incumbent politicians. For Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick, August brings yet one more sign that he remains one of the most targeted House Republicans in the country.

In an email from the DCCC that was obtained by CQ Roll Call, Fitzpatrick (R-Bucks) was identified as one of 17 members of the GOP that the Democrats hope to pressure with various grassroots efforts over the long August recess. Seventeen, not coincidentally, is exactly how many seats the Democrats would need to win the House in 2014.

“In the majority of these districts we have field staffers on the ground, coordinated through the respective state parties, to define and hold accountable vulnerable Republican incumbents, through earned media tactics, messaging amplification, and community outreach,” wrote Ryan Daniels, the deputy national press secretary and African-American media adviser.

In response to this revelation, Ian Prior of the National Republican Campaign Committee said Fitzpatrick’s record will inoculate him from the DCCC’s pressure.

“It’s laughable that Nancy Pelosi is using the DCCC to tout Obamacare, climate change, and other divisive policies that are devastating to Pennsylvania’s economic growth,” Prior said. “Meanwhile, Republicans like Mike Fitzpatrick are reaching across the aisle to pass bipartisan legislation that can actually benefit middle class families and small businesses.”

This is just the latest sign that Fitzpatrick is a major target of the DCCC. In May, Democratic candidate Kevin Strouse was put on the organization’s “Jumpstart” list. Then, DCCC chair Rep. Steve Israel of New York came to fundraise for Strouse in June. Finally, in July, it launched a web ad attacking Fitzpatrick for an increase in student loan rates.

Strouse faces businesswoman Shaughnessy Naughton in the Democratic primary.

This whole episode is part of an effort this year by the Democratic Party to flip the script that worked so well for Republicans in 2009, using August grassroots events to take the initiative in driving the national conversation.

4 Responses

  1. I think Kevin Strouse is the best one to help the Dems win back the 8th District.

    He is energetic, focused, sincere, and committed to representing us. Can’t wait to help him out!

    A great grassroots campaigner too!

  2. Rep. Fitzpatrick needs to say, clearly and unequivocally, in a press release, that he will not vote for the Continuing Resolution unless it, specifically, defunds the implementation of Obamacare.

    The government will NOT shut down. Mandatory spending, including Obamacare subsidies, Social Security, Medicare, Armed Forces. How many taxpayers will notice, anyway?

    Jim DeMint lays out the strategy and the rationale http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324522504578654592286139464.html?mod=djemITP_h

    If he funds it, he is for it and if he is for it, I cannot be for him. Mike is targeted by DCCC and I do not think that Mike Fitzpatrick can win without Tea Party support.

  3. It is notable that more potent D-candidates are eschewing competition with Mike, inasmuch as he has pledged [via self-imposed term-limits] that he will depart after this term.

    At his Town Hall last Saturday, Mike spoke candidly about the redistricting process and, specifically, how he had lobbied to keep Bucks County from suffering the same fate as had MontCo, a decade prior, which was divvied-up among six [6] Congressional Seats from its original perception as solely the 13th; rather than packing-in more R’s, he sought to represent the myriad interests of his home-community [including noisy D’s].

    Perhaps the duo will be seeking name-recognition for the 2016 race, but one would anticipate a loss [by one in the primary and by the other in the general] would open the field for a more prominent D to run in what would become an open seat [following retirement of this statesman].

  4. Ha! Someone tell the Democrats that mike fitzpatrick is a perfect fit for moderate bucks county. Patrick murphy 2 and wannabe nNcy pelosi wont work.

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