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Thursday, September 29, 2011

GOP turns up heat on Blue Dogs, a rural breed

House Republicans are increasing pressure on Blue Dog Democrats, the fiscal moderates whose districts are more rural and "politically challenging" than most, reports Josh Kurtz of Environment & Energy News.

"The National Republican Congressional Committee today created a new feature on its website dedicated to the Blue Dogs, with a map of the United States designed to show that the lawmakers are among 'Washington's endangered species' and are nowhere to be found," Kurtz writes. Videos attack Reps. John Barrow of Georgia, Jim Matheson of Utah, Dennis Cardoza of California, Ben Chandler of Kentucky, Kurt Schrader of Oregon and Heath Shuler of North Carolina.

Targeted in news releases are Reps. Jason Altmire and Tim Holden of Pennsylvania, Sanford Bishop of Georgia, Leonard Boswell of Iowa, Jim Cooper of Tennessee, Jim Costa and Loretta Sanchez of California, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Mike McIntyre of North Carolina, Michael Michaud of Maine and Collin Peterson of Minnesota.

"Republican strategists are making it no secret that even before campaign season begins in earnest, they are hoping to bully as many Blue Dogs into retirement as they can -- the theory being that it is easier for the GOP to win open-seat races in conservative districts than races against established Democratic incumbents, even if they are tethered to an unpopular Obama at the top of the ticket," Kurtz reports. (Subscription required)

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