National Democrats are sending in the reinforcements for members of Congress who supported their agenda but who face tough reelection battles in 2010.
Organizing for America (OFA), the field arm for the Democratic National Committee, will air a series of radio ads promoting the decisions of vulnerable members of Congress who endorsed healthcare reform legislation and the stimulus package.
Some House Democrats supportive of President Obama’s agenda, especially those who hail from swing districts, have faced hostile crowds at town hall meetings since August recess began.
“Thanks to the support of these members and others like them – we will reform the health insurance system in this country and make other critical policy changes to get our economy back on track,” OFA director Mitch Stewart said in the release.
In a release issued on Tuesday, the DNC announced it will place health insurance reform ads in the districts of 19 House Democrats:
Rep. Steve Driehaus (Ohio)
Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (Pa.)
Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (Ariz.)
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.)
Rep. Jerry McNerney (Calif.)
Rep. Ed Perlmutter (Colo.)
Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (Fla.)
Rep. Alan Grayson (Fla.)
Rep. Tim Walz (Minn.)
Rep. Martin Heinrich (N.M.)
Rep. Dina Titus (Nev.)
Rep. Dan Maffei (N.Y.)
Rep. Eric Massa (N.Y.)
Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (Ohio)
Rep. John Boccieri (Ohio)
Rep. Zack Space (Ohio)
Rep. Charlie Wilson (Ohio)
Rep. Glenn Nye (Va.)
Rep. Steve Kagen (Wisc.)
Of the 19 members, 15 appeared on the National Republican Congressional Committee’s (NRCC) list of 70 targeted districts in the 2010 House elections. The only exceptions are Giffords, Perlmutter, Walz, and Wilson.
The featured ads are entitled “Standing Up” and tout the congressmen and women’s support for President Obama’s healthcare agenda and their vote allowing the renewal of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
OFA also cut a series of ads called “To the Rescue” which will run in the districts of four congressmen who backed the stimulus package: Reps. Allen Boyd (Fla.), Travis Childers (Miss.), Ben Chandler (Ky.), and Earl Pomeroy. All but Boyd were included on the NRCC target list.