In 1994, sensing voters were fed up with the Democrat-controlled Congress, Republicans stood on the Capitol steps and unveiled their “Contract With America.”
It was a 10-point legislative plan outlining what voters would get if they put Republicans in charge. More defense spending. Tax cuts. A balanced budget amendment.
It was an effort to “nationalize” a mid-term election. Even though it was widely panned by Washington insiders, something clicked. That election is now known as the Republican Revolution, and they’re still in power.
But with voters now fed up with the GOP-controlled Congress, you can almost sense a Democratic tidal wave coming in November, even if polls suggest Democrats haven’t differentiated themselves much from the GOP.
They need their own “Contract With America.”
It’s coming, says Al From, president of the moderate Democratic Leadership Council. He won’t say what it entails quite yet, but a book to be released in September called “The Plan” will detail what Democrats should sell to voters.
We’ll get an early preview, since the DLC is holding its annual “national conversation” in Denver July 22-24. That’s when strategies will be discussed to shape an agenda for Democratic congressional and gubernatorial candidates. It’s unclear, though, how many candidates will follow “The Plan.” The party isn’t eager to test party unity by attempting a common plan on Iraq – the issue that has bedeviled Bush. Democrats are split between the Hillary Clinton “hawkish” wing and the Russ Feingold “pull-out-now” wing.
Speaking of Hillary, she’ll be here for the DLC forum, along with Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack and Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano.
Lt. Udall and Rahm-bo
Expect to see Rep. Mark Udall, D- Eldorado Springs, play a high profile in national elections this year. Udall has been tapped by Rep. Rahm Emanuel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, as one of eight “lieutenants” charged with winning control of the U.S. House. Emanuel, nicknamed “Rahm-bo” for his bare-knuckled approach to politics, chose Udall and the other “young guns” (as they were described in a National Journal piece) for their grassroots political skills.
PAC-man
Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District was once seen as a battleground, since Rep. John Salazar was a first-term Democratic congressman in a Republican-leaning district. But Salazar looks strong and national money hasn’t been flowing to his GOP opponent, Scott Tipton. Salazar has amassed quite a warchest, thanks to political action committees.
So far, John has collected $1.3 million. Some 54 percent of that total, or $713,109, comes from special-interest PACs, including $230,000 from organized labor. His PAC totals dwarf those of his delegation colleagues seeking re-election.
Tipton has $324,458 total – zero from PACs.
With friends like this
When Marc Holtzman‘s campaign was caught sending out fliers last summer with digitally altered photos that made him appear taller, they blamed his growth spurt on the company, Marcus & Allen, that produced the leaflets.
Shame on them, right?
Apparently Holtzman wasn’t too steamed. When he left last month’s GOP assembly early, he left behind a campaign consultant to speak for him. It was Boyd Marcus of Marcus & Allen. Marcus is also a friend of Dick Leggitt, who resigned as Holtzman’s campaign manager for lying to the press.
Smile pretty, Denver
Democratic National Committee members are expected to visit Denver later this month to check out facilities and amenities as part of the city’s bid to host the party’s 2008 national convention.
City Councilwoman Elbra Wedgeworth, co-chair of the Denver host committee, promises the bid submitted by the committee will be the best the DNC receives. In any event it may well be the heaviest, weighing a whopping 10 pounds.
Dan Haley is a member of The Post’s editorial board. Visit the Haley’s Comment blog at denverpostbloghouse.com/haley.
