Three Better Democrats

by Mimikatz [courtesy of Open Left - Front Page]

We all want better Democrats but we don't want to squander our resources on hopeless causes.  We want people who have a chance to win, whose election will make a difference, and where WE can make a real difference.  Here are three such races:

Debbie Cook in CA-46  Debbie Cook, the Mayor of Huntington Beach, a lawyer and  environmental and energy activist, opposes Dana Rohrabacher, a former Reagan speechwriter, 20-year House veteran, friend of the Taliban both in Afghanistan and in the GOP.  She outraised him in Q2.  Cook rates it "Likely R" but she is his stiffest challenge ever.

Betsy Markey in CO-04 Betsy Markey, an aide to Senator Ken Salazar, Democratic activist, businesswoman, former government computer security expert and congressional staffer, is running against Marilyn Musgrave, one of the chief gay-bashers and least liked members of Congress.  She outraised Musgrave in Q2.  Cook rates the race "toss-up".

Dennis Shulman in NJ-05 Dennis Shulman, blind rabbi and psychologist, opposes Scott Garrett, another of the most conservative members of the House.  He supports the Responsible Plan (as does Cook), opposes FISA (as do the other two), and is endorsed by J-Street.  Ending the war, health care and care of disabled veterans are among his issues.

On the flip:  My criteria and more details on the two races.
Making Congress more progressive  Crisitunity at Swing State Project has rated races according to how much gain electing the Dem would be for progressives, taking into account how progressive the Dem is likely to be and how conservative the incumbent is.  Debbie Cook rates number 1, Shulman number 2 and Markey number 6.  So in all three races we can replace a very conservative incumbent with a reasonably progressive newcomer.  

Likelihood of victory  Markey's race is rated a toss-up because of Musgrave's increasing unpopularity and the likely lack of the kind of outside resources this year that bailed her out in 2004 and 2006.  Markey seems to be a good fit for the district and has worked hard getting herself known in the largely rural territory in northern and eastern CO that makes up much of CO-04.  She outraised Musgrave for the quarter.

Debbie Cook also outraised Rohrabacher this quarter, although he has more than 3 times her COH.  On the other hand, Cook seems to have a large activist base, plus her base in Huntington Beach and along the coast.  The district is becoming less conservative.  Cook Political Report rates it "Likely R", up from "Safe R."

Dennis Shulman's race was also recently upgraded to "Likely R" from "Safe R," and he is the strongest challenger the very conservative Garrett has faced.  

We can be effective  None of these three has raised so much money that ours will be lost.  CO is a relatively cheap media state.  CA-46 and NJ-05 are in such expensive media markets that broadcast TV is prohibitive, requiring more creative (and cheaper) campaigning.  Cook and Shulman are on the DCCC's "emerging races" list, while Markey is in the Red-to-Blue Program.  Beating Musgrave also sends a message that the days of gaining power by bashing gay people are over.

Intangibles  We want not only better Democrats, but leaders.  Debbie Cook's career shows her to be someone with initiative and leadership abilities.  She has expertise on land use, energy and environmental issues.  Betsy Markey has expertise in areas of computer security and technology.  Dennis Shulman is not afraid to associate himself with a group like J-Street or to support the Responsible Plan.  All three would be great additions to Congress in their own right, and would take out three arch conservatives.