Since the landslide congressional election of 2006, 3 special elections for US House seats have occurred. After a Republican loss in Mississippi, the Republicans are 0-3. In Mississippi’s conservative 1st district, Travis Childers, a Democrat, won election by 8%. This wasn’t for a lack of effort by the NRCC who spent over $1 million dollars in the district and convinced Vice President Cheney to visit.
If Republicans can’t win in traditionally conservative districts even with a spending advantage that they will not come close to achieving in the fall, then the party is in for another 2006. This is demonstrated by the fact that the DCCC has $35.4 million on hand to the NRCC’s $6.4 million.
Although the NRCC has to raise a lot more than they have been, House Republican’s problems do not stop at fundraising. This election shows that they have to change their message to fit with the economic troubles of the nation if they hope to minimize their losses this fall.
