Friday, January 20, 2012
3:03 PM
DCCC chairman expects three Wis. challengers to be among top pick-up opportunities
Democratic Campaign Congressional Committee Chairman Steve Israel said Friday that Green Bay business consultant Jamie Wall is "now considered one of the most competitive candidates in the country" by the group, and that he expects two more Dem challengers in Wisconsin to join him on that list later this year.
In a conference call with Wisconsin reporters, Israel, D-N.Y., said Wall has built the necessary local campaign infrastructure and fundraising base in the 8th CD to reach the DCCC's "Red to Blue" list. That list of the committee's top pick-up opportunities included Wall in its initial rollout of candidates Wednesday.
Israel also derided incumbent U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble, R-Sherwood, as an "unvetted, 2010 wave year candidate" who's vulnerable after voting for the House GOP budget last year.
Israel added that Pat Kreitlow and Rob Zerban are also on their way to "Red to Blue" status, though both candidates are currently listed among the DCCC’s less competitive "Emerging Races."
"We're very confident that Pat will be a Red to Blue candidate," Israel said of the former Chippewa Falls state senator.
He said the same of Zerban, the Kenosha Co. supervisor who's taking on U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Janesville.
"We don't want to overload the first list,” Israel said. “At the end of the day, we may have about 50 candidates on Red to Blue. We like to announce them in waves.”
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