◼ The big headlines out of CPAC this year, as usual, were focused on main-stage speeches by potential Republican presidential candidates for 2016, but that’s still three years away and conservatives cannot afford to look past next year’s mid-term election. - The Other McCain
So, to me, ◼ one of the most important events of this week’s conference was this:
Utah’s 4th District — where Republican Mia Love came within 800 votes of unseating Democrat Rep. Jim Matheson last November — tops the list of more than 40 Democrat-held seats targeted by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) in next year’s mid-term elections.
The fight by Republicans to recapture the Senate will likely overshadow the GOP’s battle to hold onto — and perhaps expand — their House majority in 2014. Some readers may remember how hard it was to get attention for Republican challengers in 2010, which is why I want to start early trying to focus attention on these key races for next year. The 2016 beauty pageant must be viewed as a dangerous distraction from the real fight at hand.
The NRCC chairman seems like a solid, smart man with a business background who can be counted on to run an effective campaign for 2014. The NRCC’s digital coordinator Nick Martelli was savvy enough to arrange a blogger briefing at CPAC, and Walden said that online messaging will be an “integral” component of their plans for next year’s mid-terms. You can become part of that team by following ◼ @RepGregWalden, ◼ @NickMarcelli and ◼ @NRCC on Twitter.
And, oh, yeah: ◼ Mia Love’s already gearing up for 2014.
