2010 Political Tsunami Warning: Will GOP's Wave Be Big Enough?

 

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As proof, Republican aides point to examples of competitive contests in districts that have historically elected Democrats, like the districts of 17-term Rep. Ike Skelton (MO-4), nine-term Rep. Earl Pomeroy (ND-At Large), and four-term Rep. Jim Marshall (GA-8).

Whether they're surfing an electoral wave or the airwaves, each party is doing its best to fight for control, and they are spending a fortune to do it.

Under the leadership of Chairman Pete Sessions, (R-TX), the National Republican Congressional Committee has raised more than $107 million for its House candidates while Sessions has personally campaigned and raised funds in more than 150 districts. The GOP has 358 paid field staffers, including at least one staffer in each of the 120 congressional districts Republicans are targeting. As the final push for votes intensifies, Republican sources say the NRCC is currently spending $54 million on television advertising in 90 different districts across the country.

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The DCCC has raised a total of $129.2 million this election cycle. Since Oct. 11, the Democratic Party has or will spend about $40 million on television advertising in the final push leading up to the election. Democratic strategists say the party is putting its cash behind its Get Out The Vote campaign, spending another $20 million on field operations, including 700 paid staff in 75 congressional districts.

"All of us understand right now that this is going to be a turnout game and remaining persuasion of independents," Van Hollen told Tapper. "In a lot of those places where we pulled out, you still have the campaigns that have a lot of resources to compete. And in those races, a lot of the Republican-leaning groups have pulled out, so you've got a fair fight going out on the air."