Dem Honcho Says 2010 Is Not 1994

ABC News' Teddy Davis reports: The Democrat in charge of maintaining the party's majority in the House of Representatives told reporters on Thursday that next year's midterm elections will not be a repeat of 16 years earlier when Republicans won control of Congress by tapping into disenchantment with all-Democratic rule.

"This is not going to be 1994 all over again," said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Van Hollen's pen-and-pad briefing with reporters, which took place at Democratic Party headquarters in Washington, D.C., was held in the wake of four veteran House Democrats announcing their plans to retire next year. Despite those recent setbacks in Kansas, Washington State, and two in Tennessee, Van Hollen said he was confident about 2010 because of readiness, resources, and a relative lack of retirements. 

The Maryland congressman said that when Democrats lost control of Congress in 1994, they were "totally caught by surprise."

This time, by contrast, Van Hollen said "we've been preparing since Day One."

The DCCC's "Frontline" program is key to Van Hollen's promise to be ready. The Frontline Program, which has been in place the past two election cycles, requires vulnerable House Democrats to meet aggressive fundraising goals, accelerate volunteer and recruitment efforts, and increase their online networking in exchange for help with fundraising, research, field organizing, and communications.

Currently, 42 Democrats are in the DCCC's frontline program. The goal of the program is to get vulnerable incumbents shored up so that the DCCC's independent expenditure arm can focus on helping Democratic challengers instead of Democratic incumbents.

Resources are also key to Van Hollen's confidence.

Van Hollen pointed to the DCCC's wide fundraising advantage over the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) and said Republicans have to pick up its fundraising if it is serious about regaining the majority.

"The DCCC has right now about a 3-to-1 cash-on-hand advantage over Republicans," said Van Hollen. "We're not clear how many seats the NRCC claims to have in play … let's just say they have 40."

"By our calculation, that's $100,000 that the NRCC has for each candidate," said Van Hollen. "So, if they are going out and telling the candidates that they have the resources to support them, candidates better check the NRCC books."

Van Hollen acknowledged the recent Democratic retirements but sought to put them in a broader context.

"It's important to put this in perspective. There has been a whole lot of Republican spin and hype on this issue," said Van Hollen. "As of today, there are actually more Republican retirements than Democratic retirements. There are 12 Republicans who are retiring including a number from seats that are very competitive for Democrats. Mike Castle is retiring (from the House to run for Vice President Biden's former Senate seat in Delaware). We've got a great candidate there, the former lieutenant governor. Obviously, Mark Kirk's retirement in Illinois (from the House to run for President Obama's former Senate seat). Jim Gerlach's retirement in Pennsylvania (to run for governor)."

"While there may be additional Democratic retirements this year. It's very possible — we absolutely do not expect an enormous surge of retirements," said Van Hollen.

On the question of whether the Democratic base will be disillusioned to vote next year now that former DNC chairman Howard Dean has condemned the watered down health-care bill currently being debated in the United States Senate, Van Hollen sidestepped the question, saying the legislative process – including the issue of whether there should be a government insurance option — is not yet complete.

"Howard Dean has been a very important voice in this debate. He has helped move the process forward in terms of the public option in the House," said Van Hollen. "What I'm saying is that the Senate will complete its work and then the Senate and the House will work out their differences."

Republican officials think that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's agenda has fallen out of favor with the public and that the GOP has a major opportunity in next year's midterm elections.

The NRCC acknowledges, however, that it needs to improve its fundraising if it wants to take advantage of a climate which has led a handful of veteran Democrats to "throw in the towel", in the words of Republicans, rather than face bruising fights for re-election.

In a memo to House Republicans released to the press on Thursday, Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, the NRCC chairman, made a plea for stepped up contributions from sitting Republican members of Congress.

"The pieces are in place for a momentous change next year, but not without the help and dedication of our Conference, candidates, and staff," wrote Sessions.

ABC News' Brittany Crockett contributed to this report.