House hopeful Esch benefits from Obama Omaha game
OMAHA — Democratic House challenger Jim Esch seems to have found momentum in Nebraska’s 2nd District, thanks in part to an unprecedented effort in the state by party’s presidential nominee.
Since Barack Obama’s campaign workers swept into Omaha a few weeks ago, Esch’s race against Republican Lee Terry has been added to two national watch lists, one of which could bring Esch an influx of cash.
It’s the same players and the same roles as 2006 — when Terry beat Esch by 10 percentage points — but it’s a whole different story this time around.
As Esch stands to benefit from the Democratic presidential candidate’s ground game, Terry is trying to persuade someone — anyone — in the national Republican Party to pay attention to the district.
Both Terry and Esch hoped that when Esch was added last week to the so-called “Red to Blue’’ list, which names races the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee thinks are competitive, it would mean more money.
For Esch, the DCCC’s designation opens the door to national donors, who often look to the list to decide where to spend their money.
“It really demonstrates to people this is winnable,’’ Esch said. “It proves there’s momentum. The national party wouldn’t be bothering with our race if it wasn’t winnable.’’
But when Terry went to national Republicans with the news that Esch was getting help, they said no.
“I thought maybe getting on the Red to Blue list would free them up,’’ Terry said. “This is too strong a word, but they mocked the decision’’ for the national Democrats to focus on the race.
Ken Spain, spokesman for the National Republican Campaign Committee, called Esch’s addition to the Democratic list “smoke and mirrors.’’ The group is confident in Terry’s record, he said.
The confidence was a nice compliment, Terry said, but he’d hoped for something more tangible — and spendable.
Terry has won five times in the district that includes the state’s largest city, Omaha. He already has TV ads running and has far outraised Esch, bringing in nearly $1 million by the end of June, compared with $254,000 for Esch. New fundraising reports are due in October.
Esch said improved fundraising could let him start running his first television ads a week sooner than previously planned — before October, he hopes.
Obama’s Omaha effort is the first in dozens of years by a presidential candidate in Nebraska. Because the state can split its electoral votes, Obama has sent in 15 paid staffers trying to register thousands of voters in an effort to win the vote tied to Omaha and the 2nd District.
“Their ground game’s pretty darn good,’’ Esch said, “and I think that will certainly help us.’’
If people can be convinced that the electoral vote could actually matter — such as if there’s an electoral vote tie — it could drive turnout.
Meanwhile, Terry said he’s talked to Republican presidential nominee John McCain’s campaign and he doubts McCain will put resources into Nebraska — again, because they don’t see the need to divert money from another state.
“I think it’s a very small chance that they’ll come to regret it,’’ Terry said. “Is it possible in an analytical way? Sure.’’
Also, this week, The Cook Political Report, an independent group that analyzes elections, moved the race from “likely Republican’’ to “lean Republican.’’
The significance of both lists are hard to gauge.
Spain of the RCCC pointed to a recent article in the Washington newspaper Roll Call, which questioned whether the addition of dozens of races to the list has diluted its clout.
Ryan Rudominer, spokesman for the DCCC, said the 55 races on the list are evidence Republicans are scrambling and playing defense all over the country.
Two years ago, it was a much different story in the 2nd District. Esch said his race “wasn’t on anyone’s radar,’’ and Terry acknowledges his campaign strategy was to “completely ignore’’ Esch.
This year, Esch is running a far more coordinated campaign.
And Terry says he’s done more door-to-door canvassing than the past three elections combined.
But the effects of Terry’s 2006 effort, which he referred to as “lackadaisical,’’ are still being felt.
“That allowed him to build up a base without any impediment,’’ Terry said. “We’re paying for that now.’’
Since Barack Obama’s campaign workers swept into Omaha a few weeks ago, Esch’s race against Republican Lee Terry has been added to two national watch lists, one of which could bring Esch an influx of cash.
It’s the same players and the same roles as 2006 — when Terry beat Esch by 10 percentage points — but it’s a whole different story this time around.
As Esch stands to benefit from the Democratic presidential candidate’s ground game, Terry is trying to persuade someone — anyone — in the national Republican Party to pay attention to the district.
Both Terry and Esch hoped that when Esch was added last week to the so-called “Red to Blue’’ list, which names races the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee thinks are competitive, it would mean more money.
For Esch, the DCCC’s designation opens the door to national donors, who often look to the list to decide where to spend their money.
“It really demonstrates to people this is winnable,’’ Esch said. “It proves there’s momentum. The national party wouldn’t be bothering with our race if it wasn’t winnable.’’
But when Terry went to national Republicans with the news that Esch was getting help, they said no.
“I thought maybe getting on the Red to Blue list would free them up,’’ Terry said. “This is too strong a word, but they mocked the decision’’ for the national Democrats to focus on the race.
Ken Spain, spokesman for the National Republican Campaign Committee, called Esch’s addition to the Democratic list “smoke and mirrors.’’ The group is confident in Terry’s record, he said.
The confidence was a nice compliment, Terry said, but he’d hoped for something more tangible — and spendable.
Terry has won five times in the district that includes the state’s largest city, Omaha. He already has TV ads running and has far outraised Esch, bringing in nearly $1 million by the end of June, compared with $254,000 for Esch. New fundraising reports are due in October.
Esch said improved fundraising could let him start running his first television ads a week sooner than previously planned — before October, he hopes.
Obama’s Omaha effort is the first in dozens of years by a presidential candidate in Nebraska. Because the state can split its electoral votes, Obama has sent in 15 paid staffers trying to register thousands of voters in an effort to win the vote tied to Omaha and the 2nd District.
“Their ground game’s pretty darn good,’’ Esch said, “and I think that will certainly help us.’’
If people can be convinced that the electoral vote could actually matter — such as if there’s an electoral vote tie — it could drive turnout.
Meanwhile, Terry said he’s talked to Republican presidential nominee John McCain’s campaign and he doubts McCain will put resources into Nebraska — again, because they don’t see the need to divert money from another state.
“I think it’s a very small chance that they’ll come to regret it,’’ Terry said. “Is it possible in an analytical way? Sure.’’
Also, this week, The Cook Political Report, an independent group that analyzes elections, moved the race from “likely Republican’’ to “lean Republican.’’
The significance of both lists are hard to gauge.
Spain of the RCCC pointed to a recent article in the Washington newspaper Roll Call, which questioned whether the addition of dozens of races to the list has diluted its clout.
Ryan Rudominer, spokesman for the DCCC, said the 55 races on the list are evidence Republicans are scrambling and playing defense all over the country.
Two years ago, it was a much different story in the 2nd District. Esch said his race “wasn’t on anyone’s radar,’’ and Terry acknowledges his campaign strategy was to “completely ignore’’ Esch.
This year, Esch is running a far more coordinated campaign.
And Terry says he’s done more door-to-door canvassing than the past three elections combined.
But the effects of Terry’s 2006 effort, which he referred to as “lackadaisical,’’ are still being felt.
“That allowed him to build up a base without any impediment,’’ Terry said. “We’re paying for that now.’’
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