There is no shortage of political theory and experts to go with it in Washington, and they process of churning out lists of the electorally vulnerable began not months. But the list turned up by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform comes straight from the White House Office of Political Affairs and is attributed to Karl Rove himself. The hearing involved the allegedly inappropriate use of the Government Services Administration and its Administrator, Lurita Doan. Doan and the administration have been accused of (1) using the GSA to promote Republican candidates and (2) for using GSA facilities for meetings on how best to accomplish (1). Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA) produced a White House power point presentation on the topic as evidence, and we provide it for your use in discovering whether or not you are in a Rove-perceived hotspot. It lists reps, senators and governors, both Republicans in need of defensing and Democrats worthy of attack. Note that only 14 governorships are up for grabs between now and November 2008, with three of those contests taking place in 2007.
Hit lists
Republican US Representatives to defend
John Doolittle (R-CA)
Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO)
Chris Shays (R-CT)
Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
Peter Roskam (R-IL)
Joe Knollenberg (R-MI)
Jon Porter (R-NV)
Mike Ferguson (R-NJ)
Heather Wilson (R-NM)
Randy Kuhl (R-NY)
Jim Walsh (R-NY)
Robin Hayes (R-NC)
Deborah Pryce (R-OH)
Jean Schmidt (R-OH)
Jim Gerlach (R-PA)
Thelma Drake (R-VA)
Barbara Cubin (R-WY)
Republican Senators to defend
Wayne Allard (R-CO) (announced retirement)
Susan Collins (R-ME)
Norm Coleman (R-MN)
Thad Cochran (R-MS)
John Sununu (R-NH)
Pete Domenici (R-NM)
Gordon Smith (R-OR)
John Warner (R-VA)
Republican Governors to defend
Mitch Daniels (R-IN)
Ernie Fletcher (R-KY) 2007 race
Haley Barbour (R-MS) 2007 race
Matt Blunt (R-MO)
Jim Douglas (R-VT)
Democratic US Representatives to attack
Jerry McNerney (D-CA)
Tim Mahoney (D-FL)
John Barrow (D-GA)
Jim Marshall (D-GA)
Joe Donnelly (D-IN)
Brad Ellsworth (D-IN)
Baron Hill (D-IN)
Nancy Boyda (D-KS)
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
John Hall (D-NY)
Heath Shuler (D-NC)
Zack Space (D-OH)
Jason Altmire (D-PA)
Chris Carney (D-PA)
Patrick Murphy (D-PA)
Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Stephanie Herseth (D-SD)
Nick Lampson (D-TX)
Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX)
Steve Kagen (D-WI)
Democratic Senators to attack
Mark Pryor (D-AR)
Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
Max Baucus (D-MT)
Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Tim Johnson (D-SD)
Democratic Governors to attack
Kathleen Blanco (D-LA) (announced retirement) 2007 race
Brian Schweitzer (D-MT)
Michael Easley (D-NC) (retiring on term limits)
Chris Gregoire (D-WA)
