The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced that 40 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives will be in the “Frontline Program,” which seeks to protect incumbents in potentially vulnerable districts. Once again, Leonard Boswell of Iowa’s third district will be a Frontline Democrat. Here’s what the designation means:

The Frontline Program is a partnership between the DCCC and Members which lays the ground work for the 2010 cycle by supporting and expanding their fundraising and outreach operations. Frontline Members must sign a memorandum of understanding, strengthened this cycle to reflect the challenging political environment, that requires Members to meet aggressive fundraising goals, accelerate volunteer and recruitment efforts, and increase their online networking.

The DCCC’s Frontline Program is a proven success. Frontline Members and the DCCC did its work effectively and early in the 2008 cycle.  As a result, the DCCC’s independent expenditure campaign made a significant investment in only 10 of 34 Frontline districts – approximately 15 percent of the IE’s budget.

I’ve put the DCCC’s press release after the jump. Most of the others named to the Frontline list appear to be in more vulnerable districts than Boswell. Republicans targeted Boswell during his first five re-election campaigns but did not make a serious challenge in IA-03 in 2008. Boswell defeated Kim Schmett by 56 percent to 42 percent in November.

Here’s an interesting fact from the DCCC’s statement, which underscores how the Republican Party has become increasingly uncompetitive in large parts of the country:

There are 83 Democrats in districts that President [George] Bush won in 2004, while there are only six (6) Republicans in seats that Senator [John] Kerry won.

Presumably a significant number of those 83 districts swung to Barack Obama in the 2008 election, as Iowa’s third district did. But the final presidential election results by Congressional district have not been calculated everywhere in the country.

I would be very surprised if the DCCC had to spend resources defending Boswell in the next election. Many House Democrats are in a more precarious position. Unfortunately, the irony is that re-electing Boswell in 2010 could make IA-03 a very tough hold for Democrats in 2012.

The DCCC is staying on offense as well, launching robocalls this week in the districts of 12 potentially vulnerable House Republicans. A few weeks ago the DCCC ran radio ads in 28 Republican-held House districts, including Iowa’s fourth district. Tom Latham is not being targeted in the current robocall effort, however. It’s just as well, since IA-04 does not appear to be among the top Democratic pickup opportunities for the next cycle.

Van Hollen Announces 2009-2010 Frontline Program Leaders & Frontline Members

DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen today announced that DCCC Vice Chair for Incumbent Retention Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Congressman Chris Murphy will chair the DCCC’s 2010 cycle Frontline Program.  Van Hollen, Wasserman Schultz, and Murphy announced 40 Members of the 2009-2010 Frontline Program.  

“In November, Americans sent a clear message: change the direction of the country and get the economy back on track.  Our new Members are already hard at work doing just that,” said Chairman Van Hollen. “The Program has a proven track record of success – the DCCC’s independent expenditure campaign made a significant investment in only 10 of 34 Frontline districts.  As a result of House Democrats’ historic success over the last two elections, we have named 40 Members to the DCCC’s effective and successful Frontline Program.  Frontline will give Members an added boost so they can continue to focus on the issues their constituents care most about.  Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Congressman Chris Murphy are an aggressive, battle-tested leadership team that knows how to win.”

Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz said:  “Frontline Members inspired the confidence of their constituents during their campaigns for Congress and they made the commitment to get our economy back on track. The Frontline program will build on their strengths, providing them with the money, message and strategy they need to successfully position themselves for reelection in 2010.”

Congressman Chris Murphy said: “As a former Frontline Member, I know first hand how effective the program is at making sure Members are armed with the tools they need to be successful in 2010.  It’s an honor to join Chairman Van Hollen and Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz, who know better than anyone how to protect threatened incumbents.”  

The Frontline Program

The Frontline Program is a partnership between the DCCC and Members which lays the ground work for the 2010 cycle by supporting and expanding their fundraising and outreach operations. Frontline Members must sign a memorandum of understanding, strengthened this cycle to reflect the challenging political environment, that requires Members to meet aggressive fundraising goals, accelerate volunteer and recruitment efforts, and increase their online networking.

The DCCC’s Frontline Program is a proven success. Frontline Members and the DCCC did its work effectively and early in the 2008 cycle.  As a result, the DCCC’s independent expenditure campaign made a significant investment in only 10 of 34 Frontline districts – approximately 15 percent of the IE’s budget.

Chairman Van Hollen recognizes the different political challenge this cycle.  There are 83 Democrats in districts that President Bush won in 2004, while there are only six (6) Republicans in seats that Senator Kerry won.  Frontline Members who find themselves without a significant challenger or in a strong political position will be “graduated” from the program so that the Committee can focus its efforts where it is most needed.

2009-2010 Frontline Members

Representative John Adler (NJ-03)

Representative Mike Arcuri (NY-24)

Representative John Boccieri (OH-16)

Representative Leonard Boswell (IA-03)

Representative Bobby Bright (AL-02)

Representative Chris Carney (PA-10)

Representative Travis Childers (MS-01)

Representative Gerry Connolly (VA-11)

Representative Kathy Dahlkemper (PA-03)

Representative Steve Driehaus (OH-01)

Representative Bill Foster (IL-14)

Representative Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-08)

Representative Alan Grayson (FL-08)

Representative Parker Griffith (AL-05)

Representative Debbie Halvorson (IL-11)

Representative Martin Heinrich (NM-01)

Representative Baron Hill (IN-09)

Representative Jim Himes (CT-04)

Representative Steve Kagen (WI-08)

Representative Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15)

Representative Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-01)

Representative Larry Kissell (NC-08)

Representative Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24)

Representative Frank Kratovil (MD-01)

Representative Dan Maffei (NY-25)

Representative Betsy Markey (CO-04)

Representative Eric Massa (NY-29)

Representative Mike McMahon (NY-13)

Representative Jerry McNerney (CA-11)

Representative Walt Minnick (ID-01)

Representative Harry Mitchell (AZ-05)

Representative Glenn Nye (VA-02)

Representative Tom Perriello (VA-05)

Representative Gary Peters (MI-09)

Representative Ciro Rodriguez (TX-23)

Representative Mark Schauer (MI-07)

Representative Kurt Schrader (OR-05)

Representative Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01)

Representative Harry Teague (NM-02)

Representative Dina Titus (NV-03)