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There's lots of good news about our candidates coming out of the field, so let's get to it!
Gazing into the Crystal Ball
Everywhere I go, people ask me how many seats Democrats will pick up -- we're all feeling the same excitement. We can't underestimate what Republicans will do to hold on to power; we've seen their dirty tricks before. But with a record number of Republican retirements and 10 million more Democrats voting in the primaries than Republicans, I'm cautiously optimistic.
But hey, don't take it from me. Take it from former NRCC chair and retiring GOP Rep. Tom Davis, who recently admitted that "the House Republican brand is so bad right now that if it were a dog food, they’d take it off the shelf."
New Endorsement in North Carolina
 We're supporting a terrific new candidate in the Tar Heel State, state Senator Kay Hagan against U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole (R-NC), whose poll numbers show she is vulnerable to a Democratic challenge.
A January poll by Public Policy Polling found that Dole has been unable to get her approval ratings out of the mid-40s. I'm guessing her approval is down because she consistently votes with George W. Bush -- 98 percent of the time her first year in the Senate. She has been a constant supporter for his Iraq policy, and is far to the right of the state's mainstream.
During her nine years in Raleigh, Hagan earned a reputation as one of the smartest, hardest-working legislators, with a gift for cutting through red tape. In the first quarter of the year, Hagan raised $1 million dollars, a good sign that she can go toe-to-toe against Dole in November. Click here to learn more about Kay Hagan.
Flip-Flopping in the Hoosier State
U-turns are dangerous, as Jill Long Thompson's opponent, wealthy CEO Jim Schellinger, is finding out. The Indianapolis Star gave Schellinger the dreaded "Down Arrow" after he flip-flopped on his pledge to run a positive campaign. After making the promise, Schellinger went negative against Long Thompson, who is the grassroots favorite to win in the May 6 primary and then challenge Indiana's GOP Governor Mitch Daniels.
Starting ASAP in Maryland
 Donna Edwards, the dynamite progressive candidate who beat incumbent Al Wynn (MD-04) in the Democratic primary, will compete to get the keys to her new Congressional office this summer, instead of waiting until January 2009. Wynn decided late last month to retire from Congress at the end of May. The Maryland Legislature stepped in to fast track a special general election and Edwards is favored to win, allowing her to finish Wynn's term.
Protecting Voting Rights
I don't need to tell you how important it is to elect Democratic secretaries of state to oversee elections in places like Ohio, Florida, and elsewhere. That's one of the reasons EMILY's List's Political Opportunity Program worked hard to help elect Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner and California Secretary of State Debra Bowen in 2006. And now, we're proud because both women are being recognized for their work in maintaining the integrity of voting with the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award®.
Renzi Watch. . . 69 Days and Counting
It's been 69 days since GOP Rep. Rick Renzi (AZ-01) was indicted on 35 counts of corruption and fraud, but he shows no signs of resigning. I hope he isn't too distracted to do his job when he goes to trial later this year.
Thank you for the feedback you’ve been sending in about News From the Field. If there's a race you are interested in, or you have a question, just send me an email at NewsFromtheField@emilyslist.org.
Warmest Regards,
Britt Cocanour
Chief of Staff
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