The “super PAC†supporting Blue Dog candidates has a problem that on the surface would seem enviable: tons of cash on hand! But the reason is one no one would wish for a group - it does not have enough viable candidates to support.
With the decimation in the ranks of centrist House Democrats in recent years, the Blue Dog Coalition, the Blue Dog political action committee, has turned to dishing out cash to candidates via another PAC that may not quite meet its mission and even to a nonprofit dedicated to centrist legislative solutions.
In August, the PAC, which began the month with $1.7 million in its coffers, gave $700,000 to the House Majority PAC, a super PAC that is laboring to win the 25 seats needed for Democrats to take back the House, and $700,000 more to Center Forward, a social welfare organization. The House Majority PAC supports a variety of candidates, including those decidedly left of center.
Earlier in the year, Center Forward spent $1.25 million on an advertising campaign meant to bolster five Blue Dog Democrats who have supported deficit reduction and budget reforms as well as three House Republicans who voted against Representative Paul D. Ryan's budget proposal.
These are sad times for the Blue Dog Democrats - who once made up almost 20 percent of the House Democratic caucus - especially in North Carolina, where one retired this year rather than face re-election, and two others, Representatives Mike McIntyre and Larry Kissell - are facing long re-election odds.
Mr. Kissell has tried to insulate himself from President Obama by staying away from the Democratic National Convention in his home state this week, which Republican s immediately mocked, even sending a car to his campaign headquarters in Concord on Wednesday morning to highlight the fact that the convention was a mere 20 miles away. (Mr. Kissell did not appear for the ride.)
Of the 24 Blue Dogs left in the House, several have already lost in a primary bid or are now facing uphill fights in Congressional districts newly drawn that favor Republicans.
