House Republican leader John A. Boehner says immigration is the top issue at town hall meetings he has participated in across the country during the August recess.
Mr. Boehner said Republicans can take back control of Congress next year with a focus on conservative principles, despite sluggish fundraising numbers and poll numbers that favor Democrats.
“So far, the questions I’m hearing most are ‘who will secure the borders?’ ” the Ohio Republican wrote in an op-ed for the conservative Web site Townhall.com yesterday. ” ‘Who has a plan to reduce gas prices and make us less dependent on foreign oil?’ ‘Who will make health care more affordable?’ And, ‘who will defend America from the threat of terrorism?’ ”
In addition, Republican sources say Mr. Boehner and other party leaders are receiving a large volume of voter feedback on what they call the “stolen vote” issue.
Shortly before Congress adjourned for its summer recess, a vote on the House floor appeared to discount Republican vote totals. Republicans have pushed for an investigation into the vote on an agricultural spending bill that would have denied federal benefits to illegal aliens.
House Republicans are hoping to build enthusiasm with their base by focusing on issues like immigration, the Democratic leadership and, to a lesser extent, the war in Iraq. They say this re-branding with the base, if successful, will pay off in increased financial contributions in time for next year’s elections.
“You can always count on the Democrats to behave like Democrats,” said National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Ken Spain. “While they continue to falter, we need to continue to provide a clear alternative.”
Although Republicans did not want to comment about specific races on the record, they say conservative districts in Georgia, California and Texas are vulnerable to Republican takeover and that several Democratic freshmen lawmakers will have a hard time holding on to their seats without President Bush as an election-year issue.
Nonetheless, according to July fundraising totals filed with the Federal Election Commission, the NRCC raised $2.56 million, compared with $4.12 million for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Those numbers contribute to the growing trend of lopsided fundraising support for the DCCC, which has $21.3 million in cash on hand, compared with just $2 million for the NRCC. The NRCC also still holds $4.1 million in campaign debt, compared with $3.6 million for the DCCC.
Democrats say their 10-to-1 fundraising edge shows voters have “long memories” that will not only allow Democrats to hold their new seats this fall, but could help them “move far into Republican territory in 2008.”
“Democrats are moving America forward and enacting real change despite Republican efforts to block progress and serve merely as a rubber stamp for George Bush’s endless war in Iraq,” said DCCC spokesman Doug Thornell.
“Republicans had an opportunity to lead and they failed, so America voted for a new direction.”
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