Ain't We Lucky We Got 'Em

There have been precious few days at the NRCC where the good news has come in pairs. Today may just be one of those days.

-- The drip of FEC numbers from open seats isn't all encouraging for the GOP (In NJ, Dems are likely to outraise GOPers by big margins), but in places like IL-11 and MN-03, GOPers have done well. Concrete co. owner Marty Ozinga's (R) $800K shows to critics that IL-11 can't be written off. And Erik Paulsen's (R) strong showing confirms the caliber of his camp matches his considerable personal skills.

-- GOPers' joy over strong FEC numbers may be rivaled by the news that Woody Jenkins (R) won't run again in LA-06. However disastrous his special-election run was, he has a strong primary base, and stood a good bet to win the primary again. That would've doomed the party's chances this fall. Now, state Sen. Bill Cassidy (R), whom LA party leaders have already coalesced around, looks to have a good shot against Don Cazayoux (D).

-- For the time being, the news from IL-11 and LA-06 puts two seats that were thought to have been off the radar for GOPers back into the mix. And for a struggling party, that's very good news.