Dem Establishment's Former Foes Join Top-Tier Lineup

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, it appears, has a short memory: today, it adds to its list of top-tier candidates two Democrats it worked to oppose last month.

In Hawaii, state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa was opposed by the DCCC in the state's special election, where she placed ahead of former Rep. Ed Case, whom the DCCC supported, as both lost to Republican Charles Djou. Case announced shortly thereafter that he's not running in November.

West Virginia state Sen. Mike Oliverio, running on a quasi-Tea-Party platform of limiting federal involvement in education and opposing federal spending, booted incumbent Rep. Alan Mollohan from his reelection primary.

The DCCC quietly offered staff help to both Hanabusa's and Oliverio's opponents, according to news reports.

Today, Hanabusa and Oliverio both join the DCCC's "Red to Blue" lineup of top tier candidates, having met certain fundraising goals, as 11 candidates join the list.