Dems Pull Out of a Handful of Districts

From Hotline OnCall's Jeremy Jacobs: Democrats are cutting back on their investments in a handful of congressional candidates as their prospects dim with Election Day looming. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has pulled some funding from 10 districts, canceling their ad buys in six and reducing their buys in another four:

The DCCC has pulled ad reservations for Reps. Kathy Dahlkemper (D-PA), Suzanne Kosmas (D-FL) and Steve Driehaus (D-OH) -- three incumbents believe to be facing steep uphill fights this year.

It has also pulled out of three open seat races. In IN 08,, state Rep. Trent Van Haaften (D) will not be able to count on any more support from the DCCC in his race against heart surgeon Larry Bucshon (R). The committee also cancelled a significant portion of its ads in TN 08, where state Sen. Roy Herron (D) is running against Republican Stephen Fincher. The committee has also continued cutting time in KS 03, where Stephene Moore (D) is running for her husband's seat.

The DCCC reduced the size of its buy in several other races, most notably in Rep. Larry Kissell's NC 08. The DCCC had planned to spend more than $800K on TV ads in the last two weeks before Election Day in Kissell's race against sportscaster Harold Johnson (R). The DCCC has already spent $624K on this contest.  Democratic sources insist the committee still has a significant amount of time reserved in this district.

Similarly, the committee has also reduced the size of its reservations for Reps. Chet Edwards (D) in TX 17 and Steve Kagen (D) in WI 08. Both Edwards and Kagen have trailed their Republican challengers in recent polls, but Democrats are increasingly optimistic that Edwards may make a comeback.

Read the full story at Hotline OnCall.