GOP's Rogers: Just nine need help

POLITICO: Michigan Rep. Mike Rogers, the National Republican Congressional Committee's incumbent retention chair, urged PAC leaders at a briefing Monday to focus on helping just nine GOP members of Congress shore up their bids for re-election, telling attendees that the committee's work had already shielded a substantial group of members from facing any serious challenge in 2010.

"A year and a half ago, I was giving you the names of 30 members and you know what? It worked," Rogers said, according to a source familiar with his remarks. "We feel strongly at this point that only nine incumbents need your help to withstand the attacks by the DCCC and their allies."

The nine members Rogers urged participants to help: California Reps. Dan Lungren and Mary Bono Mack, Hawaii Rep. Charles Djou, Louisiana Rep. Joseph Cao, Nebraska Rep. Lee Terry, Ohio Rep. Pat Tiberi, Pennsylvania Reps. Jim Gerlach and Charlie Dent and Washington Rep. Dave Reichert.

Democrats updated the list of districts targeted in their "Red to Blue" program Monday, adding four new Republicans – Djou, Gerlach, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann and Missouri Rep. Jo Ann Emerson – to the group of incumbents they're aiming to defeat.

But Rogers mocked the Democrats' target list, noting that 10 of the "Red to Blue" districts are actually home to open House seats currently occupied by Democrats.

"Wouldn't that be 'Blue to Blue'?" Rogers joked, according to the source. "We've all been having a good laugh about that."

• NMI: Dems to lose 40 seats
• 538: Dems losing 49-41 in poll of 70 districts

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Fire Dog Lake calls Hanabusa “untainted” (progressive know-nothings)

Charles Djou (HI-01) (his district’s Partisan Voter Index or PVI is Democratic, +11) and Joseph Cao (LA-02), PVI D+25, the fluke winners: Both won fluke victories in overwhelmingly Democratic districts. Djou managed to win with less than 40 percent of the vote due to Hawaii’s poorly designed special elections, where two candidates split the Democratic vote. Cao won because he was up against the scandal-ridden Democratic incumbent William Jefferson. It is very hard to imagine how either incumbent holds on in a general election this November against untainted Democratic opponents.

"Untainted" Hanabusa:

• Nanakuli Park: Hannemann pounds Hanabusa in proxy fight between Waimanalo Gulch and PVT landfill
• Fireworks, dirt, and stolen trucks: Colleen Hanabusa and the Honolulu Raceway deal
• Will Hanabusa allow DHHL to revert back to the bad old days?
• Hanabusa, Souza tied to Pali Golf course shooters’ mob
• Cayetano: Hanabusa's Broken Trust connections lead to Ko Olina
• Hanabusa: “Legislators work very hard and deserve the raise
• Hanabusa Ad Misleadingly Claims She “Cut Legislative Salaries”

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RELATED: 69% of voters reject machine candidate Hanabusa