TX-22

I just had the chance to catch up with GOP chief deputy whip and recent Veepstakes contender Eric Cantor here on the Press level of the Xcel Center. Win or lose, I get the sense that one trend that will continue is a younger, more reformist cohort of House Republicans. Cantor projected a large GOP freshman class in 2009 -- after what Kevin McCarthy reminded us yesterday was the smallest freshman class since 1914 to come in this Congress.

Our top opportunities to knock off Dem incumbents? TX-22 with Pete Olson, WI-8 with John Gard (Steve Kagen is certifiable), PA-10 with Chris Hackett (full disclosure: I consult for Hackett), and CA-11 with Dean Andal.

I asked him about blue state pickup opportunities. One of the big frustrations currently is that when a blue seat comes open, it's automatically assumed that it will stay blue, while a conservative district becomes a tossup and the Democrat is allowed to redefine themselves as in step with the district. This is a problem. Cantor is hopeful that Carol Shea-Porter can be knocked off in NH-1.

He's not willing to take Virginia out the swing state column, but thinks that John McCain wins a competitive race in a state with a large military presence.

For more: GOPYoungGuns.com.

Why won't Nick Lampson debate? What is he afraid of? That people find out that he is well out of step with his district?

A few days after an announcement that U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson and challenger Pete Olson would meet in a chamber-sponsored debate, Lampson's office has indicated he might not make it.

Huh? A Chamber official is confused:

As for the debate, she added, "we've had that set up with him since long before" an April run-off election in which Olson was elected the GOP nominee for the CD-22 seat in the November general election.

"That's fascinating. I didn't know; we have not heard this directly," said Olson spokeswoman Amy Goldstein when informed of the news. "As far as we know, it was scheduled; it was a done deal; it is a surprising development."

If he is too afraid to debate, how is he as a "conservative Democrat" going to stand up to Nancy Pelosi?

Go help Pete Olson get rid of Lampson.