This afternoon, the NRCC has officially announced State Senator Mick Mulvaney as an ‘On the Radar’ candidate, an important step of its Young Guns program.  Founded in the 2007-2008 election cycle by Reps. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and Paul Ryan (R-WI), the Young Guns program is a member-driven organization dedicated to electing open-seat and challenger candidates nationwide. Mulvaney is running for South Carolina’s Fifth Congressional District.

“The NRCC is committed to working with Mick Mulvaney as he continues to meet the rigorous goals of the Young Guns program,” said NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions. “Mick Mulvaney is an accomplished leader for South Carolina, and he already has significant momentum behind his campaign. I am confident that he will be successful in his effort to defeat John Spratt, who is a career politician focused on Wall Street bailouts, a National Energy Tax and a government healthcare takeover, not job creation.”

NRCC.org

An informal list of 17 members the NRCC believes can be convinced to step down, privately called the “Dem Retirement Assault List,” makes clear the party needs Dem incumbents to step aside if they have hopes of taking back the majority. The NRCC has taken pains to attack those lawmakers in recent weeks.

The list includes 14 members whose districts voted for Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in ‘08. McCain won districts held by Reps. Ike Skelton (D-MO) and Bart Gordon (D-TN) with more than 60% of the vote, and districts held by Reps. Rick Boucher (D-VA), Alan Mollohan (D-WV), Marion Berry (D-AR), Nick Rahall (D-WV) and Mike Ross (D-AR) with more than 55%.

McCain narrowly won seats held by Reps. John Spratt (D-SC), Allen Boyd (D-FL), Vic Snyder (D-AR), Baron Hill (D-IN), Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), Tim Holden (D-PA) and Collin Peterson (D-MN).

Hotline

I don’t get any inclination that Spratt is just going to decide to retire.  We’re going to have to hand him papers in the voting booth next November.  It’s nice to see that he’s finally on the NRCC’s list, however.