Wednesday, July 18, 2012
1:58 PM
Hotline rankings: Duffy, Ribble among most-watched House races
Two Wisconsin lawmakers are among the top 50 most-watched congressional races in the National Journal's first Hotline House race rankings of the 2012 election cycle.
The rankings, which will break down the top 75 seats most likely to change hands in November, take into account fundraising, polling, coverage of the race and "our own gut feelings."
U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Weston, comes in at No. 37 on the list. Scott Bland writes that although the 7th Congressional District had previously long been in Dem hands, "Duffy has recovered after some major early missteps." He adds that former state Sen. Pat Kreitlow, D-Chippewa Falls, "has polish that Duffy’s last opponent lacked" and that the race is "taking its time coming together."
Duffy's fellow freshman Wisconsin Republican, Reid Ribble of Sherwood, ranks at No. 50. Bland writes that Gov. Scott Walker's margin in the 8th CD in the recent recall election gives Ribble "an extra sense of security heading into his first reelection effort.
Last week, the Rothenberg Political Report also included Duffy and Ribble among its 67 total House seats in play this fall. Duffy's race was in the "Lean Republican" category, while Ribble's was listed under the safer "Republican Favored" category.
-- By Andy Szal
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