Ark. Blue Dog Mike Ross Won't Seek Reelection

(NEWSER) - The Blue Dogs—the 52 fiscally conservative Democrats who have been fighting to kill health care reform proposals the industry doesn’t like—receive far more money from that industry than their non-coalition-member counterparts, the Washington Post reports. The reform push has been a boon for the lawmakers' ledgers; the group has set a record fundraising pace this year, beating all other congressional leadership PACs. More»

Redistricting leads to primary losses for Holden, Altmire

(NEWSER) - Conservative, "Blue Dog" Democrats became even more of an endangered species after a pair of primary defeats in Pennsylvania Tuesday. Rep. Tim Holden—the dean of the state's Congressional delegation—was defeated in a redrawn district by lawyer Matt Cartwright, who attacked Holden for voting against ObamaCare, the AP reports. Cartwright, who won 57% to Holden's 43%, said his "own core political beliefs are a much better fit for the new district," which includes many liberal Democrats taken from GOP-held districts. More»

NRCC gleeful at Tennessee Democrat's retirement

(NEWSER) - Blue Dog Coalition co-founder John Tanner will be calling it a day next year after 11 terms in Congress. The Tennessee Democrat hasn't faced serious opposition since first being elected to Congress, but was likely to meet a strong Republican challenger in 2010, Hotline notes. "Rep. Tanner wisely threw in the towel," crowed a National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman. More»

Public health insurance option still splitting party after hectic summer break

(NEWSER) - House Democrats returned to work yesterday in the same position they were in before they spent their summer break getting an earful from the public, the Washington Post reports. House lawmakers are still expected to move first on the health care bill. But while broad support remains for some kind of health care overhaul, the split between moderates and liberals is as wide as ever on issues like the public health insurance option. More»

They're playing big role in congressional races

(NEWSER) - Super PACs aren't just reshaping the presidential race , they are also transforming congressional campaigns. And in those races, conservative interest groups are outspending their liberal rivals by a four-to-one margin, reports the Washington Post . So far, conservative groups have plowed $20 million into House and Senate races, and with spending more than double what it was at this point in 2008, observers say money will be more vital than ever in determining who controls the Congress next year. More»