Another day, another NRCC press release slamming Jim Himes

If the volume of press releases are any indication, national Republicans have a giant target on the back of freshman Democrat Jim Himes.

The congressman from the 4th District was always viewed as vulnerable, but after the surprise GOP victory in Massachusetts, the National Republican Campaign Committee has stepped up its attack. Today’s missive is the sixth in a week.

“Another day, another story about Jim Himes still not getting the message out of Massachusetts,” NRCC spokesman Greg Blair said in a press release today. “While the rest of his party sees the red flags flying high, Himes is still kicking around the idea of backing toxic healthcare legislation.”

A spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee says the attacks won’t work.

“The NRCC is simply clueless when it comes to their chances in Connecticut‘s 4th district because Congressman Himes has been an independent voice for his district and will continue to be one moving forward,” said DCCC spokesman Shripal Shah. “While Republicans are solely interested in going back to the failed George Bush economic agenda, Himes is working to turn the page on those disastrous policies of the past, and that’ll remain his focus.”  

A GOP strategist said Himes is the party’s chief target in Connecticut for a number of reasons. First, he’s a freshman and members of Congress are always easiest to unseat when they’ve served just one term. Then there’s the demographics and the history of the 4th District. Himes rode the Obama wave to victory in 2008, but before that, the district had been represented by Republicans since Lowell P. Weicker Jr. swept into office in 1968.

The D.C.-based operative, who spoke anonymously because he did not want to publicly discuss the party’s strategy in Connecticut, said Himes is viewed as the most vulnerable.

But in the wake of Scott Brown’s win in Massachusetts, national Reoublicans are also taking a fresh look at Connecticut’s 5th District, currently held by Democrat Chris Murphy.

Both Himes and Murphy campaigned as moderates and come from moderate districts but drifted left once in office, the GOP strategist asserts. The NRCC is painting both incumbents as being in lockstep with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.