Yesterday, the DCCC began running radio ads and robo calls criticizing eight House Republican incumbents for voting No on SCHIP expansion. As you can see below, the representatives they're targeting all represent swing districts; most of them are listed on Cook Political Report's Competitive House Chart (pdf) as either Lean Republican or Likely Republican:

    * Steve Chabot (OH-01) R+1
    * Thelma Drake (VA-02) R+6
    * Tom Feeney (FL-24) R+3
    * Sam Graves (MO-06) R+5
    * Joe Knollenberg (MI-09) R+0
    * Randy Kuhl (NY-29) R+5
    * Jim Saxton (NJ-03) D+3
    * Tim Walberg (MI-07) R+2

The messaging of the ads is strong, drawing attention to the fact that these members of congress receive healthcare benefits at tax payer expense yet voted to deny same to children.

The text of the ad going after Feeney:

"Did you know Congressman Feeney gets health care at taxpayers' expense, but Feeney and Bush are blocking health care for 10 million uninsured children? Tell Tom Feeney to put families first."

The ad targeting Kuhl and Walberg also effectively pits Bush as the villain against helpless children:

"Nearly 700,000 children here in New York risk losing their affordable, quality health insurance, while Congressman Randy Kuhl receives his health care at taxpayers' expense.

"With the State Children's Health Insurance Program - SCHIP - set to expire, Congressman Kuhl has a choice to make.

"Continue to stand with President Bush or with American children.

According to CNN, while the bill will go to Bush's desk this afternoon, he will likely not veto it until tomorrow. The Stakeholder estimates we just need 15 of the 151 Republicans who voted No on SCHIP to switch in order to override, assuming that 10 of the Democrats who either voted No or present or didn't vote switch as well for the magic 25 additional votes we need. One such Democrat, Oklahoma Rep. Dan Boren, has already announced his intention to support the override, saying:

"I don't want to be the one to stop this program from going forward."

Once Bush vetos the bill, the pressure will be back on those that voted No but if your congressman was among them, can't hurt to get on the phone now. Full roll call HERE. The House switchboard number is 202-225-3121.

Look at the WaPo poll that shows a supermajority of Americans support expanding SCHIP and you see what they see: they are extremely vulnerable on this issue.

More than seven in 10 support the planned $35 billion spending increase, and only 25 percent are opposed. About half of Americans "strongly" support the increased spending; 17 percent are that firmly against the additional money. And the program expansion has majority support across party lines: Eighty-one percent of Democrats, 69 percent of independents and 61 percent of Republicans are in favor.

Update [2007-10-2 18:29:48 by Todd Beeton]: Russ Warner, the Democrat challenging Bush lapdog David Dreier in CA-26, held a rally at Dreier's office today protesting Dreier's No vote on SCHIP expansion. From their press release:

Currently 850,000 children in California receive health care coverage through the SCHIP program in California, called Healthy Families. Dreier voted along party lines against the reauthorization of the program and a proposed expansion that could have extended health care coverage to another 650,000 children in California currently without health insurance.

“David Dreier continues to support funding the war – which costs us nearly $450 billion – but is unwilling to invest in California's kids,” Warner said. “This just shows how out of touch he is with the priorities and concerns of working people.”

Dreier may not be officially targeted by the DCCC quite yet but look for this race to be top tier. The district is more winnable than people think (PVI R+4) and Warner is a great candidate. Definitely one to watch.