Any Volunteers?

If incoming NRCC Chair Pete Sessions' (TX-32) intends to live up to his goal of winning back the majority in '10, he'll need to step up recruiting in solid red CDs. In '08, GOPers missed out on top-tier challengers to Reps. Zack Space (D-OH 18), Chris Carney (D-PA 10) and Heath Shuler (D-NC 11). And they paid the price.

-- But there might be some hope in one of those races. Ex-Henderson Co. Sheriff George Erwin (R) is considering a bid against Shuler. Even better for GOPers is that the hard-to-beat conservative Dem is considering a SEN bid. An open seat (with Erwin as the GOP standard-bearer) would immediately move this seat to the toss-up category.

-- But they don't appear to be so lucky in PA-10. '08 candidate Dan Meuser (R) appears to be mulling a comeback, and while his money will make him a serious contender, his campaign skills will need a lot of work if he's going to give Carney a run. The other possibilities aren't A-lister's, either.

-- These Dems have established an identity the last two elections as conservatives who fit their GOP-leaning CDs very well. Even if the enviro is better for GOPers in '10, knocking off these battle-tested Dems will be tough without top-tier challengers.