Dem leaders have full campaign schedule to try to keep majority

With their own seats largely secure, House Democratic leaders will hit
the road this month to raise money and campaign for their endangered
majority.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has 25 fundraisers scheduled in the
final month before the midterm elections, her office said Friday. The
events will take her to eight states on behalf of 21 members and
candidates.

{mosads}Pelosi will spend this weekend fundraising in Los Angeles and New
York before returning to Washington for Fortune Magazine’s Women’s
Summit on Monday.

She plans to appear at least twice with
President Obama in October, at fundraisers for the Democratic
Congressional Campaign Committee in Florida and Minnesota. She will
also appear with first lady Michelle Obama at a dinner in her home city
of San Francisco.

Since taking over as caucus leader in 2002, Pelosi has raised $215
million for Democrats, including $50 million this cycle, her office
said. She has held nearly 200 political events during the 111th
Congress.

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) will travel to at
least eight states before the election, an aide said, including a swing
through the Southern states of Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana and North
Carolina.

The travel plans reflect the respective bases of support for Pelosi
and Hoyer within the Democratic caucus. Pelosi is headed to the more
liberal states of New York, California and Minnesota, while Hoyer, who
has more support among conservative Blue Dogs, will spend more of his
time in the South, where Pelosi is far less popular.

Democratic House whip James Clyburn (S.C.) is headed to Florida,
North Carolina and California. He’ll campaign for the Democratic Senate
candidate in Florida, Rep. Kendrick Meek, as well as Democratic Reps.
Dennis Cardoza and Jim Costa in California. Back home in South
Carolina, Clyburn plans to help Rep. John Spratt, the chairman of the
House Budget Committee who is facing his most serious re-election
challenge in years.

None of the top three House Democrats are expected to face tough elections in their home districts.

In
messaging packets sent home with Democratic lawmakers, the caucus
rank-and-file members were encouraged to tout the party’s efforts to
create jobs, cut spending and rein in the deficit, as well as bills
aimed at boosting small businesses and reducing outsourcing. The packet
included pages of materials listing Democratic accomplishments,
complete with job creation and deficit reduction estimates.