Ensign is right

Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) has publicly criticized his GOP colleagues for failing to pay their dues to the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC).

He said last month that he would not be able to make good on a promise to match Democrats “dollar for dollar” this year, blaming his GOP colleagues for not chipping in.

“I recently challenged my colleagues to step up to the plate and help me provide the resources our candidates need to compete in races across the country — to match the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) expenditures in targeted races,” Ensign said in a statement. “It has become clear that my call has gone largely unanswered.”

The barbs have pierced some stingy senators, who have put out word that the criticism will backfire on Ensign. Chatter scattered around Washington last week suggested that Ensign’s salvoes killed any chances he had of a leadership post down the road.

Ensign reluctantly accepted the job as NRSC chairman last year. No one else wanted it, knowing that the electoral map greatly favored Democrats. Republicans are defending 23 seats; Democrats are defending only 12.

Sen. Mary Landrieu (La.) is the only Democratic incumbent worried about her reelection race. A handful of Republicans, meanwhile, are scrambling for their political lives.

Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) must first fend off federal charges, and then hope to beat Democrat Mark Begich. Sen. John Sununu (R-N.H.) is the underdog against former Gov. Jeanne Shaheen.

Other Republican incumbents who face challenging races include Sens. Norm Coleman (Minn.), Gordon Smith (Ore.), Elizabeth Dole (N.C.), Roger Wicker (Miss.) and Mitch McConnell (Ky.).

Barring a scandal, former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner (D) will win retiring Sen. John Warner’s (R) seat. And Democrats are favored to win open seats in Colorado and New Mexico.

Through the end of July, the NRSC had just $25.4 million in cash on hand, compared to the DSCC’s $43 million.

So when Ensign calls on his colleagues to pony up to the NRSC, he’s not whining. As Ensign battles with members who are sitting on boatloads of cash, it’s not hard to imagine DSCC Chairman Charles Schumer (N.Y.) grinning from ear to ear.

Schumer has cautioned his colleagues not to be overconfident, but has acknowledged that Democrats picking up nine seats and reaching the magic number of 60 is possible.

Ensign has pleaded with and prodded his Senate GOP colleagues, asking them to be team players.

Some, most notably Sen. Orrin Hatch (Utah), have stepped up to the plate.

But most have not. Instead, they have opted to count their millions in cash on hand, doing little to fend off the Democratic wave that will strike them on Nov. 4.