EMILY's List names four to its early 2012 roster

The liberal group EMILY's List got an early start Wednesday on its efforts to promote candidates for Congress.

The group, which promotes Democratic women who support abortion rights, named four candidates on its early "On the List" roster, flagging the candidates for EMILY's List members.

The group named Lois Frankel (Fla.), Ann Kirkpatrick (Ariz.), Ann McLane Kuster (N.H.) and Christie Vilsack (Iowa) as the first four candidates to the new, early list. The foursome includes some of the most highly touted Democratic recruits this cycle, and seen as virtual locks to secure support from EMILY's List through the 2012 cycle.

"Women across the country are fired up over the extreme anti-woman agenda moving forward in the House and we are seeing women jump into races earlier than ever this year," said the group's president, Stephanie Schriock. "EMILY’s List wants to help them now. ‘On the List’ provides us with a way to get in faster and introduce our members to these great candidates right away."

Kirkpatrick is a former one-term congresswoman who lost in 2010 to Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) and is looking to reclaim her seat. Christie Vilsack, the former first lady of Iowa and the wife of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, is likely to challenge Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) in a redrawn district next fall.

Liberals were heartbroken when Kuster fell short in her effort against Rep. Charlie Bass (R-N.H.), but will try again in 2012. Frankel, meanwhile, is hoping to unseat freshman GOP firebrand Rep. Allen West next fall.