NRCC adds slew of names to 'Young Guns' candidate recruitment program

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) on Monday added 15 candidates to its list of top recruits in 2010.

Republican leaders also promoted 14 other candidates to the second tier of its popular "Young Guns" program, a collection of GOP contenders who have positioned themselves early to take on their Democratic challengers in this year's midterm elections.

Among the 15 up-and-coming Republicans granted "On the Radar" status Monday are Scott Bruun (Ore.) and Mike Fitzpatrick (Pa.).

Bruun posted a solid first quarter fundraising total against freshman Rep. Kurt Schrader (D). Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick — a one-term congressman who lost narrowly in a 2006 reelection bid — has put the seat now held by Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Pa.) back into play.

Moving up from On the Radar status to the program's second tier, "Contender," are Randy Altschuler (R-N.Y.) and state Sen. Randy Hultgren (R-Ill.).

Altschuler is now polling within single digits of his Democratic opponent, Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.). And Hultgren stunned a number of GOP analysts when he upset attorney Ethan Hastert (R-Ill.) in his state's Republican primary earlier this month.

Ultimately, Rep. Pete Sessions (Texas), chairman of the NRCC, praised each of the newly named Young Guns for their early campaign successes. He added the sheer number of new program recruits demonstrates the "hostile political environment that Democrats have created for themselves."

“These candidates are putting the pieces of a winning campaign in place by meeting the rigorous goals laid out by the Young Guns program and aggressively paving their way toward victory on Election Day,” Sessions said.

"As these challengers continue to meet the benchmarks we have set for them, they are ready to hold Democrats accountable for the unpopular big-government agenda they continue to push at the expense of economic recovery,” he added.

The full list of candidates added to both tiers follows the jump.

Contender:
 
Randy Altschuler (NY-01)
Jon Barela (NM-01)
Rob Cornilles (OR-01)
Charles Djou (HI-01)
Robert Dold (IL-10)
Sean Duffy (WI-07)
Keith Fimian (VA-11)
Ryan Frazier (CO-07)
Vicky Hartzler (MO-04)
Randy Hultgren (IL-14)
Adam Kinzinger (IL-11)
Ed Martin (MO-03)
Scott Rigell (VA-02)
Bill Stouffer (MO-04)
Tim Walberg (MI-07)
 
On the Radar:
 
Jack Bailey (TN-04)
Scott Bruun (OR-05)
Larry Bucshon (IN-08)
Francisco Canseco (TX-23)
Blake Curd (SD-AL)
Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-08)
Jim Gibbons (IA-03)
Paul Gosar (AZ-01)
Joe Heck (NV-03)
Mike Keown (GA-02)
David McKinley (WV-01)
Brian Rooney (MI-07)
Scott Tipton (CO-03)
Jackie Walorski (IN-02)

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