Three Madison lawmakers are part of the leadership team coordinating the Assembly Democrats' efforts for the November 2008 election, according to an announcement Wednesday.
State Reps. Mark Pocan, Joe Parisi and Terese Berceau are part of the Assembly Democratic Campaign Committee that helps to coordinate and fundraise before elections.
Republicans control the Assembly 52 to 47, with Democrats controlling the Senate 18 to 15. Speaking for the ADCC, Berceau said Assembly Democrats hope to increase on the gains they made in 2006 when they obtained eight seats previously held by Republicans.
Republicans have seemed to want to sink themselves this last session,"" Berceau said. ""They are just not listening to what the public is wanting.""
Student votes were often attributed to state Democrat wins in 2006, with Republicans losing Assembly seats in towns with UW-System schools like Eau Claire, Oshkosh and Green Bay.
The state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage was typically seen as motivating students to vote. The majority of students on campus voting against it in 2006, according to Dane County vote totals.
Berceau said she was not sure if the student vote would be as strong in 2008, but said she was hopeful due to interest in the Democratic presidential primaries.
Jim Bender, spokesperson for the Republican campaign Fitzgerald for the Assembly, said both parties are likely to target seats held by freshman legislators, who often lack strong voting records. Bender said districts that are often close to 50-50 vote totals would also be targeted.
Assembly Republicans and political observers have previously stated Republicans are likely to concentrate on taxes, a voter ID proposal blocked by the Senate and the cost of several large Democratic health care proposals as issues for the November election.
