by Matthew Hay Brown, updated

Two House seats held by Republicans in Illinois, two in New Jersey and two in Ohio are among the first nine that Democrats are targeting with their "Red to Blue" fundraising program.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced the first 10 candidates to benefit from the program with which party leaders hope to build on their gains in the 2006 elections. Nine are running in Republican districts.

“These candidates for change have performed very well in the early stages of their campaigns and the Red to Blue Program will give them the financial and structural edge to be even more competitive this year,” said Rep. Chris Van Hollen, chairman of the House Democrats' campaign operation. “The candidates in our first round of the Red to Blue Program are strong examples of Democrats who represent a commitment to new priorities for the families in their districts.”

Actually, two of the candidates remain to be determined by primary voters.

A spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee says the Democrats are being over-optmistic.

"This list is proof positive of Chris Van Hollen's struggles to find credible challengers to run in red districts," spokesman Ken Spain said. "As the Ohio special election proved, investing resources and manpower in fatally flawed candidates running in conservative districts will not be enough in a presidential election year. Democrats can stop dreaming of getting two 2006’s in a row."

Spain was referring to the election last month of Republican Bob Latta over Democrat Robin Weirauch in a northwestern Ohio district that Democrats had devoted time and money to capturing. Latta succeeds the late Rep. Paul Gillmour, who died in September after a fall at his Washington apartment.

Of the 10 districts now targeted by the DCCC, Seven are held by Republicans who plan to retire at the end of the current term; two were held by Republicans who already have left Washington, and one was left vacant by the death last month of Democratic Rep. Julia Carson.

The Democrats to benefit are:

John Adler, New Jersey’s Third Congressional District, currently held by Rep. Jim Saxton

John Boccieri, Ohio’s 16th District, held by Rep. Ralph S. Regula

Charlie Brown, California’s Fourth District, held by Rep. John Doolittle

Andre Carson, Indiana’s Seventh District, vacated by Rep. Julia Carson (March 11 special election)

Debbie Halvorson, Illinois’ 11th District, held by Rep. Jerry Weller

Mary Jo Kilroy, Ohio’s 15th District, held by Rep. Deborah Price

Linda Stender, New Jersey’s Seventh District, held by Rep. Mike Ferguson

Gary Trauner, Wyoming (at-large), held by Rep. Barbara Cubin

The winner of the Feb. 5 primary in Illinois’ Fourth District, vacated by Rep. Dennis Hastert

The winner of the March 8 primary in Louisiana’s Sixth District, vacated by Rep. Richard Baker

The candidates above qualified for the Red to Blue assistance “by surpassing demanding fundraising goals and by skillfully showing voters that they stand for change and will represent new priorities when elected to Congress,” the DCCC said.