Democrats rally to help Loebsack in 2018

U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack cruised to a solid victory last November, but Iowa's lone Democratic congressman has been put in his party's incumbent protection program for 2018.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the party's political arm in the U.S. House, announced Monday that 19 members had been placed in its Frontline program.

The move comes about a month after Republicans announced their 36 initial targets for the 2018 election. Loebsack was on that list.

Republicans are targeting Democrats in districts that President Donald Trump won last November. Trump won the House 2nd District by 4 points over Hillary Clinton.

Loebsack, of Iowa City, defeated Republican Christopher Peters last fall by 7 points in the district. However, Peters wasn't well known and had relatively little campaign money.

Loebsack said Monday that he has faced tough challengers in the past and emerged a winner.

'Today's announcement will ensure that our team has the tools necessary to fight the negative ads that have already begun attacking the work we have accomplished,” he said.

The Frontline program is a partnership that helps vulnerable members by assisting with fundraising and campaign infrastructure.

'Incumbent protection is a critical part of the DCCC's offensive strategy, and will allow us to maximize our gains in 2018,” Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, a New Mexico Democrat who chairs the committee, said Monday.

Already, Loebsack has been targeted by advertising sponsored by a Republican group with ties to the GOP leadership.

Even though the parties have identified where they think the most vulnerable members are, it doesn't guarantee that a district will be competitive in the next election. The parties won't make firm decisions on how much money they'll put into a race until next year.