Dems convinced they can pick up a few seats held by GOP too

“As a result, the real number of seats Republicans will have to pick up to win a majority is at least 43,” a July strategy memo read, highlighting Louisiana Rep. Joseph Cao and Hawaii Rep. Charles Djou’s seats, as well as open seats in Illinois, Delaware and Florida as opportunities to take the edge off Democratic defeats…

A longer, and perhaps less plausible, list of Democratic targets might include Republicans Dan Lungren of California, Jim Gerlach of Pennsylvania, Lee Terry of Nebraska and Dave Reichert of Washington…

“They have to make a calculated decision,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Ken Spain said. “Do they want to go try and play offense in some of these open seats or in some of these costly media markets, as opposed to defending incumbents who are already in office?”