GOP Caution on 2012 House Races

Politico reports that the NY 26 special election has raised Democratic hopes that the House could be in play next year:

“Republicans really have no room for complacency,” said Steven Law, president of GOP-aligned American Crossroads. “Because the environment is going to be different, we have to be firing on all cylinders.”

Law, whose organization poured around $10 million into House races last year, said he is confident the Republican House majority is safe. But he also said he sees several emerging dynamics — including a surge in Democratic energy from the presidential election — that ensure 2012 will be “hand-to-hand combat.”

“The environment was such that we could have large gains even in districts that weren’t optimal,” said Law. “This time, it’s going to be different. I think the parties are more evenly matched.”

...

Law, who’s been crisscrossing the country to meet with donors and hold focus groups, said he’s been espousing a very direct message: Get ready for war.

“I think there is a kind of sober understanding that the job isn’t done and that we have a lot of work to get there,” he said. “Nobody is punching the sky that we talk to.”