Democrats are dismissing stories about their members choosing not to attend the Democratic National Convention this September, saying candidates in tough races skipping out on national conventions is par for the course in a presidential election year. DCCC Chairman Steve Israel told Reuters Tuesday that he wouldn’t advise his members facing tough fights to go to Charlotte for the Democratic confab, saying their time is better spent campaigning in their districts.
Israel practices what he preaches. In 2000, during his first race for Congress, Israel — who ran in a New York district with Republican-leaning registration — did not attend his party’s national convention in Los Angeles. A DCCC spokesperson said Israel stayed back in the district to campaign instead.
