In an exclusive interview with davidmixner.com, Nathan Daschle who is Executive Director of the Democratic Governor's Association (DGA), shares with us the challenge of focusing our attention on crucial races for Governor. It is not an easy task given all the media focus on the Presidential and Senate races. However, as Daschle states, these races could have a major impact on redistricting in 2010 and the future composition of the United States Congress.

Daschle has been with the DGA since 2005 when he left the prestigious law firm of Covington and Burling. Before that he was working with labor at AFSCME and on the environment at the Natural Resources Defense Council. A cum laude graduate from Harvard Law School, Daschle has rapidly become one of the most respected young minds and talents in Washington, DC. Reading this interview, you can see why that is the case.

Why are the Governor races important this year?

They are important for two reasons. First, they will determine the leadership of eleven states -- over 1/5 of our country -- for the next two to four years. Democratic Governors have proven themselves to be results-oriented, forward-thinking chief executives. It's why they are winning not just in traditional blue states, but also red states that historically have voted Republican. Democratic Governors represent exactly the type of change and leadership we need at the state level, where decisions on critical issues like health care, education, infrastructure, and jobs are made.

Second, the Governors elected this year will be in office in 2010, when we will undertake the next round of congressional and legislative redistricting. As I write this, National Republicans are publicly anticipating a 16-seat pick up between now and 2010. They plan to use these seats to gerrymander an additional 30 House seats for Republicans. By electing Democratic Governors this fall, we will take the first step at stopping this nefarious scheme.

What impact could the races have on Congress given redistricting in 2010? How many seats could be at stake?

In 42 states, Governors have a direct role in the legislative and congressional redistricting. As I mentioned above, National Republicans are executing a plan to pick up 16 gubernatorial seats between now and 2010 and use these to gerrymander an additional 30 House seats for Republicans. If this sounds familiar, it's because it’s the same gambit that Tom DeLay made famous in Texas,when he redrew all of the congressional districts to ensure Republican victories. The RGA's spokesman could not have been clearer, "We could feasibly see 25 to 30 congressional seats swing as the result of redistricting...The odds are, if it is a Republican in the governor's chair, the seat will end up in GOP hands."

It's rare that you see a scheme coming far enough in advance to prepare for and defend against it, but we have that opportunity right now. If we stop them from taking over our statehouses this fall, they can't gerrymander their way back to a congressional majority. Just think about what we could have done if we knew years in advance that Tom DeLay was going to steal house districts in Texas.

Have you had a tough time being heard with the Presidential race and the battle for Congress?

People are understandably paying a great deal of attention to the race for the White House. All down-ballot races, whether they are for Governor, Senate or House, to some extent compete with that race. In our targeted races, however, we have seen a very charged and active electorate. Across the country, and particularly in the states in which we are active, there has been a surge in Democratic voter registration. We anticipate minimal drop-off after the presidential vote, which is promising for our candidates.

There is no question, though, that once the 2008 elections are over, all of the attention will be on the 2009 and 2010 Governors’ races. With 38 races and as many as 24 open seats, the next round of gubernatorial races will be more critical to the future of our country than this year's presidential race.

What are the two or three crucial races and why?

We are active in all eleven races, but our most targeted races are in WA, NC and MO. The race in Washington is one of the most competitive in the nation. We have a rematch of the 2004 election, when Gov. Chris Gregoire defeated Republican Dino Rossi by 133 votes. We always expected this year's race to be close, and the polls confirm that. This year, though, Gov. Gregoire has an advantage in that she has a record of great success behind her. She took her state from budget deficit to surplus, has cracked down on sex offenders, expanded health care for children, and improved the state's transportation infrastructure. At the same time, the sheen on her opponent, Republican Dino Rossi, is fading as people are realizing that he's a Bush clone, both in style and substance. He refuses to answer tough questions or give any details for his policies. That's not leadership. What’s more, he is so infatuated with our current president that he named his dog "Dubya." You can't make this stuff up.

North Carolina is another competitive race in which we are very active. Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue is running a positive campaign about her vision for the state of North Carolina. Her opponent, Republican Pat McCrory, is well-funded, well-organized, and receiving enormous outside support from National Republicans. The polling shows, though, that when voters hear about McCrory's mayoral record of high crime and high taxes, as well as his pro-voucher and anti-stem cell positions, they move to Perdue. This race will come down to the wire, but experience and leadership always beats political posturing, so I feel good about Perdue's chances.

Missouri is our best pick-up opportunity. Attorney General Jay Nixon is running a superb campaign, out polling and out raising his GOP opponent, Congressman Kenny Hulshof. The problem for Congressman Hulshof is that he has nowhere to go for votes. His record as a Washington insider is exactly what the voters don't want this year. Moreover, his party is fractured, and he is receiving only nominal support from his primary challenger. While we take nothing for granted, we are optimistic that Jay will join the ranks of Democratic Governors in November.

In addition, keep your eye on very strong challenger races in IN and VT, where our Democratic candidates are running very competitive races against Republican incumbents. These races have a very good chance of going our way on Election Day.

How much has the DGA raised and what are their needs before the election?

We have raised $15 million this year, and we’re on track to raise well-over our $18M all-time record. We will use much of this for 2008 races, but we are also building a war chest for 2010. Our ability to plan ahead is critical because it takes the money issue off the table. For the first time ever, Republicans will not be able to outspend us.