Thomas Reynolds

US Rep. Thomas Reynolds (R) of New York, chairman of his party's National Congressional Committee, was Monday's guest. Here are excerpts from his remarks:

"The landscape looks pretty good. I think we are on track to fulfill my goal of bringing back [all of] our 228-member conference."

"As much as they huff and puff about this, it is not developing. Democratic leaders talk about this national breeze, and the [Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee] is running advertising talking about how [US Rep.] Jim Matheson [a Utah Democrat] stands with President Bush. That is not exactly a message that is indicative of a national breeze."

"Our races will be determined by kitchen-table issues. There is one race ... that has Iraq in the debate. [New Mexico GOP Rep. Heather Wilson's Democratic opponent] claimed publicly that she was a friend of Osama bin Laden."

"I look at it as a nuisance and mischief more than anything.... DeLay has not been charged with anything."

"None. I don't see any evidence of it at all."