The DPG and the voter file ..

There has been a lot of discussion about the DPG's new policy to not offer its voter file to candidates challenging incumbents but I really don't see what the big deal is. I agree that it may protect incumbents but I'm not sure if that is a bad thing. Let's say Markel Hutchins decided to challenge John Barrow or Jim Marshall. I feel its better to protect these incumbents and give them a slight advantage to prevent knuckle-heads from getting in a race and siphoning resources that should be used to protect their seat in November. Does the DCCC, DNC, DSCC, or DLCC let candidates challenging Democratic incumbents come into the office for fundraising calls? I don't think so. They are about protecting incumbents.

You are also accepting the premise that if a candidate can't get the voter file from the DPG that they can't get good voter data to run a campaign. How many incumbents actually buy their data from the DPG versus someone who sells it on a consultant basis?

Yes it's true that the party is cutting into potential revenue but is it really that significant. I think we have new leadership in the party and we should give them the benefit of the doubt and see how everything turns out.