"Raise money early" is probably the most oft-repeated advice given to the 40 House Democrats singled out by party officials to receive special assistance, as they prepare to defend against potentially serious challenges in the 2010 elections.
A CQ Politics analysis of the latest campaign finance reports shows that these members are fast learners -- they gathered an average of $266,000 in campaign receipts for the first three months of this year.
Most of the Frontline Democrats are either first-term members or those who represent politically tenuous turf.