The Hill News

A Democratic lawmaker on Thursday said his party's new initiative tying the Tea Party platform directly to Republicans is not "relevant" to his reelection campaign.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) launched an effort Wednesday arguing the Tea Party and the GOP are one and the same and said they would take the country in the wrong direction.

Rep. Walt Minnick (D-Idaho), who has been endorsed by Tea Party groups, said that's not the message he'll take to his constituents.

"I don't think it's very relevant ... I don't think that message is going to reach many people in my state," he told The Hill. " It's not the frame through which I tend to campaign."

Minnick is one of many centrist to conservative House Democrats who represent right-leaning districts who face tough reelection campaigns in the fall.

The DNC held a press event to announce the campaign at party headquarters Wednesday. Several liberal Democrats appe! ared at the event to tout the initiative, which will likely represent part of the Democrats' message heading into the August recess.

Asked if he believes the DNC's effort will help or hurt candidates like him, the Idaho congressman replied "it depends on the district. In my district, that's not the message ... generally speaking."

Minnick has renounced the endorsement he received from the Tea Party Express group due to racially insensitive statements by the group's head, but added that he still agrees with the movement's tenets.