Via The Hill:

The head of the House Democratic campaign committee says the government shutdown has significantly boosted his recruitment efforts.

At a fundraising breakfast at The Source restaurant on Friday morning, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Chairman Steve Israel told about a dozen business officials that the shutdown has put a handful of new districts in play.

Over a meal of scrambled eggs and fingerling potatoes, Israel outlined at least three districts in which potential Democratic candidates have been inspired to run by the shutdown, according to a source in the room.

“In many of these districts, potential recruits had closed the door, locked it, blocked it and said they would never take a call from the DCCC again. And now they’re calling us and can’t wait to run against this reckless Republican Congress,” Israel told the gathering of the DCCC’s Chairman Council. Democrats need to pick up 17 seats to take back the House — a tall order during any election cycle, but a particularly tough get in a midterm, when the party in the White House traditionally loses seats.