Dems Still Crushing GOP In Fundraising For House Races
Dems are continuing to trounce the GOP in the money chase for the 2008 House elections, according to July fundraising numbers released by the party committees today.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee brought in $4.12 million in July, and only spent $2.34 million — a "profit" of $1.78 million. The DCCC has $23.63 million on hand, with no outstanding debts.
By contrast, the National Republican Congressional Committee is still in the red.
The NRCC raised $2.56 million for the month, but spent $2.59 million — meaning they actually lost $30,000 for the month. On top of that, their $1.97 million cash on hand is counteracted by $4.1 million in debts. In short, they'll have to raised about $2.1 million before they'll actually be in the black, and this past month was a step slightly backwards instead of forwards.
Bottom line: When it comes to the 2008 House races, the Dems have a truly enormous financial head start. And it's going to be difficult, if not impossible, for the GOP to make up all the lost ground.
I guess I'll just have to wait for Cokie Roberts to explain Monday morning on NPR why this huge fundraising advantage will be, in fact, a problem for the Democrats....
August 21, 2007 2:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope this newfound knack for fund raising in the democratic party doesn't mean they'll conveniently forget about public financing for elections and other important lobbying reforms. That sort of disregard for the most basic demands from progressives would swing favor back away from the democratic party in no time. That 18% congressional approval rating is already worrisome.
August 21, 2007 2:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
CT you don't need Cokie Roberts to tell you anything, just look at the post above yours. Sean already acts like the robber barons are smoking stogies with Howard Dean.
August 21, 2007 2:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Please let the RNC be thrown into debtor prisions and, utimately, go the way of the Federalist and Whig Parties which barfed them into existence . . . The bankruptcy law did restore debtor prisions didn't it?
Sigh. Here's to evil having to wash dishes to pay for their meals and clean windsheilds so their roadside signs can be read . . .
"Will fuck our country into the dirt for foodstamps."
I wonder how Limbaugh is spinning this.
August 21, 2007 3:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
woa, woa. I said I HOPE. I'm not selling them out yet. I actually think they deserve a fair chance to prove that they're committed to the cause. In regards to the poll figures, if that's what you're referring to, I think that's partly a reflection of the slim majority Dems have available to push through issues, partly repulsion from dedicated conservatives, and partly frustration resulting from the slow pace of Congressional business as usual.
I think it would be a little foolish of Democrats to think their elected officials are so splendid that they're forever impervious to the most common of human character flaws (greed, desire for power, etc.). These people are serving us, and while we may support them and their agendas, it's also our duty as citizens to keep a critical eye on all elected officials, making sure they stay honest.
August 21, 2007 3:08 PM | Reply | Permalink
Unless the Dems control the presidency, the House, and 60 votes in the Senate, public financing is a pipe dream.
The Senate is probably the most difficult of the three, at least in terms of getting to 60 in this cycle.
August 21, 2007 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know our congressional committees are doing well at fundraising, but is the RNC still way ahead of Howard Dean and the DNC?
August 21, 2007 3:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah I know Sean. I can't help but think back to May when everybody here and the rest of blogtopia was ready to throw all Dems under the bus because they couldn't stop the war with a snap of their fingers. Right now you can go over to FDL and
read some attack dog stuff about the FISA bill that ought to be pointed at Republicans. Atrios linked to one post there yesterday with the nice touch that he saw no reason to contribute to Dems. Like there's another choice?
August 21, 2007 4:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's right. You don't like it when readers criticize Dems, no matter if the criticism is valid. I don't know that cherry picking comments from FDL is the way to go about buttressing your argument, though. Smells like Bill O'Reilly.
And my original comment was about traditional media, epitomized by Cokie Roberts, who, no matter what the situation, seems to frame it as a problem for the Democrats.
August 21, 2007 5:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I agree with you about Roberts but you're right I don't like it when readers criticize Dems for not being able to do what it takes 60 or 67 votes in the Senate to do.
I'm not cherry picking comments at FDL. I didn't cite one comment. I'm talking about frontpagers like Scarecrow doing Bill O'Reilly's work for him.
I didn't work my ass over the last 7 years for a Dem majority and I'm not working it off over the next couple of years to make it big enough to do some real good so the kewl kids can sit at their keyboards and try to tear it apart because they're just plain cynical or don't know how to write anything that isn't critical. I'm not happy with everything Dems have done but I'll be damned if I'm gonna sit by while others sabotage the effort before it even has a chance to bear fruit.
August 21, 2007 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
I appreciate your frustration, and I understand it. I think, though, that the Democrats are perennially losing the public relations battle to the Republicans, and I'm frustrated with the fact that they don't seem to appreciate this. The traditional media is operantly conditioned to portray everything as a problem for the Democrats.
The Dems need to realize this, and go on the offensive. Otherwise, the good that they've actually done is going to get swept under the carpet.
You and I have had disagreements in the past over this (you gave me my very first troll rating)--I'm not criticizing the Dems for everything. I'm criticizing them for the crappy public relations battle they're running.
And yes, ideally, it shouldn't be a public relations battle. It is, though, so why don't they start playing it better?
August 22, 2007 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
It doesn't help when we have congressmen like this guy from WA named Baird who voted against the war in 2002 but is just back from Iraq and has changed his mind. Heard him on NPR yday and it's enough to make me throw up.
Sorry about the troll rating but it's not like it's gonna ruin your credit or anything. ;-)
August 22, 2007 3:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
No problem with the troll rating. I thought it was funny.
I hope the Dems don't start imploding on this Iraq debacle. Rather, I hope it's not portrayed as the Dems imploding. Hope does spring eternal...
August 22, 2007 4:32 PM | Reply | Permalink