Cash Vs. Momentum in the Midterms: Will Flush Fat-Cat Dems Beat Rich-in-Love Reps?
The Democratic National Committee…raised more than twice as much money in July as the Republican National Committee, and finished the month with $11 million on hand, compared with $5.3 million at the RNC.
[Rep. Chris] Van Hollen's Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is taking $36 million into the fall for its candidates, compared with the National Republican Congressional Committee's $22 million.
On the Senate side, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee reported $22.4 million on hand at the end of July, which was just north of the National Republican Senatorial Committee's $21.2 million in the bank.
In addition to the national parties, The Washington Post reports that of the 30 toss-up House seats now occupied by Democrats, 23 of the incumbents had out-raised their challengers, with one-third of those reporting $900,000 or more than their opponents.
Although the cash will significantly lift Democrats' get-out-the-vote efforts, money does not always bring victory. In 2006, for example, the NRCC outspent the DCCC by $18 million and still lost 31 seats and control of the House for the first time in 12 years.
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Now I'm confused. I thought the Democrats were opposed to Big Campaign Cash.
We are! We hate lobbyists and corporations, too! *wink*
Hasn't this been happening for a few years already? Stories like this have been coming out for about a decade.
Hey, cut them some slack. The Republican Michael Steele National Committee is working hard to raise money for Republican candidates get Michael Steele his next job.
All of the money in the world isn't going to save the Democrats from their well deserved drubbing in November.
I can remember these same stories about Republicans raising more money than Democrats during the summer of 2006. A lot of good it did them.
James nailed it. Further, I think throwing more money at the elections will hurt candidates more.
No incumbents.
^^THIS^^
Don't look for the R or D, look for the incumbent sign and vote against it.
Such thoughtful, engaged citizenship!
So, Tony, in order to be a good citizen, we must vote for incumbents. Right?
Incumbency is tied to the problems I care about -- spending and corruption. I've tried other strategies. This is the current best one I have. There might be a couple of exceptions to that rule I'd make. Sometimes the bum you know is better than the bum you don't, but not in my current locale.
When in doubt, vote the incumbent out. The default assumption should be that the noob won't be quite as adept at taking away your liberty.
If the incumbent is waaaaay better than their challenger, then "always vote out the incumbent" is an idiotic rule.
On the plus side, all the money blown on this will be unavailable to their supporters later on.
But, but, I predicted a 40 year Reich!!
Problem with that, James, is that Republicans will hold power again. Fucked either way.
I like your blog,and also like the article,and thank you for provide me so much information :))
After giving money to individual candidates whom I support, I really don't have any to spare for the RNC. I have to pay for my own trips to the bondage club, you know.
I think lots of people share your sentiment.
No one should read anything into these numbers.
And I think I heard somewhere that the Republican Governors Association also has a campaign war chest that greatly surpasses its Democratic counterpart.
Here is some RGA vs. DGA finance info.
Oh -- And look who gave a million bucks to the RGA: (wait for it...)
David Koch.
BUM DUM DUM!
Koch, you magnificent bastard!
If you look here, the Ds are about to get their ass handed to them:
http://realclearpolitics.com/e.....e_map.html
If you look here, the Ds are likely to maintain control of the House:
http://elections.nytimes.com/2010/house
Guess that's why they hold elections.
It's still blowing my mind that Harry Reid and Barbara Boxer could be unseated...fuck the House numbers.
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