Posted on 06/10/2002 11:36:58 AM PDT by Recovering_Democrat
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Republican team of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney is closing in on $90 million raised for the party for this fall's congressional elections. That's nine times the take so far of the marquee Democratic draw, Bill Clinton.
The disparity illustrates the Democrats' need to develop a fund-raising star, besides Clinton, who routinely could raise $1 million or more just by showing up.
If Bush and Cheney continue at their current pace, it sets up a potentially immense financial advantage for Republicans in the November fight over congressional control, experts say.
"If the Republicans beat history and hold the House and retake the Senate, money will be the main reason why," said Larry Sabato, a University of Virginia political scientist.
With five months of campaigning to go, Bush has raised at least $59.6 million and Cheney at least $8.2 million for Republicans from fewer than 30 events each this year. They are expected to raise at least $20 million for congressional races at a GOP dinner this month in Washington.
As the Clinton administration did, Republicans supplement presidential efforts with fund raising by Cabinet secretaries and White House aides, such as political adviser Karl Rove. First lady Laura Bush also is expected to campaign.
Democrats have their own fund-raisers traveling the country.
They include potential 2004 presidential candidates such as former Vice President Al Gore, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri, Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman , Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and North Carolina Sen. John Edwards .
More than a year after he left the White House, however, Clinton remains the Democrats' star attraction. The Democratic National Committee tapped him to headline its highest-profile event in the spring, an April fund-raiser in New York that collected $2.5 million for get-out-the-vote efforts.
The other high-profile Democratic fund-raisers have their own constituencies — Gore retains strong appeal among environmentalists, for example — and together bring in substantial sums, Democratic consultant Gary Nordlinger said.
Still, he said, "Clinton will continue to be a star fund-raiser for the Democrats for many years to come. He's not only tremendously popular among the base, but he's a relatively young man, and he's also a very charismatic man."
Clinton, 55, has received so many requests from candidates and the Democratic Party that he asked them to send a priority list.
He has attended about a dozen Democratic fund-raisers this year. They include a January event that raised about $1.5 million for California Gov. Gray Davis, a $1 million New York fund-raiser for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in March and a $3 million event for New Jersey Sen. Robert Torricelli last week.
He will raise money this month for Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin, Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu and New York Democrats.
"The former president will do what he can — given his busy schedule with his foundation's work, writing his book and giving speeches — to help Democrats get elected this fall," spokeswoman Julia Payne said.
Nordlinger said Clinton's campaigning carries some risk for Democrats, possibly even motivating a constituency sometimes called "broken-glass Republicans" who detest the former president so much they would crawl across broken glass to vote against people he supports.
The current president, meanwhile, seems to campaign for Republicans without getting Democrats too fired up, Nordlinger said.
GOP fund-raiser Haley Barbour said Republicans went years without a star fund-raiser after Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush left office.
In 1993, the GOP took in a record amount by rebuilding the party's small-donor base, Barbour said, and began having significant success with a large-donor program in 1994.
Barbour attributes the GOP's current success to a popular president and vice president, as well as the narrow margins in Congress, low unemployment and relatively high incomes.
He nevertheless predicts record fund raising for both parties.
While the picture varies by campaign, Democratic and Republican Senate candidates were roughly even overall in fund raising through the first quarter. GOP House candidates together had a substantial edge over Democrats, as did national Republican committees.
While the GOP raises more, Barbour said Democrats have their own advantage: unions and groups such as abortion-rights and environmental activists able to get out the vote and run ads to help Democratic candidates.
DNC spokeswoman Maria Cardona said Democrats do not expect to raise more than Republicans and do not need to, for many of the reasons Barbour outlined.
Sabato, however, said money does matter in reaching voters.
"The Democratic Party of 2002 does not want to be known as the Clinton party. It wants to move ahead," Sabato said. "But they still need this man of the past."
Oh yes, it does. They worship the man. He is their little idol.
I don't feel like contributing today. ~~~ Wait until you see "Unable to locate server"
I don't have money. ~~~ Help with the fundraiser. Bump the threads, ping your FRiends.
There's plenty of time to donate. ~~~ Bill collectors don't see it that way.
I don't know where to contribute. ~~~ Credit card, mail: FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794 , Paypal: JimRob@psnw.com
I've got too many other things to do first. ~~~ Don't we all?
I can't contribute much, what's five dollars. ~~~ If everyone contributed one dollar a month, we'd never have a fundraiser again.
The dog ate my credit card. ~~~ Shoot the dog.
Just let me finish freeping. ~~~ BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Don't wait until it's too late. Do it today. Do it now! Before they bring out the cheerleaders! Free Republic is funded solely by us. It's up to us to keep it running. Do your part, contribute if you can. Bump the fundraising threads. Help keep this place alive!
"If the Republicans beat history and hold the House and retake the Senate, money will be the main reason why," said Larry Sabato, a University of Virginia political scientist.This idiot apparently can't see beyond his nose. Nothing about how the DEMs kept shooting themselves in the foot!!!
SIGH...
However, he mostly raised skirts when he showed up.
Now all they need are principles they're really serious about defending, no matter the cost.
I'm not holding my breath. This is Oldbob Dole's party, after all.
Note the list: 2 known crooks and one stash fund for the whole lot of demoncrap crooks!
The difference is that the money for Republicans comes from people who actually CHOOSE to give it to them. The money for dummocrats comes from union members' dues. And many union members belong to their union not because they want to or because their union actually does anything for them, but because in most unionized professions, its, "Join the union, or else."
The demonrats love nothing so much as control and coercion.
They just are incapable of using words and phrases that don't cover up what they are doing.
Why can't they say "get out the Democrat vote"?
"If the Republicans beat history and hold the House and retake the Senate, money will be the main reason why," said Larry Sabato, a University of Virginia political scientist.
Democrats have their own fund-raisers traveling the country. They include potential 2004 presidential candidates such as former Vice President Al Gore, Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri, Connecticut Sen. Joseph Lieberman , Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and North Carolina Sen. John Edwards .
OK, so where is Hillary? Maria Can't-Vote-Well has sold her soul and vote to Hillary Clinton to help payoff campaign debts.
Boy, this makes me want to run out and give money to the Republican party so they can burry these Democrats.
Not so. He has embarrassed the party and gave into many republican efforts such as welfare reform. They tolerate him only as he is the past president and still can draw $.
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