Posted on 12/11/2003 8:33:47 AM PST by Theodore R.
GOP war chest to target 6th District CHANDLER WOULD FACE A TIDE OF NATIONAL MONEY IF HE RUNS
By Ryan Alessi HERALD-LEADER FRANKFORT BUREAU
If Democrat Ben Chandler runs for the congressional seat vacated by Gov. Ernie Fletcher, as expected, he'll face an avalanche of national Republican money similar to the one that helped beat him in this year's governor's race.
A Washington-based GOP organization has quietly pumped hundreds of thousands of dollars into a special account that it established specifically to help win a special election in Kentucky's 6th District.
The group is ready to transfer the cash to the party's candidate -- and continue raising more -- as soon as state Republican delegates name one. They'll make that choice Saturday.
Chandler hasn't officially announced his candidacy. But he scheduled a news conference for today at his Versailles home, where he is expected to say he'll run. His term as attorney general expires in January.
The unusual Republican war chest that will be used against him if he runs is called the Kentucky 6th District General Election Fund and was established in October. The balance has grown rapidly since Fletcher's election, when it became certain that his seat in Congress would be vacant, said Carl Forti, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee.
About that time, Chandler also surfaced as the leading Democratic contender.
The fund now is "in the range of" several hundred thousand dollars, Forti confirmed yesterday.
The nationally financed war chest means the GOP will have ready cash to launch television ads immediately in what will be an intense two-month campaign. Fletcher, who must set the election date, has said Feb. 17 is likely.
In such a short campaign, TV commercials are crucial as candidates try to get their names and messages in front of voters.
There's little time to raise money locally, so it is "important to give our candidate a head start," said Forti, explaining the special account.
Assuming that Chandler runs, Forti said, "this race will be harder and tougher on him than the governor's race."
During that campaign, Fletcher's Kentucky organization raised $5.6 million, compared with Chandler's $3.8 million.
But it was money from the Washington-based Republican Governors Association that paid for the most damaging "attack" ads against Chandler.
The RGA, financed by companies and individuals nationally, spent more than $2 million in the race, including about $1.8 million on television ads.
Forti didn't rule out spending national Republican money on such "issue advocacy ads" in the coming Kentucky special election. That type of commercial is legal under campaign finance laws as long as it avoids key phrases, such as "vote for," "support" and "elect."
Most of the money in the special Republican 6th district account was originally donated to members of Congress from across the country by their supporters.
Those officials, through their political action committees or campaign organizations, in turn gave to the Kentucky fund, Forti said.
Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Somerset, has been spearheading that fund-raising effort.
Forti said individuals and other political action committees -- many of which are organized by corporate employees -- were eligible to give, but he didn't know of any that had.
While such an account is legal, it is rare. The Republicans last used the technique in 2000 for an open seat in New York.
The 6th District fund is registered with the Federal Election Commission, and all donors must be disclosed in a report due at the end of the year. Federal law limits contributions to $2,000 per donor per year. Forti said the Republican National Congressional Committee also will continue to help the party's 6th District nominee raise money.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in Washington has pledged that it will "help our nominee in a variety of ways," said Greg Speed, a spokesman.
He said, however, that the Democrats won't set up a special account like the Republican one.
He wouldn't say whether the committee would underwrite television commercials.
In any event, Chandler "would be well-funded" by local Democrats, as well as national Democrats, state treasurer Jonathan Miller, one of the state's top-elected Democrats, predicted.
Both the GOP and Democratic congressional committee spokesman said yesterday's Supreme Court ruling on campaign finance would have no impact on their 6th District plans.
Republicans have been gearing up for another fight with Chandler ever since the governor's race ended.
Only days after that election, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Louisville, warned Chandler that voters would not award him the 6th District seat as "a consolation prize" for losing the governor's race.
McConnell is backing state Sen. Alice Forgy Kerr to be the Republican candidate. Her organization already includes several McConnell staffers and his campaign pollster. Kerr's media adviser, Larry McCarthy, was the man behind the RGA's ads against Chandler last fall.
But she still must convince the 36 Republican delegates who will elect the nominee by secret-ballot on Saturday. State Reps. Stan Lee of Lexington and Lonnie Napier of Lancaster, as well as Lexington councilman Chuck Ellinger Jr., also are vying for the spot.
About 220 Democratic delegates will select their party's candidate on Monday in Lexington, said Eddie Jacobs, Fayette County party chairman.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reach Ryan Alessi at (859) 231-1303; 1-800-950-6397, Ext. 1303; or ralessi@herald-leader.com
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.