Posted on 08/01/2010 9:53:36 AM PDT by Clintonfatigued
Republican House candidates in Pennsylvania, a state expected to be rich with electoral prizes for the GOP this fall, have fallen almost uniformly short in the competition for cash, imperiling their party's prospects in a knot of crucial congressional battlegrounds.
In five districts, Republican challengers ended the second quarter of 2010 vastly outgunned in the fundraising department. Democratic Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, who represents the 3rd District, reported having $1 million in the bank at the end of June, compared with $104,000 for challenger Mike Kelly, who raised a meager $79,000. In Rep. Jason Altmire's 4th District, the incumbent had $1.5 million in the bank — more than seven times the $202,000 that Republican attorney Keith Rothfus had stashed away.
No challenger in the state disappointed more dramatically than former U.S. Attorney Tom Marino, the Republican running against 10th District Rep. Chris Carney. Marino raised $122,000 in the second three months of 2010 and had $11,000 — a rounding error for more successful candidates — in the bank. Republican state Sen. Dave Argall, running against 17th District Rep. Tim Holden, finished the quarter with only a marginally better $29,000 stash.
Carney had $793,000 on hand at the end of June and Holden had $884,000.
The series of flops leaves Pennsylvania Republicans looking at a smaller list of encouraging pickup opportunities. In the 11th District rematch between Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta and Democratic Rep. Paul Kanjorski, the Republican raised $237,000 to Kanjorski's $220,000. Kanjorski still holds a cash advantage of more than $850,000.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Suddenly, Pennsylvania looks far less promising.
BS. Nearly everyone I speak with here in liberal CA - most of whom I consider non-political - cannot wait for November. They see the handwriting on the wall.
I suspect its the same in PA.
Good God though, with all the passion out there, no money raised?
And lots of money for democrats?
If true I blame the GOP alone. They’re missing a hugh fund raising opportunity.
We are in the primary season.
Conservative money is flowing to primary contests.
Also, Republicans have far more primaries, this year, than Democrats.
and spending the money on morons like scofazza and crist...they call me all the time and I tell them the same thing- i won’t give them a penny rather I will send the money directly to the candidates I feel best support my beliefs...I live in the northeast and have donated to Starr Parker- running for congress in Carson, Ca...
Couple thoughts...
Maybe this year the economy is really altering the giving pattern. Especially if Republican base - small business - may not be able to drop the money.
Emotion is important too maybe more than money. I wish today was November and I’m volunteering more than ever.
Given the sheer amount of idiot libtards in Penn, is this not expected?
There are also huge Senate and Governor's races in PA this year which are soaking up a lot of the money.
“My vote never hinges on how much a candidate advertised, or how much money he spent.”
That’s all good and well, but chances are that you are better informed than most people.
What is obamas agent Steele doing to fill the coffers?
How many democraps are getting ‘stimulus’ funds now?
One of the problems is that people always think it’s sort of “virtuous” for a candidate not to have much money, but unfortunately the candidate has got to have enough money to get his message out to enough people so that he can actually get elected. And that doesn’t come cheap.
I was reading that most of our competitors here in Florida are running off of their own personal wealth. So if a candidate can’t raise money from local voters, that means that the great majority will be only people who either have heavy institutional backing (unions, for example) or are independently wealthy.
This is a serious problem.
Well, the Dem’s control the “Stimulus” slush fund billions...so they should be just fine on “public funding of elections”.
The Repubs are hurting. Many Repubs out of work. And the general public wants “cash for courage”.
Dont let the lib-media drive the narrative like this.
Democrats have STOLEN America’s future with their trillion dollar deficits.
Their corruptways have enbabled them to raise kickback millions.
It’s a scam, and all it take are some smart, angry voters ready to expose the lie.
I can explain it.
I have plenty of passion, but I don't have money to waste on a spineless Republican Party that will not call the opposition what they are: Socialist Democrats.
When the Pubbies start fighting like its a life-and-death stuggle to save the country, and stop treating the Rats like fraternity brothers, I'll open up my checkbook.
Until then, I'll use my discretionary funds to buy ammo.
Ping
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.