Democrats’ soft money running low

The Hill ^ | 2/10/2004 | Alexander Bolton

[Utah Girl]

The network of soft-money fundraising groups known as the “shadow” Democratic Party has fallen significantly short of its fundraising goals even as the presumptive Democratic nominee, Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), faces heavy Republican attacks in coming months.

Eight of the largest and most prominent liberal soft-money funds — known as 527s after a section of the federal tax code — have raised less than 10 percent of their expected outlays for the 2004 election.

“My view is that most soft-money donors are not going to move money to outside groups to keep it flowing into federal campaigns because the incentives for giving this money are not there,” said Fred Wertheimer, the president of Democracy 21, who spearheaded the lobbying effort to pass the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act.

patrick g. ryan Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) raised less than $30 million in his presidential campaign last year, compared to $130 milllion raised by President Bush’s re-election campaign.

“The two biggest reasons this money was contributed was either to seek influence with federal office holders, who were soliciting money and to gain access to them in the process. That’s now gone because federal officeholders can’t solicit money.”

However, Aron Pilhofer, the editor of the nonpartisan Center for Public Integrity’s database, said it is too soon to draw conclusions about the liberal soft-money groups based on last year’s performance.

“Whether they’re going to meet their targets is anyone’s guess,” he said.

Reports filed with the Internal Revenue Service at the beginning of this month show that these eight groups raised only $27.6 million through the end of last year.

Earlier published projections set $275 million as a reasonable goal.

The fundraising activity of these 527 groups has apparently been chilled by Federal Election Commission (FEC) complaints filed by campaign finance watchdog groups, subpoena threats by Republican House lawmakers, and indications that several members of the FEC now want to crack down on these groups.

America Coming Together (ACT) and the Media Fund, two soft-money groups run by longtime Democratic allies, had planned on raising $95 million each for the 2004 election. So far, however, ACT has raised $12.5 million and the Media Fund has raised $3 million, IRS records compiled by the Center for Public Integrity show.

Although political groups tend to raise more money in the second year of an election cycle, the fundraising totals are troubling for Democrats because their presidential candidate will need these funds most in the coming months, before he receives $75 million in public funding after the Democratic convention.

Before receiving that windfall of public money, the Democratic nominee will face a daunting funding disparity compared to the president.

For example, at the end of January, Bush reported raising $130 million last year and saving close to $100 million of that total.

By contrast, Kerry, who through Monday had won 10 of 12 contests in the Democratic presidential primary, raised under $30 million last year. Since then he has spent much battling opponents in Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan, and other states. Since emerging as the clear Democratic frontrunner, Kerry’s fundraising has picked up considerably, but he still has much ground to cover before catching Bush.

Since the passage of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law in 2002, Democrats have feared that a funding shortage after the March 2 round of primaries, known as Super Tuesday, would prevent their nominee from countering Republican television ads until August. Then GOP presidential nominee Bob Dole (R-Kan.) faced such a problem in 1996 against President Bill Clinton, a disadvantage that many Republican strategists say hurt his changes of defeating the incumbent.

Democratic allies had planned that 527 soft-money groups would bridge the disparity. But with Super Tuesday only three weeks away, it now looks as though that may not happen.

In November, months before the Democratic-allied groups reported their fundraising activities with the IRS, Republican National Committee chairman Ed Gillespie predicted that the liberal groups would spend between $360 million and $420 million, a figure based on press accounts and matched by predictions by other Republican strategists.

ACT and the Media Fund are only two liberal groups that have fallen short of their reported goals.

Grassroots Democrats, a voter mobilization group formed since the passage of McCain-Feingold, raised $611,000 last year, according to an IRS report. That total is far short of the $10 million it had been projected to raise.

Voices for Working Families, another group formed in the wake of campaign finance reform, has raised $780,000, far short of its reported $25 million goal. The group’s main goal is to “kick George Bush out of the White House.”

Partnership for America’s Families, also formed in reaction to the ban on soft-money donations to federal parties, raised $3 million last year, a quarter of its $12 million projection. The group was founded to mobilize non-union voters in battleground states.

MoveOn.org Voter Fund was projected to raise $15 million for the election. So far it has raised $4.8 million. Founded in September of last year, the soft-money fund was created to fund ads to challenge Bush’s policies and governance.

The New Democratic Network has raised $2.7 million through its 527 fund, a modest contribution to its goal of raising $10-20 million for the election cycle. It is a soft-money created to support centrist Democrats.

Environment2004 Inc. identified by Republicans as a liberal soft-money fund, raised $223,000 last year, a fraction of the $5 million it was expected to raise.

[CyberAnt]

Hmmmm? Doesn't Hillary control this money.

Remember, when Gore ran for President, Hillary controlled the big donors and they wouldn't open their wallets.

Also .. I heard rumors Hillary did the same to Dean .. remember the ALMOST Carter endorsement that wasn't. Guess who Carter got a phone call from ..??

[Liz]

You see, the problem with this situation is that we Pubbies *want* the Democratic Party fat cat donors to get fleeced this year. Sadly, several of the titans have already figured out our game and have cut back their donations to the 527s. Perhaps only the media will end up being surprised by the Republicans' sweeping victories this November, 'cause the Dems' fatcats seemed to have clued in...

As Gramps has frequently said, one of the Dims problems is that so many of their donors ---sans the protection of Clinton/Reno justice---are either under indictment, being tried, or are in jail----are dead broke----and won't be donating for a long time.

[Grampa Dave]

NY Slimes Headlines: RNC Misleads America on Threat from Democratic-allied Groups! Women, chilrun, illegal aliens and homosexual perverts suffer the most! When did Bush know about this!";-)

[Grampa Dave]

The good news continues inspite of the phoney polls:

"The fundraising activity of these 527 groups has apparently been chilled by Federal Election Commission (FEC) complaints filed by campaign finance watchdog groups, subpoena threats by Republican House lawmakers, and indications that several members of the FEC now want to crack down on these groups.

"America Coming Together (ACT) and the Media Fund, two soft-money groups run by longtime Democratic allies, had planned on raising $95 million each for the 2004 election. So far, however, ACT has raised $12.5 million and the Media Fund has raised $3 million, IRS records compiled by the Center for Public Integrity show."

It appears that if not for the early donations of $oreA$$, Lewi$ and other super rich elite anti American Lunatic Libs, these organizations are in trouble.

I think that these new 527's started getting into low money trouble, when we and the few conservative media people pointed out that they were getting illegal foriegn donations from Canada, Europe and Japan. Miss Marple was the first on FR to warn us that the great money coming to Dean last year was probably illegal. Then we found out that it was.

Of course as Liz and I have noted for about 2+ years, when a lunatic Lib posing as a CEO goes to jail, goes to court like Martha or their corportation goes belly up, they no longer donate to the DNC. They are spending their money with expensive rat lawyers trying to stay out of jail.

How much has Martha donated to the DNC in the last year versus years before? Probably not very much.

[Liz]

...... (we found out) money coming to Dean last year was probably illegal......

To Dumbocrats, people are non-entities to be used for their own personal aggrandizement, to be stepped on and eliminated if they get in the way of the slobbering choice crowd.

I got a good laugh at the news that Trippi siphoned off some $7.5 of Dean's campaign coffers for so-called media buy. Figures could be bogus. A calculated thief could invent all manner of ways to bilk a campaign.

My take is that Dean got screwed bigtime......deservedly so.

It would be interesting from a legal standpoint to see the language in Dean's and Trippi's letters and emails to contributors......the reasons they gave for needing money----and the failure to mention Trippi was getting a chunk of it.

Dean has already admitted on MTP that the so-called "gamble" (orchestrated by Trippi) to spend some $40M upfront in a few states was clearly a mistake.

With these revelations, it becomes clearer why Trippi advised Dean to roll the dice in a few states. Could be Trippi knew Dean was a loser from the getgo and figured he'd better cash in before Dean went down in flames.

Dean or his legal contributors might have grounds for a lawsuit against Trippi----not that they would recover much in damages----the publicity would be a nightmare for the Dims----and the Dumbocrats would have to admit to being stupid and naive.

Dean could claim that Trippi gave him flawed advice in order to enrich himself. And if Trippi wrote Dean's post-Iowa scream speech, that would be great evidence (snicker).

[Liz]

....illegal aliens and homosexual perverts suffer the most! (at the hands of Bush).......

Sniffle.......they're (sob) victims...... (Gasp) who knew?

[rj45mis]

remember the ALMOST Carter endorsement that wasn't. Guess who Carter got a phone call from ..??

Yeah! Although I would like to, I just can't bring myself to like that pussy Carter!

[Paul Ross]

Check the donating activities of Martha through the 2002 campaign:

Presented by the Federal Election Commission

Individual Contributions Arranged By Type, Giver, Then Recipient

Non-Federal Receipts "Exempt From Limits"

STEWART, MARTHA
WESTPORT, CT 06880

DCCCC NON-FEDERAL ACCOUNT #7
	06/27/2001	25000.00	21990376125

STEWART, MARTHA
WESTPORT, CT 06880
MARTHA STEWART OMNIMEDIA

DEMOCRATIC UNITY-NON FEDERAL ACCOUNT #2
	06/27/2001	75000.00	21990344339

Total Soft Money:    100000.00


Contributions to Political Committees

STEWART, MARTHA
NEW YORK, NY 10036
MARTHA STEWART LIVING

MAGAZINE PUBLISHERS OF AMERICA PAC FKA MAGAZINE PUBLISHES ASSOCIATION PAC
	12/06/2001	5000.00	22037412439

STEWART, MARTHA
WESTPORT, CT 06880

PINGREE, ROCHELLE MARIE     VIA CHELLIE PINGREE FOR US SENATE
	07/05/2002	-2000.00	22020783240

STEWART, MARTHA
WESTPORT, CT 06880
M STEWART LIVING

DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
	09/08/2000	10000.00	20036153362

STEWART, MARTHA
WESTPORT, CT 06880
MARTHA STEWART LIVING

DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
	10/30/2000	300.00	20020401429

GORE, AL     VIA GORE/LIEBERMAN GENERAL ELECTION LEGAL AND ACCOUNTING COMPLIANCE FUND
	03/15/1999	1000.00	99990061629

SCHUMER, CHARLES E     VIA FRIENDS OF SCHUMER
	12/17/2001	1000.00	22020130811

STEWART, MARTHA
WESTPORT, CT 06880
MARTHA STEWART LIVING OMNIMEDI

BAYH, EVAN     VIA EVAN BAYH COMMITTEE
	08/07/1998	500.00	98020213758

CLINTON, HILLARY RODHAM     VIA HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON FOR US SENATE COMMITTEE INC
	07/07/1999	1000.00	20020040864

STEWART, MARTHA
WESTPORT, CT 06880
MARTHA STEWART LIVING/CHAIRMAN AN

GORE, AL     VIA GORE 2000 INC
	03/15/1999	1000.00	20990084938

STEWART, MARTHA
WESTPORT, CT 06880
MARTHA STEWART LIVING/OMNIMEDIA

PINGREE, ROCHELLE MARIE     VIA CHELLIE PINGREE FOR US SENATE
	05/02/2002	1000.00	22020340925
	05/02/2002	1000.00	22020340925

STEWART, MARTHA E. DR. MD
NEW ORLEANS, LA 70119
SELF/PHYSICIAN

NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE
	06/10/2003	300.00	23991458598

STEWART, MARTHA MS.
WESTPORT, CT 06880
MARTHA STEWART ENTERPRISES

BRADLEY, BILL     VIA BILL BRADLEY FOR PRESIDENT INC
	09/15/1999	1000.00	99990074792

STEWART, MARTHA S
,
NORTH COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH

STABENOW, DEBBIE     VIA STABENOW FOR US SENATE
	07/13/2000	500.00	20020240470

STEWART, MARTHA S
WASHINGTON, DC 20007
SELF-EMPLOYED/PSYCHOTHERAPIST

COUNCIL FOR A LIVABLE WORLD
	06/18/2002	1000.00	22991468713

Total Contributions:    22600.00

Joint Fundraising Contributions

  These are contributions to committees who are raising funds to be distributed to other committees. The breakdown of these contributions to their final recipients may appear below

STEWART, MARTHA
WESTPORT, CT 06880
MARTHA STEWART OMNIMEDIA/OWNER

DEMOCRATIC UNITY
	06/27/2001	25000.00	21990344319

Total Joint Fundraising:    25000.00

Recipient of Joint Fundraiser Contributions

  These are the Final Recipients of Joint Fundraising Contributions

STEWART, MARTHA
WESTPORT, CT 06880
MARTHA STEWART OMNIMEDIA

DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
	06/27/2001	8333.00	21020090267

STEWART, MARTHA MS.
WESTPORT, CT 06880
M. STEWART LIVING/CEO ENTERTAINER

DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE
	06/27/2001	8333.00	21990323460

Recipient Total:    16666.00

TRY A: NEW QUERY
RETURN TO: FEC HOME PAGE

[dangus]

This is the same stuff we hear every year, trying to make the Democrats look poor. The fact is that the Democrats are so filfthy, stinking rich, they don't even need to *ask* for money until the last moment, when their coffers fill to maximum in a heartbeat. One Beverly Hills party, and they'll easily fly past the Republicans.

[dangus]

>>After Kerry suffers from a humiliating defeat this November, perhaps he can continue to follow in Dole's footsteps by making Viagra ads.<<

Umm... Isn't that what Kerry lost when he got one of those purple hearts?

[KevinDavis]

The title should be Democrats running low on Legal soft money.

[dangus]

Total funds *outlayed*, plus debts of Democratic primary candidates: $134,000,000.00
Funds spent by Bush: $34,000,000.00

[dangus]

Oh, and that's just prior to 2004! Makes you wonder how much they spent on primaries.

[optimistically_conservative]

Seems to me that Soros is practically the only contributor.

Soros, George
10/16/2003 $2,000.00
IR,
-[Contribution]
CLARK FOR PRESIDENT INC

SOROS, GEORGE
8/26/2003 $1,250.00
NEW YORK, NY 10028
SOROS FUND MANAGEMENT -[Contribution]
FRIENDS OF HILLARY

Soros, George
12/23/2003 $2,000,000.00
New York, NY 10106
Soros Fund Management -[Contribution to a 527 organization]
America Coming Together - Nonfederal Account

Soros, George
8/19/2003 $1,000,000.00
New York, NY 10106
Soros Fund Management -[Contribution to a 527 organization]
America Coming Together - Nonfederal Account

Soros, George
4/22/2003 $50,000.00
New York, NY 10106
Soros Foundation Management -[Contribution to a 527 organization]
Main Street Individual Fund

SOROS, GEORGE
9/25/2003 $1,500.00
NEW YORK, NY 10011
SOROS FUNDS MANAGEMENT -[Contribution]
A LOT OF PEOPLE SUPPORTING TOM DASCHLE INC

Soros, George
6/2/2003 $2,000.00
New York, NY 10106
Soros Fund Management/Business Exec -[Contribution]
BOB GRAHAM FOR PRESIDENT INC

SOROS, GEORGE
9/25/2003 $1,500.00
NEW YORK, NY 10011
SOROS FUNDS MANAGEMENT -[Contribution]
A LOT OF PEOPLE SUPPORTING TOM DASCHLE INC

Soros, George
7/21/2003 $2,000.00
New York, NY 10106
Soros Fund Management/Business Exec -[Contribution]
TOM LANTOS FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE

Soros, George
3/31/2003 $2,000.00
New York, NY 10106
SOROS FUNDS MANAGEMENT/Investor -[Contribution]
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC.

Soros, George
9/12/2003 $2,000,000.00
New York, NY 10106
Soros Fund Management -[Contribution to a 527 organization]
America Coming Together - Nonfederal Account

Soros, George
3/24/2003 $1,000.00
New York, NY 10106
Soros Fund Management/Business Exec -[Contribution]
DEAN FOR AMERICA