[Rawlings]

It is now well-known that the GOP has a HUGE fundraising advantage leading into the '06 elections. It is also commonly believed that the GOP base's energy level is down quite a bit. After all, there are some people on this site who are so down out immigration and spending they simply want to sit these elections out. The truth is, as it turns out, that Republicans truly grasp the stakes of a Pelosi/Reed congress and are spending and working to fight against it. The press has thus far woefully underestimated the energy of GOP activists, fundraisers, and especially social conservatives seeing a huge opportunity to embrace the Bush "compassionate conservative" ideal. When Nov. 7 ends, the GOP will win and the money advantage is just one reason.

[Ouderkirk]

What, George Soros hasn't given them his PIN number ?

[Izzy Dunne]

"Eighty percent of our message is negative," one party strategist said.

Bush's fault.

Actually, if you contributed a check for ten cents to the DNC, they will spend postage money hounding you for more. If you can stand the spam, you can deplete their coffers.

[IrishMike]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1691922/posts

[rhombus]

With campaign finance laws being what they are, what can the GOP spend this money on? Or are we going to see 527s again? I hope the GOP does better in this arena than they did in 2004. It seemed like all the 527s were Democrat.

[The G Man]

[David Isaac]

"...social conservatives seeing a huge opportunity to embrace the Bush "compassionate conservative" ideal."


IF Conservatives (big C, no other qualifiers needed) do turn out strongly to vote GOP, they will do so holding their noses (AGAIN) and not because they endorse something as nebulous (and triangulated) as "compassionate conservatism".

[saganite]

He called for a much bolder agenda from the party, including a universal health care plan, full withdrawal of troops from Iraq this year and a commitment to stop any attempt to ban gay marriage.


I'm with Feingold. That should be the Democratic party's agenda. That would assure the most overwhelming defeat in his party's history. Go for it Russ!

[peyton randolph]

Still doesn't take into account the hundreds of millions of dollars in free advertising that passes as MSM news...or the value of the free labor the unions (including the NEA) puts out on the streets. Dems can moan and groan but they've still got advantages due to media bias and union perqs.

[AlphaOneAlpha]

So, this is the Democratic party and it's far left nuts bin that are going to run the country should they take the congress in the fall? They've spent years doing nothing productive for the country...only whining/ascerbic politics and they STILL can't get their act together as a group on their current single cause.
This, folks, is not leadership.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Today's Democrats are totally bankrupt of any ideas or ideals. Their only goal is to win, any way they can. They sound as though they're grasping for straws. Couldn't happen to a better bunch.

[far sider]

Rawlings?

Is that you, Matt?

[rellimpank]

--they're gonna get $40 million in union dues from the AFL-CIO--

[Larry Lucido]

But I thought getting the money out of politics was good. Did they change their minds now?

[gusopol3]

MoveOn says it stopped running ads in the earlier districts because Emanuel's Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is now involved in those races so they've focused their efforts on other places where ads by Democratic groups aren't running.)

Isn't this a detailed confeesion to criminal behavior, as outside groups are not allowed to coordinate with the parties.

[NavyCanDo]

Sorry Dems - but you have been making such a big deal out of the Hurrican Katrina (one year later) that I feel so bad and so guilty that I haven't done enough so that from now on all of my extra money if I have any must go to the Katrina victims and the rebuilding of New Orleans.

[stocksthatgoup]

[PeteB570]

I am one of the "down and depressed" Republicans this year based on what a united House, Senate and President have been able to achieve with a majority but -

I will be at the Voting Both in November voting for Republicans at the State and National level.

Local? It will depend on the position and person.

[rawhide]

I read yesterday where the AFL/CIO is ready to spend $40 million on ads, so there goes the GOP's ad advantage.

[chilepepper]

the GOP has a HUGE fundraising advantage

I suspect the Demonicrats plan to counter this by doing some fundraising of their own - they'll just make some trips to Iran, China, Syria, North Korea and Venezuela

[Gothmog]

Thanks for posting this. I've been saying the same thing for some time now. Not only is Dean screwing the party by misallocating funding, but the funding that is replacing it (Soros/MoveOn) isn't attuned to any traditional winning Dem message (Bush is evil vs. min wage/healthcare, for example).

Also, one story the media (surprise) has not spent much attention on is the split in unions and how some unions are not as well funded as usual. Unions will play less of a role in 2006.

I'm not trying to be pollyanish, but I think predictions of Dems taking the House are overblown.

I remember some months after the 1994 election the Wall St Journal published an op-ed with an analysis showing that it was not so much the Contract With America that helped the GOP win, but that GOP challengers were able to raise a significant amount of $$$ to overcome Dem incumbent advantages.

They could not outspend the Dems, but they were able to reach a threshold that allowed them to get their message out. That, combined with overwhelming rejection of Clinton agenda was responsible for GOP win.