Posted on 10/25/2006 8:38:08 AM PDT by dangus
One must be careful to make too much of a given Senate candidate appearing broke at the 3rd-quarter FEC filing time. After all, the national parties and major donors can rescue a strong candidates foundering finances. And certain costs, such as advertising, may even still have been paid up front. But when so many candidates from one party, who have been very strong, are suddenly out of cash, while the other party is cash-rich, something may be afoot. In this case, the Republicans continue to use their strategy which produced surprise wins in 2002 and 2004: They are keeping their powder dry for a last minute surge.
In Arizona, Jim Pederson (D) has outspent incumbent John Kyl, $10.3 million to $8.5 million. But Pederson is now outfunded, $5 million to 1.18 million.
In Connecticut, Ned Lamont (D) has spent $8.72 million challenging and has only $330 thousand left. Although his opponent is Democrat Joe Liberman, Lamont may yet draw last-,inute donations from other cash-starved Democrats.
In Missouri, Claire McCaskill (D) has matched Senator Jim Talent, $7.0 million to $7.85 million, but has only a quarter million dollars left, while Talent still has $4.2 million.
In Ohio, Sherrod Brown (D) has matched incumbent Mike DeWine, $7.5 million to $8.07 million, but trails in cash on hand, $1.21 million to $4.5 million.
In Montana, national Democrats have already scrambled to help John Tester find $3.7 million, but he only has $571 thousand left; Conrad Burns has $1.7 million.
Republicans looking to pick up Democrat seats have largely been woefully under-funded throughout the campaign. Some show signs of being able to make a last-minute push. A particularly hopeful race is in Maryland, where some polls show Michael Steele (R) has pulled even with Ben Cardin (D). Cardin has outspent him $5.19 million to $4.41 million, but Steele now has the advantage, with $2.06 million to Cardins $1.59 million.
In Washington, heavily indebted incumbent Maria Cantwell has spent $9.58 million to Challenger Mike McGavicjs $6.5 million, but has only a tiny cash-on-hand advantage, $2.4 million to $2.12 million.
New Jerseys Tom Kean has been outspent $2.43 million to Sen. Bob Menendezs $6.65 million, but is one of the very few candidates with more cash on hand than he has already spent, $3.23 million. (Menendez has $5.51 million.)
One race national Republicans should look to support is in Michigan, where Mike Bouchard is remaining vaguely competitive with Sen. Debbie Stabenow. She has spent $9.32 million to $3.94 million. She has only $1.25 million. Bouchard has even less, only $0.6 million, but Republican support for Bouchard could force national Democrats to spend on this race.
Not every race is cheery for Republicans, financially. In Tennessee, both candidates are running low. Bob Corker and Harold Ford have spent $12.42 million and $8.93 million, and both have less than one million left. (Corker has less than half a million, to Fords $0.77 million, but can spend his own money.)
And, in Pennsylvania, Santorum has spent $18,87 million to Caseys $11.29 million. Both seem to have adequate funds left, but Casey now has more than Santorum, $3.70 million to $3.64 million.
And in Rhode Island, Republican incumbent Chafee has spent so much, including beating back Republican challenger Steven Laffey ($3.42 million), he has only $.58 million against Sheldon Whitehouses $1.4 million.
Looking at the preceding data, Republicans should gain momentum in Ohio, Missouri, Montana, and could gain in Maryland, New Jersey and Washington. Only in Rhode Island and Pennsylvania do they look like they could yet drop further behind. It is very possible that they could lose no net seats in the Senate.
Now that's Talent.
Let's just hope the libs starve to death and do this country a favor.
I would think the ad buys are already done. Unless they find a way to cram in 8 more hours in a day. I wouldn't put it past them.
GO TALENT!
Something is afoot, Republicans are voting with their cash and Dims just talk.
Spent their wads like sailors in a foreign port..........
Here in TX, the dems are so bad off in the senate races that my neighbor and big union and dem man could not give me her name. KBH will win easily.
According to Drudge's headline over the weekend, which now seems to be gone, the two parties have spent as much money on this midterm election as they normally spend on a presidential election. More than two billion, I think.
I don't know if that's accurate, because there are various ways of hiding what's going on, but it suggests how important this election does.
And the importance of this election is also suggested by the behavior of the Democrat Press, which has never, never been so blatant in their partisanship and their propaganda spin as they are now. They are pulling out all the stops, and don't seem to worry about losing any remaining reputation they have for objectively reporting the news.
I am guessing the GOP will lose 2-3 Senate seats with unfortunately Santorum being one of them.
Always like the comments about "surprise wins in 2002-2004"
Only the MSM and the experts are "surprised" Republicans know it is going to happen.....and so do the Dims, but they won't admit it.
Lookin' good.
If anyone's feeling generous, https://mikeformichigan.com/donate.php is the donation form for Mike Bouchard. I'd like to get rid of Fat Debbie.
How relevant are these FEC declarations anyway. Demoncats have been cheating on their taxes for years by shipping their money overseas. Why would I believe that these form reflect anything differently?
Rush reported last week that the Ragin Cajun said the DRats could win the seats if they had the funding.
Then there were reports that the DNC was trying to take out loans.
Besides buying TV ads and buying votes on election day from homeless people, what else would the money be used for?
I just sent Santorum a donation yesterday. I hope many more do likewise. I really hate to see Pennsylvania going from swing to blue.
I thought I read last week that Dean took out a 5 million loan for the DNC.
It sounds like the democrats "poll" propaganda may have backfired. Cash is rolling into the Republican coffers.
The democrats attempt to "poll" the election has awakened the sleeping majority.
Insightful. This off-year IS key, because as Rush points out, if the GOP were to lose, it would send people screaming into the arms of idiots like McLame, and guarantee a Hillary win in 08.
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