Posted on 07/25/2007 5:44:45 AM PDT by Valin
Politico's Jeanne Cummings has a story on the dollar gap that is opening between the Dems and Republicans. It is large and growing, and a complete turnaround from the ordinary situation. So, what is going on?
There are three answers.
First, the top tier GOP presidential candidates are equally matched and there's a lot of money on the sidelines waiting for the main event to begin. When a strong frontrunner emerges who begins to take the campaign to the Dems, especially on the war, the contributions will flow. If Romney is that nominee, expect some serious 527 efforts as well funded by his extraordinarily successful colleagues in the world of investment banking. Rudy Giuliani, too, will not lack for cash if he is the nominee.
The disparity in cash on hand between the campaign committees of Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate are much more significant, and harder for the GOP to fix. The Dems are enthusiastic about adding to their majority, and recognize that if they can keep if through this cycle it will be theirs for some time. Though pressed by the anti-war fringe into absurd ploys and defeatist rhetoric, the Dems can count on their foot soldiers in the unions and the groups to keep sending in the small contributions, whether by payroll deduction or on a voluntary basis.
The Republicans have a double disadvantage.
Quick, name one GOP House candidate challenging a Democratic freshman. That's the first problem. The House GOP has done almost nothing to present the face of the comeback, and until it does, don't expect a lot of enthusiasm or contributions from the base. Show me 20 Republican challengers, including a bunch of vets with service in Iraq and Afghanistan who are running on a platform of victory, and the House coffers will start to fill.
The problem in the Senate isn't a lack of candidates, it is that some of the candidates are not merely old and uninpsiring, some, like Orgeon's Gordon Smith, have gone over to the defeatist ranks. Others like Domenici of New Mexico and Warner of Virginia sit on the fence. There is simply no way that even the most committed Republican activists are going to give money to the National Republican Senatorial Committee and see it work for Smith's re-election, or the re-election of other Republicans not committed to victory in Iraq.
When the GOP's senate challengers to defeatist incumbent Democrats emerge in Montana, Louisiana, Iowa, and Arkansas to join Bob Schaeffer in Colorado, there will be some rallying to them if they run on a victory platform, but not until then, and then only into the campaigns of the individuals. I got another e-mail from Senator John Ensign today, a good conservative who chairs the NRSC, asking me to contribute to the Committee to help turn back Hillary Clinton's assault on talk radio. Now, you'd think I would respond to that, right? Not a chance, because I know that my contribution would end up helping Gordon Smith. Keeping the Fairness Doctrine at bay means almost nothing compared to a loss in Iraq that allows al Qaeda to establish a new home base, and trying to appeal to donors in any way that ignores the debate over the war will fail. When the GOP caucus in the Senate serves notice that it won't be sending money to the defeatist rump in its midst, then donations will pick up. Until then, save the stamp, or the e-mail.
Because we are saving our money to build our own FENCE .
Short, sweet, and on the nose, Scar. You nailed it.
You said it BEST, same old CRAP.
I’m giving right to Fred Thompson.
Maybe the illegals can give them the money Americans won’t give.
The notion that someone should blindly support a political party in all cases is something I would expect from people with room-temperature IQs anyway.
Oh, the RNC did their job. They did their job for where the money comes in now. They embraced the Log Cabin Communities monies and have become the enemy within.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Log_Cabin_Republicans
Log Cabin Republicans campaigned AGAINST Bush in 2004.
Log Cabin (Republicans) need to account for where they got the money to fund the $1M ad campaign against President Bush in 2004 in key battleground states. This is a Federally-regulated organization (IRS and FEC rules apply!), but they have never documented where this money came from.
It’s the Immigration Amnesty stupid! (not you Valin- the GOP)
Many of us are still donating but to individual candidates. I am supporting Duncan Hunter.
And Linsey Grahamnesty, John McPain, and the rest of the gang of fourteen......among others.......
The GOP won't get another dime from me until they start practicing what they preach and start folowing the Constitution!
Waiting for Fred?
And waiting and waiting and waiting......
Gringo de Mexico
Exactly correct. I’m surprised HH didn’t know this.
Precisely, I already sent Fred $100 that I didn't really have to send but I did it anyway to get him going.
I prefer to think of it as keeping our powder dry.
Cannister works better when the enemy is in close.
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
With pro-amnesty types like Martinez in the forefront, I find my once rock-solid enthusiasm for the GOP to be seriously on the wane. Maybe things will change once the nominating process gets into full gear, and there’s someone I like and can root for at the top of the ticket. But, I don’t know for sure. I’ve never been at this low point before. The whole pro-amnesty stance of many Republican leaders really shattered my faith and trust in the Party.
My first guess would be since Bush and Company, a subsidiary of Karl Rove, has made public threats of withholding funds from GOP candidates who choose differing opinions from those Bush Abominations, Americans don't take too lightly to such flavorful underhanded tactics of extortion using their own donations, and with Bush and Company manning the purse strings of the GOP, those Americans will fund their candidate choices free from RNC intimidation.
>>The verifier, gets mad/defensive. Asks me why would the RNC not support Log Cabin Republicans? He says they are part of the GOP and deserve our vote.<<
Kinda says it all! You should call the guy back and do a Donald Trump...”RNC, You’re Fired”.
When the Republican party begins acting like they have a set of balls, then maybe I’ll start giving them money again. I refuse to support eunuchs.
BTTT - what you said!
Arkansas doesn't vote out incumbents unless they do something totally stupid (like Tim Hutchinson). Bill Clinton lost his job as Governor for a term because he tried to do too much too soon and because Hillary became Hillary Rodham. Hillary changed her name back and Bill became DLC Bill and he won the grudge match in 1982. Bumpers and Pryor retired and weren't defeated. Lincoln hasn't lost, yet. Mark Pryor is safe in his seat, too. Huckabee wasn't ever in any trouble of losing after Tucker got convicted (and that's the only reason Tucker lost his job). In fact, no one is even challenging Pryor except a total nobody (Chuck Banks, who could not manage to even get the 2006 GOP nomination for LG).
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