Posted on 10/18/2009 9:17:46 AM PDT by LA Woman3
U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, expanded his fundraising edge over six Republican primary challengers, reporting late Friday that he raked in more than $450,000 during the past three months.
Republican small-businessman Rob Curnock raised nearly $56,000 during the same three-month period ending Sept. 30. That left Curnock with $42,557 on hand to spend.
Chuck Wilson, a former CIA case officer from Waco, trailed Curnock, having taken in more than $39,000 in the period.
A third GOP challenger, Dave McIntyre, a retired Army colonel and national security expert from College Station, raised more than $23,000.
Timothy Delasandro and J.W. Autem’s fundraising statements were not available from the Federal Elections Commission on Friday. A spokesman there said it takes longer to publicize reports that are not submitted electronically. Neither candidate could be reached to provide their figures Friday.
A sixth challenger, Granbury restaurant owner Eric Finley, entered the race in October after the fundraising period had ended.
A news release from Edwards’ campaign office emphasized that with $1,125,907 in the bank, he has $200,000 more than he had during the 2008 election cycle when he defeated Curnock. The release further stated he has $1 million more than any of his would-be general-election opponents.
If the Republicans were impressed, however, they didn’t show it.
“Chet Edwards is in a hole a million dollars won’t dig him out of,” McIntyre said Friday. “This is not a normal political year where you just buy more ad time and beat your opponent with TV ads. We have a political regime that has us on a path to catastrophe, and Mr. Edwards is spot-welded to the party advancing those policies.”
Curnock echoed those remarks.
“I don’t care if Chet has $10 million, because at the end of the day, he’s going to need every penny of it,” he said. “This isn’t about how much money he has; it’s not about my money. It’s about the taxpayers’ money he’s been spending profusely.”
Several political observers agreed that Congress’ spending could provide good ammo for Edwards’ opponents, but they said the GOP challengers face several hurdles, such as their relatively low fundraising totals and the fact that they’re locked in a potentially pricey primary.
Edwards sitting tight
Baylor University political science professor Thomas Myers said Edwards is conserving his resources while the Republicans duke it out.
And for now, “no one has emerged as a dominant force in terms of either popularity or fundraising,” he said.
There has been plenty of jockeying among the Republicans, who framed the fundraising picture in a variety of ways.
Wilson said an amendment to his fundraising report will show he’s out-raised his primary competitors.
“We’ve raised more money than any of the other Republican candidates, and we’re pleased with that,” he said Friday.
McIntyre, who announced his candidacy a little more than a month ago, was quick to point out that Curnock and Wilson had head starts on him in fundraising.
“Rob Curnock has been in the race for 22 months; Chuck’s been in the race five months,” McIntyre said, “so I’m real happy where we are.”
Curnock noted that voters already know who he is in the 12-county district from his ’08 run against Edwards. Building name recognition can be costly.
Southern Methodist University political science professor Cal Jillson said it isn’t too late for conditions to change in the race, but for now, the challengers face an uphill battle.
To win, “you have to have a compelling candidate, a compelling message and enough money to get it out, and, looking at the field, you don’t see that right now,” Jillson said.
mshapiro@wacotrib.com
757-5707
What’s the polling say? IS Edwards vulnerable?
It’s surprising that Chet Edwards has been able to win so long in such a conservative district.
Money goes to power.
You get the government you deserve.
The idiots in Waco want Edwards just because he got them a new Post Office or got their street paved. They are too stupid to realize that he took a heck of a lot more out of their pockets supporting Obama and Pelosi.
Let them and their grandchildren pay for it.
Chicken Chet ping!
Yes, he’s vulnerable. I think the GOP is waiting to see which candidate has the best chance of defeating him then the money will follow.
Hey, lady! I was posting on this about the same time you pinged me. Chet wouldn’t be bragging about his bank account if he wasn’t worried.
Good to know!
I would venture most of his money comes from outside the district.
Just remember the Indianopolis mayor who only had 50 bucks in his campaign war chest and won.
I met Delasandro and McIntyre(I think) yesterday. Even though they are just in the game, the Republican Party of Madison County is highly optimistic that a Republican will beat Sssssssheeeeeeeeiiiiiitt Edwards. I was at the Madisonville Mushroom Festival where the Right to Life had a booth and the Republican Party had a booth. No where was the Dims. There was a hugh crowd.
Chet Edwards is a life-long Career Politician! Never had a outside job!
It is time for him to retire and live under the laws he has helped pass!
The only reason he can stay in there is that he brings the pork barrel money home to the Waco area!
Piss on the dishonest politicians!
They need to get as many pictures of Chet with Nancy Pelosi as they can and use them in their ad campaigns. He’s attached to her just like a leech but the blood is coming from us the taxpayers!
Chet Edwards really needs to be defeated. He poses as a blue-dog moderate, but he is one of Pelosi’s most reliable lap dogs.
We can always assume that the money does not come from locals. $450,000?
Guess it's time to help out the contenders. We certainly know that 0 and his ilk will spend, bribe, threaten and do whatever necessary to get his devils in power. Especially now in Texas, the last sane place doing okay.
They need to take every bit of freedom from us and they're so arrogant they think taking over Texas would be a feather.... or.... the last straw.
LOL! I have actually seen the group in the last photo perform! They have the perfect Democrat name....The Flaming Idiots!
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