Posted on 09/04/2010 3:23:23 PM PDT by Republican Wildcat
Alarmed by the hobbled financial status of the Republican National Committee, state party leaders now are turning to outside groups — or creating their own — to ensure they have a robust voter turnout operation in November that can swamp the competition.
In Ohio, a group of Republican activists in July created a new, tax-exempt entity called Freedom Vote with the express purpose of raising money to help pay for the type of turnout operations traditionally underwritten by the RNC.
“I understood that the lack of resources from the RNC was going to have a severe impact on what the parties were going to be able to do,” said Tom Whatman, a former Ohio state party executive director and an adviser to the new organization.
The anxiety among state leaders has only heightened as the party’s prospects in the fall improved, including a decent shot at retaking control of the House. Party insiders want to make sure no opportunity is lost because of a lack of resources.
Their challenge is compounded by time. The RNC’s financial weakness was apparent in the spring, but the dire nature of it only became evident last month when the committee’s July financial disclosure report showed the longstanding fundraising giant had just $5 million in cash and $2 million in debt.
In the 2008 election cycle, Ohio alone received $5 million from the RNC for its voter turnout operation, according to the Federal Election Commission. In the 2006 midterm elections, it received $4 million. As of early September, the Buckeye State has received less than $500,000 from the RNC, according to FEC and RNC records and officials.
Similar steep reductions in aid are on track for other major swing states, including Pennsylvania, where the party is hoping to capture the governorship, multiple House seats, and control of the state legislature.
“We have so many candidates running in competitive races. We need more funds than even in a normal year. We are hoping that having the wind at our back will help overcome the financial shortfall we will have,” said Mike Barley, a spokesman for the Republican Party of Pennsylvania. “There are so many people with their hands out.”
Doug Heye, an RNC spokesman, said that despite the tighter financing, the committee is opening volunteer “Victory” offices earlier — and in more states — and that the party’s energized volunteers are making up for in work what the party lacks in money.
That’s been the experience of Illinois GOP Chairman Pat Brady. After years of being largely ignored as a ‘blue state,’ his committee is seeing its first major infusion of RNC cash.
Excerpted - Read full article at http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/41733.html
Really? I knew the NRSC was involved there, but never saw anything about the RNC being involved. Do you have a source for this?
There was not a primary there.
Yes there was, between a Liberal Republican (Suczzafava sp?) and a Tea Party Candidate (Hoffman). The Republican Party gave its blessing and $ to the liberal.
All my donations go directly to Sarah, Michelle, Paul Ryan, etc.
Not gonna get fooled twice.
There was NY 23, too.
No, there was not a primary in that race. It was a special election not in line with a normal election cycle so the nominee was chosen by the local party precinct committees. Money I’m sure was spent by the RNC on the party nominee in that special electon race. The party committees in that district made a terrible choice in the end, even Pataki (who is no conservative) did not endorse her, then everyone, including the RNC, bailed on her in the end. She then endorsed the Dem out of spite.
Same here. We have given hundreds of dollars to individual candidates and organizations, but none to the RNC or NRSC. NFW they’re getting any of my money to hand out the John McCain or Lindsay Graham or the like. NFW.
States rights anyone ??? I say this is a good thing, keep it more local and out of the hands of grubby RNC. The real battle for America's soul is on the local streets of America, not in some townhouse on K Street
There wasn’t a primary in that race. They did waste money on an awful nominee named by the local party precinct committee, however. The establishment being stupid isn’t necessarily always the RNC.
But that is the way to bet.
Perhaps...
This is a secondary argument anyhow. This can’t explain the severe drop off alone in the fundraising numbers. People have been far more upset with the NRCC and the NRSC behavior and they are not having these kinds of problems with fundraising, but the RNC is. You have to look directly at the incompetence of the leadership in not being able to do the basics. Michael Steele’s gaffes, scandals (strip club payments), inability to even ask for funds aggressively have contributed to this situation.
Well, if the RINO National Committee doesn’t go back to its Conservative underpinnings, then it may become near bankrupt and rather useless.
Why on Earth do they not understand what is happening?
We are not contributing, and others, more like minded to a herd of RINOs, are contributing to the real deal Socialists. - The DNC
GOOD!
The RNC will NEVER get one thin DIME nor ONE copper PENNY from me.
S-C-O, Z-Z-A, F-L-A-V-A
Thanks Republican Wildcat.
Well put.
HEY MIKEY, CAN YOU HEAR US NOW?
Same goes for Cornyn.
Bill, they are already useless.We only need to bankrupt them now.
And we’re contributing directly to the conservative Republican.
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