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 partys 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 RNCs financial weakness was apparent in the spring, but the dire nature of it only became evident last month when the committees 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 partys energized volunteers are making up for in work what the party lacks in money.
Thats 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
I like to think their problem is being caused by millions of Americans and a bunch of FReepers and yours truly completely bypassing the RINO RNC and donating directly to candidates that share our views.
Ye-hah!
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NO more RINOS |
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>> Michael. Steele.
Yup, along with the insiders keeping him buoyant.
Steele is not cut out for the job, unless his role is to perpetuate the insiders’ game.
Most of us anticipated this dilemma, and despite our overtures for new leadership, the RNC chose to ignore us.
The article does have a good point. Without some organization to do generalized GOTV work, it makes it difficult for some campaigns, particularly those down ballot, to succeed.
Point well taken. I think it’s time for conservatives to step into the void and make sure that sort of generalized GOTV work is done. What an outstanding opportunity for folks like the Tea Party Express, SarahPAC, the various tea parties, the NRA etc. to make a difference.
A feckless, bankrupt, useless, and soon to be irrelevant RNC....absolutely priceless.
Michael Steele - National GOP Chief
WHY in the h#*l aren't you doing what
Glenn Beck's been doing on TV?
Or don't you have the guts?
Why if your strapped for cash give Mark Kirk $3.4 Million for his Senate run. This is what bothers me about these clown, yes it’s not RNC money it’s Republican Senatorial Committee but to give Republicans like Castle, Kirk, etc. the most money they can possibly get than say you don’t have enough money else.
Why if your strapped for cash give Mark Kirk $3.4 Million for his Senate run. This is what bothers me about these clown, yes it’s not RNC money it’s Republican Senatorial Committee but to give Republicans like Castle, Kirk, etc. the most money they can possibly get than say you don’t have enough money else.
The NRSC was never strapped for cash - they’ve got plenty of dough, and Illinois isn’t the only race they are infusing cash into in large quantities.
That was from his “compliance fund” - could not have been spent on normal campaign activities as he was capped...although a nice loophole is that he could hold it over and then use it on any future campaign he wished. Quite a feat for the champion of campaign finance reform to exploit such a loophole, wasn’t it? He still apparently has a lot of it left over and could transfer it to another campaign committee as well, such as the RNC, but apparently he just wants to keep it all to himself...
me too....a few pacs, but mostly to the candidates....I hope it makes a difference...
oh great...my hard earned money....
It will. If you can't get out and help with the ground game, financially supporting the candidates of your choice is the next best thing. A lot of people are waking up to this and the GOP and DNC pacs are just figuring out what "we the people" already know, it's about the money and when our money talks a different tune, they better wake up.
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