Posted on 10/22/2017 4:32:38 PM PDT by familyop
House Republicans are growing increasingly alarmed that some of their most vulnerable members aren’t doing the necessary legwork to protect themselves from an emerging Democratic tidal wave. In some of the biggest media markets, where blockbuster fundraising is a prerequisite for political survival—most notably in New York City, Los Angeles, and Houston—Republican lawmakers aren’t raising enough money to run aggressive campaigns against up-and-coming Democrats.
Of the 53 House Republicans facing competitive races, according to Cook Political Report ratings, a whopping 21 have been outraised by at least one Democratic opponent in the just-completed fundraising quarter. That’s a stunningly high number this early in the cycle, one that illustrates just how favorable the political environment is for House Democrats.
The third-quarter fundraising reports paint a gloomy picture for many Republicans. Rep. Steve Knight of California raised only $144,000 in the last three months, less than the total of two lesser-known Democratic challengers. Veteran Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen of New Jersey brought in only $154,000—just over one-third the amount of his leading Democratic rival, retired Navy helicopter pilot Mikie Sherrill. In the Houston area, Rep. John Culberson, who typically doesn’t face competitive races, raised only $172,000 in a Democratic-trending district that backed Hillary Clinton last year.
The list goes on: Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of California, under scrutiny over his unseemly ties to Russia, was outraised by a highly touted challenger and has only $600,000 in the bank. Rep. Claudia Tenney of New York saw her leading opponent raise twice as much money she did; even her Republican predecessor, former Rep. Richard Hanna, donated to the Democratic challenger. Rep. Leonard Lance of New Jersey brought in less than $200,000 in the quarter and has less than a half-million in cash on hand in a district where advertising is prohibitively expensive.
“They’re not where we want them to be. People want to see legislative movement. Donors want something done; they want tax reform done. What will affect things is if there’s progress on the president’s agenda,” said one House Republican official.
Money doesn’t always translate to victory, but the sheer number of House Republicans struggling to adequately prepare for difficult reelection campaigns—combined with the historic amount brought in by little-known Democratic candidates—points to an ominous political environment ahead for Republicans. Just as Republican voters are disillusioned with the lack of legislative accomplishments despite holding majorities in both chambers of Congress, some GOP donors are withholding their checks to protest the inactivity as well.
In addition, weak fundraising totals in the year before an election often suggest that members are thinking about heading for the exits. One senior Republican House strategist warned that if Congress can’t pass tax reform into law, a wave of retirements will soon follow.
Just this week, veteran Rep. Pat Tiberi of Ohio announced he’s resigning to join a business roundtable back in his home state. Tiberi, who is an influential member of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, is vacating a suburban seat around Columbus that could be competitive under the right circumstances. President Trump won 53 percent of the vote there in 2016, a slightly narrower percentage of the vote than Romney won in 2012.
Tiberi’s departure follows recent moves by other allies of Speaker Paul Ryan, many of whom represent competitive districts that Democrats plan to challenge. So far, 18 House Republicans have announced their retirements in this election cycle, the highest number at this stage since 2004, according to an analysis by Daily Kos. If the retirement pace continues, Democrats will find themselves with an easier pathway to winning back control of the House, since incumbency is one of the most powerful advantages Republicans hold.
The odds of a Democratic House takeover in 2018 have never looked greater this election cycle. One plugged-in House Democratic strategist, who has previously been circumspect about the party’s chances to win control of the lower chamber, put the chances of Nancy Pelosi again becoming speaker at a 7 (with 10 being the most likely). The strategist’s outlook is bolstered by a growing pile of empirical evidence, like eye-popping fundraising from the party’s top challengers, suggesting that next November is poised to be a wave election for the Democrats.
EXACTLY. More like RINO’s are having money problems.
The weasel Eric Cantor outspent Dave Brat by something like 20 to 1. He still lost.
The people are finally waking up and voting out the weasels.
Maybe they should start doing things that would convince the President to come campaign for them.
“The list goes on: Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of California, under scrutiny over his unseemly ties to Russia,”
Now this is just nonsense. That is part of Dana’s job with the House committee that he sits on.
20 to 1? makes me laugh with joy
Just wait and see the defections if the Republicans are stupid enough to raise the taxes of millions of Americans in order to pay for a huge tax cut for corporations.
Collins isn’t up until 2020.
But I’m all in favor of getting rid of her.
Fake news. The party hurting for money is the Rat Party!
DNC enters 2018 in cash panic (donors take a knee)
Politico ^ | 10/22/17 | GABRIEL DEBENEDETTI, EDWARD-ISAAC DOVERE
Posted on 10/22/2017, 4:48:58 PM by Libloather
LAS VEGAS — The Democratic National Committee is reeling, facing a turnaround that’s proving a much bigger lift than anyone expected as it struggles to raise enough money to cover its basic promises.
Many donors are refusing to write checks. And on-the-ground operatives worry they won’t have the resources to build the infrastructure they need to compete effectively in next year’s midterms and in the run-up to 2020.
Here in the halls of Bally’s hotel and casino for the DNC’s fall meeting through the weekend, state committee chairs and operatives echoed a now-common concern among donors and strategists: The DNC’s recovery is still a ways away, and that could have serious repercussions for the party in the coming years.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3597512/posts
Maybe they need to embrace those deplorables.
The National Journal is writing for the Beltway. Normal Americans aren’t buying the “Democrat wave” crap.
The reality is the rat party is hurting for funds.
DNC creates new restrictions for corporate donations (as donors dry up)
The Hill via MSN ^ | 10/21/17 | John Bowden
Posted on 10/22/2017, 4:57:38 PM by Libloather
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Saturday passed a resolution banning donations from corporate contributors whose areas of interest come into conflict with the DNC’s stated values.
The resolution, which was introduced by California member Christine Pelosi, passed unanimously. Pelosi is the daughter of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) Pelosi has introduced similar resolutions before that were shot down over concerns over which industries the measures would target.
The move was celebrated on Twitter by progressive members of the Democratic Party who have been pushing to reduce corporate influence in the party.
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3597515/posts
Thanks for posting the reality re which Undocumented Democrats posing as Republicans are hurting financially.
Except that the wave will be in the dimple of a golf ball! LOL
Big Luther had 30 million Judge Roy a silver star, Silver Star won, because a good man was wearing it.
Two years of the GOPE Congress doing nothing and you might not get a wave but you are going to get some unexpected loses. The base has no reason to vote in 18 for the congress as constituted.
A Democratic tidal wave?? Really, in your dreams Lamestream Media, in your dreams...
Saw the “Money Woes Grow” headline and thought they were referring to the massively out-of-balance budget that the GOPe is pushing!! That should also be a “vote losing” concern for the GOP.
maybe they want to lose..
Being in power is hard.. people expect you to do something..
I don’t think the republicans currently in the office really want to work. They just want the perks.
Ossoff outraised Handel more than 5 to 1 in the race for the GA seat vacated by Tom Price. The DNC isn’t getting funding. But House Democrats certainly are. https://ballotpedia.org/Georgia’s_6th_Congressional_District_special_election,_2017#tab=Spending
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