Posted on 08/08/2002 1:01:24 PM PDT by Utah Girl
Peers in D.C. helping fund Matheson race
WASHINGTON - Rep. Jim Matheson has come up with a "Capitol" way of raising capital for his re-election campaign.
He's asking fellow Democrats in Congress for money - and they are responding with an avalanche of funds from their own campaigns. It may show how important Matheson's seat is to Democratic hopes of regaining control of the House.
More than $1 of every $7 that Matheson, D-Utah, has raised - $127,166 of $856,595 total - has come from fellow Democrats in Congress, both from their individual campaigns and from political action committees, some formed to raise money for others.
House races - even key ones - usually attract a smattering of money from other members. But 50 members of Congress have donated to Matheson this election cycle. With 47 of those donors from the House, that is more than one of every five House Democrats.
Matheson said the money drive was not organized by party leaders.
"In my case, I've gone and asked myself for the money. It's a common practice around here," he said ? even though few have been as successful as Matheson.
He said that members are often a willing source of money because only 39 to 44 of the 435 House races in the nation this year are seen as truly competitive. "So a lot of members are essentially assured of re-election because they are not in competitive races," meaning they are able to share money they have raised, he said.
Likely making them even more willing to share is that in the closely split House, Democrats could retake majority control if they gain just six seats in elections this year.
Matheson's seat is seen as one of the most competitive ? and one that Democrats likely need to hold to have a shot at the majority. It is seen as precarious because Republicans in the Utah Legislature made Matheson's currently all-Salt Lake County seat much more Republican by adding to it rural areas stretching to St. George.
Many of the House members sending money to Matheson would benefit greatly if Democrats could gain control of the House.
For example, Democratic House leader Dick Gephardt, D-Mo. (who channeled $5,000 to Matheson), would become the new speaker of the House.
Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., who channeled $5,000 to Matheson, would likely become chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee. Rep. Martin Frost, D-Texas, who channeled $5,000 to Matheson, would likely become chairman of the supremely powerful House Rules Committee.
Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., who gave Matheson $1,000, would likely again become chairman of the House Resources Committee, now headed by retiring Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Utah. Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif. (who channeled $6,000 to Matheson), would become chairman of the House Government Reform Committee.
Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., who gave Matheson $2,000, would likely become chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee. Rep. William Clay, D-Mo., who gave Matheson $1,000, would likely become chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee.
Matheson said he sees the donations as coming to him more because he actively sought them, rather than his seat being especially important to Democratic control.
"I think members tend to give to competitive seats, wherever they are. I don't think this shows mine is more important," he said.
Matheson added that he doesn't think the money he has raised from fellow House members is all that unusual - although no House member in memory from Utah - or current candidates - has done so well.
Matheson's opponent, Republican John Swallow, had raised just $7,000 from Republican House members as of June 30. That included $5,000 funneled from House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill.; $1,000 from Rep. Jerry Weller, R-Ill.; and $1,000 from Rep. John Doolittle, R-Calif.
First District Republican Rob Bishop raised $10,000 from politicians, while 1st District Democrat Dave Thomas raised none. Third District Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, raised $1,000 from politicians. His Democratic opponent, Nancy Jane Woodside, raised none.
The $127,166 that Matheson raised from fellow House members is 43 times the $2,985 total that Woodside has raised; 39 percent of the overall total Swallow has raised; two-thirds the total that Thomas has raised; and 55 percent of the total Bishop raised.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.