For Sanchez, Perry, the well isn't dry yet
Posted on 10/13/2002 5:50:35 AM PDT by MeekOneGOP
For Sanchez, Perry, the well isn't dry yet
$5,323 for confetti? Candidates still pouring on the cash
10/13/2002
AUSTIN - Asked about putting millions from his own pocket into the race for governor, Democrat Tony Sanchez said in last week's debate that he had been "very, very blessed."
So have the hotels, limo services, printers, pollsters, consultants and pizza parlors that have stepped up to help serve the millionaire businessman's record-shattering candidacy.
No campaign in Texas history has seen so much spent in pursuit of office - $58 million so far by Mr. Sanchez and more than $16 million by Republican Gov. Rick Perry.
| WHAT DOES $74 MILLION BUY? | |
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Although TV commercials typically account for the biggest share of any political budget, Mr. Sanchez has shelled out more on nontelevision expenses than Mr. Perry has spent on his entire campaign.
The unprecedented spending spree has prompted the Perry campaign to accuse the Democrat of waging a lavish, undisciplined operation. The Sanchez camp rejects that, saying it is using the money wisely to promote its candidate and beat a better-known incumbent.
With three weeks before Election Day, the numbers keep growing. Finance reports show the Sanchez camp has spent three times more on television ads than his opponent, five times more on rent and nearly 10 times more on cellphones.
It has spent $5,323 for confetti, $3,221 on pizza and $2 million on payments to more than 900 people since July 2001, compared with 41 paid employees on the Perry side.
"It's not a campaign, it's a cruise ship," said former Austin political consultant Monte Williams.
"On almost every campaign, there is a sense the well will run dry at some point," he said "I can't image what it must be like to believe that the pockets are not only deep but endless. I've never heard of a campaign where they say, 'Spend what you like. It's OK, our guy will cover it.' "
Analysts note that Mr. Sanchez, a Laredo banker, oilman and first-time campaigner, has narrowed the gap with the incumbent governor, but the Democrat still trails in the polls - underscoring the risks of a strategy that could make him the biggest self-spender in U.S. political history to win office.
No one has ever spent so much of his own money and lost.
Why he's spending
Mr. Sanchez said he has had to spend heavily to offset the superior name identification of Mr. Perry, who served in the Legislature, as agriculture commissioner and lieutenant governor before assuming the top job after George W. Bush was elected president.
"I've had to do in a few short eight months what he has done in 17 years," Mr. Sanchez said in Wednesday's televised debate with Mr. Perry in Houston.
"He's been a professional politician for 17 years traveling all over the state constantly getting his name out. I've had to try to catch up in a few months," Mr. Sanchez said. "And I feel extremely fortunate that God has given me the opportunity and the resources to make this race."
In response, Mr. Perry said voters will not be swayed by his rival's high-dollar bid.
"Mr. Sanchez may spend $100 million in pursuit of the governorship but I believe the people of the state of Texas want to see someone with experience, with leadership, with a vision," Mr. Perry said.
A computer-assisted review by The Dallas Morning News of reports on contributions and expenditures through September found:
The Sanchez campaign has spent more than twice as much on payroll - $2.1 million to 934 people employed at various times over the last 14 months - than the $809,400 by the Perry campaign to 41 paid staffers.
Although both campaign reports are replete with stays at the Holiday Inn and La Quinta, neither has avoided upscale hotels. The Perry campaign has spent $2,127 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York, and the Sanchez camp's hotel of choice is the Four Seasons, $17,662.
Sanchez aides spent $107 for golf carts in San Antonio, $330 for chair covers in Laredo and $41 at the Howl at the Moon Saloon at Covington, Md. The campaign spent $1,352 at 7-Elevens across the state on "canvassing supplies."
Perry aides spent $2,600 on bottled water, $3,000 to a band called Duck Soup, $231 for "shredding services" and $119 for wine from Becker Vineyards.
The candidates' disclosure reports filed with the state Ethics Commission cover money raised and spent to Oct. 1. Texas has no limits on spending and donations in state races.
The tab keeps climbing
| THE MONEY DEBATE | |
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With the end near, both sides are expected to put millions more into a contest that experts say could top $100 million.
The previous spending record for a Texas gubernatorial race, by all candidates combined, was $50 million in 1990. Mr. Sanchez has topped that, thus far using more than $54 million of his own money on expenses. Mr. Perry's political budget is built chiefly on donations.
The nation's personal spending leaders: Michael Bloomberg for New York mayor, 2001, $70 million, and Jon Corzine for New Jersey senator, 2000, $60 million.
Mark Sanders, a Sanchez spokesman, said, "Tony is committed to spending whatever it takes to end the Perry regime."
He said much of the money is going to motivate voters.
"The nature of this campaign is historic. We've got a massive canvassing operation where we have identified voters. We've got a massive field operation with over 22 officers across the state. We have a volunteer corps of epic proportions, and this machine has to be fed. So $3,000 for pizza? You bet."
Perry spokesman Ray Sullivan disparaged the Democratic campaign's spending as excessive and undisciplined, with consultants getting wealthy at the expense of a political novice with deep pockets.
"Gov. Perry and our campaign are exceptionally frugal when it comes to spending our resources," he said. "We rely heavily on volunteers."
Mr. Sullivan noted a pair of promotional items produced by the Sanchez campaign and delivered to reporters covering the race: a large, full-color movie poster mocking the governor's record of vetoing bills and a red foam beverage holder emblazoned with the words "Perry Premium," a reference to rising insurance rates.
"It's a classic example of more money than sense," Mr. Sullivan said.
Review of campaigns
Among the areas where the Sanchez campaign clearly outpaces the Perry side is payments to political consultants. The Sanchez camp has spent $8 million for political help and advice compared with $322,000 by the Perry campaign.
"Tony has hired some of the best in the business, if not the best in the business," Mr. Sanders said.
A review of the two campaign payrolls indicates that top Sanchez campaign employees are paid more than their counterparts in the Perry camp.
For example, Sanchez campaign director Steve Bouchard is paid about $2,300 a week, and Perry campaign manager Deirdre Delisi is paid about $1,300. Mr. Sullivan, the Perry campaign spokesman, makes $1,387, but a pair of Sanchez spokesmen, Mr. Sanders and Michelle Kucera, each get more than $1,600.
The highest-paid Perry staffer is fund-raiser Leslie Sullivan, who has received more than $200,000 since July 2001. Sanchez campaign manager Glenn Smith has received nearly $250,000 through a consulting contract that includes the licensing of a software program.
Both campaigns spent money on music, food and sound equipment. Big-ticket items include $16,395 by the Perry campaign to Terrell-based Eddie Dean & Co. for barbecue and $27,000 by the Sanchez side to Tejano music producer Johnny Canales.
Steve Wolf, a special-effects expert from Austin, was paid $5,323 for two Sanchez events, including the Democratic state convention in El Paso where the gubernatorial nominee was joined by his family on stage amid a burst of fireworks and confetti.
"I design the confetti for these events based on how much hang time they want. How long they need the confetti in the air will determine the duration of the photo op," he said.
The Bush presidential campaign typically used a couple of political workers with hand-held confetti guns in the race for the White House. Mr. Wolf said Mr. Sanchez got a show far more sophisticated.
"They're using confetti BB guns," he said. "I'm using confetti anti-aircraft."
Mr. Williams, a Hollywood screenwriter who was Ann Richards' spokesman in the 1990 race for governor, said of spending $5,000 for confetti, "It would be cheaper just to shred money."
Running for office in Texas is expensive because the state is so large and has so many media markets. But Mr. Williams said this year's contest raises questions about whether there are restraints in place to control the staggering level of spending.
"In advance of any kind of restraint," he said, "you've got a bunch of 5-year-olds at Chuck E. Cheese."
E-mail wslater@dallasnews.com and pslover@dallasnews.com
Although TV commercials typically account for the biggest share of any political budget, Mr. Sanchez has shelled out more on nontelevision expenses than Mr. Perry has spent on his entire campaign.
I had a hard time, rereading this article, finding a reference to the 500-pound gorilla of campaign expenditures--annoying TV/radio ads. They may also have buried a reference to push-polling in there somewhere. But if those two expensive campaign techniques were banned, the effectiveness of money in campaigns would be slashed.Think another time if you believe that would be unconstitutional; the whole FCC is unconstitutional, after all--how do you square freedom of communication with the censorship of all but a few government licensees which is sine qua non of broadcasting?
The only problem with that approach is that it would leave in place the government propaganda monopoly known as broadcast journalism. Journalism is and always was and will be politics. And the idea that we-the-people actually need broadcasting of any other journalism than the weather and traffic report is pure propaganda. So at least SCotUS should put all political speech on an equal footing. Either overturn the (prospective) ban on TV ads just before an election, or go whole hog and ban broadcast journalism for two weeks prior to an election.
If anyone has another poll, please post it here. Thanks.
http://www.nbc5i.com/politics/1707582/detail.html
NBC 5 Exclusive: Voters' Poll
Rick Perry enjoys a comfortable lead in his race against Tony Sanchez, Jr. according to our poll of 600 likely voters throughout the state of Texas.
Nearly half of all likely voters think both campaigns are using "unfair" campaign ads.
The poll was conducted from Sept. 30 through Oct. 6 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1%.
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State |
North Texas | East Texas | South Texas | Central Texas | West Texas | |
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| Democrat Tony Sanchez, Jr. | 29% | 31% | 28% | 32% | 26% | 15% |
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| Republican Rick Perry | 56% | 52% | 59% | 50% | 56% | 70% |
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| Undecided | 15% | 16% | 13% | 18% | 18% | 12% |
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State |
Male | Female | White | Hisp | Afri-Amer | |
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| Democrat Tony Sanchez, Jr. | 29% | 26% | 31% | 24% | 43% | 70% |
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| Republican Rick Perry | 56% | 60% | 51% | 63% | 32% | 12% |
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| Undecided | 15% | 13% | 17% | 12% | 26% | 19% |
US Senate"who do you think you would vote for if the election were held today?"
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State |
North Texas | East Texas | South Texas | Central Texas | West Texas | |
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| Democrat Ron Kirk | 30% | 33% | 28% | 29% | 33% | 20% |
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| Republican John Cornyn | 56% | 55% | 57% | 51% | 55% | 66% |
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| Undecided | 14% | 12% | 14% | 20% | 12% | 14% |
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State |
Male | Female | White | Hisp | Afri-Amer | |
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| Democrat Ron Kirk | 29% | 26% | 33% | 24% | 43% | 77% |
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| Republican John Cornyn | 56% | 61% | 51% | 63% | 30% | 9% |
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| Undecided | 15% | 12% | 16% | 13% | 26% | 14% |
Yep. Thought you might appreciate this information, then....
Not good enough, but it's a start(wish we could post numbers like that in the Northeast . . .).
You'd figure Rick Perry to be the man for all of the above, but he is an empty suit. He belongs on General Hospital, or something . . . let him play a doctor, cowboy, or a governor on TV.
I just paid $1500 for homeowners insurance that should have cost me $500. I am paying $185 to my irrigation district for NO WATER for my 10 acres. Our citrus has been saved by recent rain, not Perry, and we did not even bother planting a crop on our back 8 this year. (If anyone on the list has a hankering for tree fresh grapefruit, just let me know.)
Of little consequence as our small patch may be, Perry has done my family harm. Insurance and water in south Texas: Perry blew it.
I have voted puro Republican in south Texas, but not this time. Besides, it is time for meaningful and significant hispanic leadership in Texas. That would convey and imply a great deal. My vote cancels that of Dan Morales! (Who came out against Sanchez this week.) Viva Tony Sanchez!
Back to insurance: with Farmers pulling out, there are now only TWO insurance providers left in Texas. I have no choice but to pay what they will have of me.
Some suggest-- and I question-- that if we elect (not re-elect-- Perry was given the job) Perry then he will take on the insurance issue? No, Perry was whistling past the graveyard on this issue during his watch, and he absolutely blew it. He should have exerted some leadership and called a special legislative session this summer.
As far as Mexico's non compliance with the water treaty, Perry supporters are right-- Perry can't do much about it. But much of politics is symbolism. Perry is the governor of all of Texas; he could spend a little time down here pretending he gives a damn.
As to race, there are times when race should be considered. My wife was born in Mexico. Half my family is Hispanic. We're talking pride. That's me personally. On the macro, what makes Texas Texas is the commingling of our cultures. Must the anglo always be our leader at the levels that count?
Pride is called for at least once every couple of hundred years. Perry is an empty suit. It is time. Tony Sanchez is a billionaire, and there is a corporate cat in that. He's my guy.
Here is Tony's own words on RKBA: "I support the individual right to bear arms. There are currently enough gun laws on the books in Texas and in Washington and I oppose any additional restrictions on Concealed Handgun Law (CHL) applicants or license holders. What we need to do now is vigorously enforce existing laws."
Further, the Texas State Rifle Association (TSRA) gave Tony an "A," the highest remark given to non-incumbents, for his responses to a candidate questionnaire regarding gun rights.
Finally, might I be using the list to shill for the Dems? No, no, not at all. In Texas, a democrat like Sanchez is far more conservative than pubs are elsewhere. I am proud to state that Tony Sanchez should be the next governor of Texas.
If anyone is interested the debate between Perry and Sanchez will be replayed on the TXCN today at the following times:
I sympathize with you, but how in the world can everyone blame Perry for all the woes in the homeowner's (and other casualty insurance fields) in Texas. Believe me, this has been building for many years. About 10 years, 5 major carriers pulled out of the Texas casualty market. That left us little competition. Then the lawyers discovered the 'damage du jour' (black mold) and it is just ludicrous to attempt to say black mold had nothing to do with the problems in the homeowners market. (By the way, where has black mold been until the last few years? Why now are we having such an infestation?) Also, the claims for 'water damage'. Your pipes burst because they are old or deficient and 'voila!', you get new carpet throughout your house - at the expense of the other policyholders. While Perry evidently did receive monies from the insurance lobby, I would be willing to bet Sanchez did also. But thanks, to politicizing the issue Farmers (who handled 20% of the homeowners in TExas) has left the field. That means we have 20% less competition. That is never a good thing for consumers. With the exception of the bogus claims paid for black mold and water damage, this did not all happen during Perry's regime.
[" Insurance and water in south Texas: Perry blew it."]
I don't understand about Perry and the water situation. Do you mean underground water or water from Rio Grande? I do believe the Texas Legislature has pulled some really fast ones in regard to water lately. But if it is the withholding of water by Mexico, how can you blame that on Perry. It would seem our President might should intervene there. Don't know what a governor could do other than attempt to get help from WAshington.
["he could spend a little time down here pretending he gives a damn."]
'Spending time down there and pretending' is not going to bring your insurance premiums down nor is it going to give you a drop of water.]
["Besides, it is time for meaningful and significant hispanic leadership in Texas. That would convey and imply a great deal."]
It is time for GOOD, HONEST, HONORABLE LEADERSHIP - That would signify a lot.
[ "As to race, there are times when race should be considered." My wife was born in Mexico. Half my family is Hispanic. We're talking pride. That's me personally. On the macro, what makes Texas Texas is the commingling of our cultures. Must the anglo always be our leader at the levels that count? "]
With all due respect that is one of the saddest and most frightening things I have ever heard. There is never a time when race should be the overriding factor in an election. Do you need some one of your own race in there to feel proud? I have never understood that. Especially when this particular one seems to have dubious morals.
{"Pride is called for at least once every couple of hundred years. Perry is an empty suit. It is time. Tony Sanchez is a billionaire, and there is a corporate cat in that. He's my guy. "}
If you like a suit that is filled with laundered money and S & L monies taken from taxpayers - yeah - he is a suitful!!! If you want to be proud of that, go ahead, but somehow I just can't.
I don't mean to be harsh, but I am just really fed up with the 'racial thing'. We will never get anywhere in this country as long as our decisions for the country are based on race. We will only remain divided and sink. I could respect that you have a differing opinion in regards to the water and insurance, but when race was brought into it -
I can't think of a worse reason than race to vote for someone - maybe hair color.
Sanchez' campaign is beginning to sound no different than Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton. It is despicable.
My husband is a spanish-speaking Choctaw Indian - gosh with all this diversity ----
I am not saying Perry is going to be a great governor, but Sanchez just has too many shady things in his past and I am sure we don't know all of them.
We had our cable disconnected about 6 months ago. Thank you for reminding me I am not having to contend with political commericals!!! It is great.
Both candidates are conservative. I do not know that a larger purpose could be served by giving you parry point by point.
So let me leave it at a core issue that freepers often pound on and are perhaps suspisious of me and politically threatened by: race.
I challenge Freepers to please abandon the MLK notion that content of character should always win the day. That is the correct construct, no doubt. But as no one has made the case that Perry is better on the issues, I challenge the anglo instinct that an Hispanic must be a dem. hack, a crook, a shill, a snake.
Further, imagine if a couple of hundred years had gone by without the anglo culture taking the helm. Come on, anglo Texans. If you choose to find the worst in Hispanic candidates, well, when their numbers come are they supposed to find the best in yours?
It is too easy and flawed for anglos to philosphically dismiss race when anglos have enjoyed power for nearly two centuries/all of Texas history. Tony Sanchez is the man to correctly transition our patterns of thought. When an Hispanic is right on the issues, I suggest Texans get on board or be poetically/politically marginalized in time.
Tony Sanchez has accomplished much and he is Texas, not a career politician. He is my candidate. Viva Tony Sanchez!!!
I am not threatened by race - just by PEOPLE who make race an issue.
[ challenge Freepers to please abandon the MLK notion that content of character should always win the day.]
While MLK certainly is given credit for coining that phrase, believe me some people in this country had the notion lon g before he was born.
[ But as no one has made the case that Perry is better on the issues, I challenge the anglo instinct that an Hispanic must be a dem. hack, a crook, a shill, a snake.]
I am not thrilled with Perry, I wish he had vetoed the 'hate crimes bill'. The only thing I have heard Sanchez say against him is that he took 1 M from the insurance lobbies and that he is responsible for the high cost of homeowners insurance. He may have taken the money, I understand Mr. Sanchez has a hand in insurance also. He, however, is not responsible for the homeowner's insurance problems. Many of those have been brewing for 10 years or more. Just read a sob letter in the Dallas Morning News. A man told of how his wife was ill because their roof had a leak and black mold formed in his house. Now I ask you, should we the policyholders of this country pay because he didn't get the leak taken care of and properly maintain his property. Black mold doesn't form overnight in houses. This was my defence of Perry.
I don't want to state it for sure, but I will check it out tomorrow and answer you. But how does he stand on abortion and affirmative action? What will he do to help the insurance situation? What will he do to help the water situation you mentioned? What will e do to alleviate the unbelievable tax burden on Texas property owners? Would he be a governor for all of Texas or would he divide it? What's his ideas on education?
[Further, imagine if a couple of hundred years had gone by without the anglo culture taking the helm. Come on, anglo Texans. If you choose to find the worst in Hispanic candidates, well, when their numbers come are they supposed to find the best in yours?]
I don't know what that means. I do not, for one moment, belief he is the best Texan of Mexican decent that could be running for governor, he just appears to be the richest.
[It is too easy and flawed for anglos to philosphically dismiss race when anglos have enjoyed power for nearly two centuries/all of Texas history. Tony Sanchez is the man to correctly transition our patterns of thought. When an Hispanic is right on the issues, I suggest Texans get on board or be poetically/politically marginalized in time.]
I don't need anyone to 'transition my thoughts'. That, too, is a frightening statement. He is not right on the issues at least not for me.
[Tony Sanchez has accomplished much and he is Texas, not a career politician. He is my candidate. Viva Tony Sanchez!!!]
I think his daddy has accomplished much and I think he has done some very illegal things to get the money h is has. It is just asking to much of me to think I would believe people from Mexico brought 10's of millions of dollars in cash an deposited it in his S & L and 'he didn't think anything was unusual'. That was his words, not mine. I am not happy that the taxpayers had to bail out his S & L.
This time is no different from the usual elections, we are forced to choose the lessor of two evils. In this case, I believe it to be Perry.
I do not want a white man in office, I do not want a chinese in office, etc., etc., I want a man who will do the less harm for this state and any man who runs on race will not do that. Anyone who votes for a man simply because of race, is, as I said sad and frightening.
You are the one voting based on race, not I.
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