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It is in the breaking news sidebar!
Posted on 04/09/2003 11:07:05 PM PDT by LdSentinal
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The three national Republican Party committees have collected $57 million so far this year, far outpacing their Democratic rivals in all but the closely divided Senate.
And the GOP's spring fund-raising galas are still to come.
The Republican National Committee raised $29.3 million from January through March and began this month with $16 million on hand and no debt, spokesman Jim Dyke said Wednesday.
The Democratic committees raised about $20.6 million in all, with the Democratic National Committee collecting about $8.4 million in the first quarter. It also had no debt.
The RNC raised nearly as much as it did in the first quarter of the 2002 election year, when national party committees could still solicit so-called soft money. That included contributions from corporations and labor unions and unlimited checks from any source.
A campaign finance law that took effect last November allows the national parties to raise only "hard money": limited contributions from individuals and political action committees.
The RNC was raising mostly hard money even before the law took effect. In the first quarter of 2002, for example, it raised $31.7 million overall; about $26 million was hard money. So far this year, the GOP committee has received about 645,000 contributions, up from 633,000 last year. The average contribution was $45, Dyke said.
The DNC's adjustment to the soft money ban has been far more challenging. In the first three months of last year, it raised $26 million, with only about $8 million of it hard money.
DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe said he is pleased with his committee's post-soft money fund raising. The party has invested heavily in overhauling its computer system and donor files to reach potential contributors more effectively.
The DNC and RNC each brought up President Bush when discussing their fund raising.
McAuliffe said Bush's economic policies have led to "new enthusiasm and a renewed level of activism coming from our Democratic donors and supporters."
RNC spokesman Dyke credited Bush and his policies for the GOP's fund-raising advantage.
"Attracting Americans to a political party requires more than investments and upgrades in technology," Dyke said.
The RNC's biggest fund-raiser of the year is still to come. Bush helped raise a record of more than $30 million for the committee at its spring gala last May; it remains to be seen whether the party can match or exceed that with only hard money.
The fund-raising picture is different with the two committees fighting for control of the Senate. Republicans hold a narrow majority of 51-48 with one independent.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee raised $5.46 million in the first quarter, with $1.5 million on hand and no debt. It will hold a gala in May with its House counterpart; Bush helped raise roughly $30 million at last year's event.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee expected to rival the NRSC in early contributions. It predicted it would report about $5 million in first-quarter donations when it files a report with the Federal Election Commission later this month. At least $3 million of that was raised last month.
"This will put us well within striking distance of our Republican counterparts as well as creating, we believe, a level playing field," spokesman Michael Siegel said of the DSCC's fund-raising so far this year.
The DSCC has not released an estimate of its cash on hand, or said how much of its $6 million in post-election debts it has paid off. It plans several fund-raisers in the next several weeks, including one at the home of its chairman, New Jersey Sen. Jon Corzine.
On the House side, the National Republican Congressional Committee raised $22.1 million from January through March, more than it collected when it could still accept soft-money. It raised $21.5 million in the first three months of last year.
The NRCC began April with $1.8 million on hand and $2.5 million in debt. It spent $18.4 million in the first quarter -- much of that on phone calls and direct mail aimed at attracting new donors.
Its Democratic counterpart raised $7.1 million during the period. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee started this month with about $5.5 million on hand and $6 million in debt.
How did the 'rats raise 3 Million last month? By filibuster and treason...red meat for the socialist faithful. Ooops no more war soon. Now watch the 'rat coffers run dry. The ‘rats will need to find a new way to attack Dubya to keep the donations flowing. The big problem for the ‘rats is that every time they attack Dubya they slit their own throats.
They are in a lose/lose situation. If they attack Dubya their poll numbers drop. If they don’t attack Dubya their donations go down. The ‘rats are so angry with Dubya they cannot see straight. They are angry at America itself for siding with Dubya. I expect more of the same shrill loony rhetoric. Calls for "regime change" and obstruction on Dubya's economic stimulus tax cut until they secure their primary votes. By that time I think the ‘rats will be toast. America is watching the 'rats...and we are judging them.
NRSC $5.46
DSCC $5
RNC. $29.3
DNC. $8.4
Republicans typically raise MUCH more money than the D's, but the D's DO manage to make do with less than R's would ever dream. Personally I'm going to be directing funds to individual candidates, rather than committees, because I'd rather not be supporting McCain, LaHood, et al.
It's easy to do when you have the major networks and most print media at your disposal.
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