Republican comeback in Congressional fundraising
posted at 7:20 pm on August 21, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
Don’t look now, Nancy, but the Republicans are gaining on you. Despite numerous problems this year and a supposedly poisonous political atmosphere for the GOP, the National Republican Congressional Committee outraised its Democratic counterpart (DCCC) by $3 million. However, the cash on hand still widely favors the Democrats:
The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) made some fundraising headway in July, outraising its Democratic counterpart by more than $3 million and narrowing its cash-on-hand gap by about $4 million.
The NRCC used a surge in member giving to raise $9.2 million, according to its latest Federal Election Commission report. It spent $3.5 million and increased its available funds to $14.1 million.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), which has consistently pulled in more than the NRCC, raised about $6 million and spent $4.2 million. The Democrats maintain a strong cash advantage, though, with $56.5 million left over.
These numbers should get even better in August. The House Republican Caucus has made energy its main cause, and an overwhelming majority of Americans support their “kitchen sink” policy of drilling and conservation. Pelosi’s early adjournment of Congress without allowing a vote on that policy came after the end of this reporting cycle, and House Democrats have already started abandoning Pelosi on energy based on the feedback they’ve received on their vacation.
The Democrats outraised the GOP on the Senate committees, though the NRSC also managed to narrow the cash-on-hand gap. The DSCC spent heavily in July, and even though they took $1.6 million more in contributions than the NRSC, they spent almost $9 million, most of that in Oregon and Mississippi. The NRSC still has an $18 million gap to close between now and the election — and they could have ridden the same energy wave coming to the NRCC, had it not been for the weak Gang of 10 compromise.
Republicans could still get competitive in this cycle. Stay tuned.
Blowback
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Have people finally realized that the plan in ’06 was a bad one?
- The Cat
MirCat on August 21, 2008 at 7:26 PM
They should take some of the money and send Nancy Pelosi flowers, for all her help in recent weeks.
RBMN on August 21, 2008 at 7:27 PM
I’m THIS close to writing a check. I have to wait to see who McCain pics as VP, though.
SouthernGent on August 21, 2008 at 7:31 PM
Pelosi adjourned the House 4 days later than she was scheduled to:
http://www.house.gov/house/House_Calendar.shtml
alphie on August 21, 2008 at 7:36 PM
Which plan?
Rick on August 21, 2008 at 7:36 PM
Which one of Pelosi’s houses would you send the flowers to?
I know I know, I’m not supposed to mention that democrats enjoy multiple properties, just thought I would throw that in.
Bishop on August 21, 2008 at 7:45 PM
There is only one thing worse than more Republicans in the Congress this year.
More Democrats.
EJDolbow on August 21, 2008 at 7:49 PM
And they still didn’t allow a vote on the energy policy. For an alleged Reagan Republican, you sure are a Dem apologist.
Rick on August 21, 2008 at 7:50 PM
+1
Kevin71 on August 21, 2008 at 7:52 PM
Peiosi adjourned the House 4 days later than she was a
scheduled to.
alphie on Aug 21,2008 at 7:36PM.
alphie: Four extra days,no oil drillin vote,and Nancy
promised a clean house!
canopfor on August 21, 2008 at 8:02 PM
That should be Pelosi,not Peiosi,sorry about the spelling!
canopfor on August 21, 2008 at 8:06 PM
Children learn not to touch a hot stove only after they’ve burned themselves. These American juveniles will learn it eventually. Until then, make mine a double.
leftnomore on August 21, 2008 at 8:18 PM
MirCat on August 21, 2008 at 7:26 PM
A Plan? The past two years have been on purpose? Oh, Lord!
Cindy Munford on August 21, 2008 at 8:37 PM
alphie on August 21, 2008 at 7:36 PM
Give me a while and I can find a link that says Nancy’s book is up for a Pulitzer.
Cindy Munford on August 21, 2008 at 8:39 PM
Before they send those flowers, they should dip them in a bucket of crude.
Weight of Glory on August 21, 2008 at 8:51 PM
Congressional Republicans show their Malkins. Fundraising ensues. Go fig.
thirtypundit on August 21, 2008 at 9:32 PM
I met Boehner and McConnell at a breakfast last week, and I was very impressed with both of them. I think they’re each more effective than their predecessors. Boehner was actually a riot when he spoke… very blunt, which I appreciated. I might send some dough their way soon…
D2Boston on August 21, 2008 at 9:42 PM
Southie, don’t confuse the NRCC with the McCain juggernaut. We need to take both the House and the Senate. But, I understand your reluctance to send it to the NRCC general fund. Pick a worthy Republican House and Senate candidate and lavish them with funds directly. That’s what I’m doing.
But, I have to confess, that even though I’m not hogwild about McCain, he’s starting to look like a real conservative and Zero is scaring the crap out of me, so I have just recently started to toss a few bucks his way. McCain wasn’t my first, second, third, fourth of fifth candidate of choice, but the damage that this other a$$hole could do in just four years is gobsmackingly frightening.
I went to a Hanover County, VA Republican event on Monday night and I’ve got to say that I feel newly energized with Cantor and the usual deadpan, monotone Gilmore had fire in his belly.
It’s time to kick some marxist Democrat ass!
pistolero on August 21, 2008 at 10:41 PM
OK, having reread my post, ‘lavishing them with funds’ does not accurately describe the mere pittance that I’m sending. But any donation has got to help.
pistolero on August 21, 2008 at 10:43 PM
It’s unlikely that the Republicans can take back the Senate this year–there are too many Republicans up for re-election, not enough vulnerable Democrats, and we’ll be lucky to “only” lose 2 or 3 seats this year. But in the Senate, the filibuster rule forces the majority (whichever party holds it) to make some concessions to the minority, as long as the minority holds 41 seats or more.
The House is where serious gains could be made, if the Republicans are willing to make energy and “drill now” THE issue of the Congressional campaign. Some of the “Blue Dog Democrats” might be willing to drill, but the case should be made that only a GOP majority takes the gavel out of Pelosi’s hands, and allows the issue to come to a vote.
If we’re looking to get the most bang for our campaign buck, the NRCC looks like the place to give. Besides, after the convention, McCain doesn’t have to worry about fundraising.
Steve Z on August 22, 2008 at 11:35 AM
I am proud to have McConnell as my Senator. Bunning doesn’t suck, either.
fossten on August 22, 2008 at 3:33 PM