Gulp: RNC fundraising expected to be way off in February
posted at 7:15 pm on March 17, 2009 by Allahpundit
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Suddenly that Bowflex machine looks less defensible than I thought. In fairness, the RNC was in transition last month while Steele started putting his people in place so there’s no way yet to compare his organization to Mike Duncan’s RNC running on all cylinders.
But even so, the ice is getting thinner.
The RNC has consistently outraised the Democratic National Committee on a month-by-month basis. Observers say that streak is likely to end this month.
New RNC Chairman Michael Steele has committed gaffes that may embarrass his party in the short term, but Republican insiders say they are worried several of his actions will hit a fundraising trifecta: wounding party efforts to attract big donors, small donors and those who give on the Internet…
Even now, as Steele enters his seventh week as chairman, the RNC has no finance director, and several staffers in the finance division were among those who got the ax during the course of Steele’s top-to-bottom review of RNC operations…
The lack of a fundraising staff with institutional knowledge and relationships with key donors will affect the party’s big-dollar donations, observers said. Larger donors account for between 20 and 30 percent of the party’s donations, but without a stable of long-term professional fundraisers, that number could drop off…
Fundraisers and party insiders also repeatedly pointed to the departure of Cyrus Krohn, perhaps the most widely respected technology specialist in the Republican Party.
Krohn, a former Yahoo! and Microsoft software guru whose signing-on at the RNC was hailed as a major coup, left the committee in early March after Steele’s team tried to revamp the party’s Internet operations.
Krohn’s departure will hamper the party’s Internet fundraising efforts, an area in which they already trailed Democrats. Internet fundraising numbers rose throughout 2008, according to those involved in the effort, but now former officials say the party will have to start from square one.
He can spin this for the time being — short month, deepening recession, etc. — but if fundraising’s down again in March and the Dems hold Gillibrand’s old seat in the NY-20 special election despite the money the RNC’s dumping in there, confidence in Steele will reach Geithnerian levels. Exit question: Second look at Norm Coleman?
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that “playah” schtick is so lame. Steele away, Blackwell come home.
JohnBissell on March 18, 2009 at 7:54 AM
I said it about Obama earlier, in another thread… but it applies no less absolutely to Steele:
“Everthing he touches turns to FAIL.”
Kent18 on March 18, 2009 at 7:59 AM
No money coming in? It’s the Rush effect. Mess with the bull – get the horns. Sleele needs to get his ass in gear. Has he replaced the positions he fired yet?
marklmail on March 18, 2009 at 8:46 AM
This morning, I mailed in an RNC survey that I recently received. In a section asking for additional comments, I ripped Steele a new a**h*le.
With all the outrage elsewhere, Steele should quietly apologize for his screw ups and step aside for Blackwell. The RNC is losing a golden opportunity to be crucifying Obama for ramming the stimulus package through when no one had read it (see the outrage on the AIG bonuses). But the RNC is bound, gagged, and lying at the bottom of the Potomac because Steele is too busy cleaning up his self-inflicted errors.
I’m fed up with his incompetence. He can offer excuses for lousy February fundraising, but he should be paying attention to how many people are asking to be deleted from the RNC mailing list. That should give him an idea of how things are going.
BuckeyeSam on March 18, 2009 at 9:18 AM
… but… but… but hardly anyone even listens to Rush Limbaugh anymore, these days! Kathleen Parker and David Frum both SAID so, darn it! ;)
Kent18 on March 18, 2009 at 9:27 AM
Has Mike made the “No RINO” Pledge? No? No money or soup for you!
GeneSmith on March 18, 2009 at 10:00 AM
I have been receiving solicitations from the RNC about once a week or so – and immediately take a red pen, and write a quick note on top of the letter why I will not contribute now, and what they need to do before I will contribute in the future. Usually the news of the day. Like Specter or McCain or Rush comments or whatever pooch they are screwing that particular day. And then I seal it in the envelope that they pay postage on and ship it back.
I am a small donor of less than $1000 a year to the RNC – but I am hoping there are more than a couple of us doing this. The small stuff adds up – maybe we can get their attention this way.
JeffinOrlando on March 18, 2009 at 10:44 AM
I my first ever political contribution to help defeat TheMass..I..Uh last year.
The RNC response was to trot out a pathetic excuse for a candidate along with multiple mailings asking for more money. I responded by sending them a handwritten message with a single penny attached saying that this is the LAST money they will ever get from me and to spend it wisely.
It’s obvious from their lack of direction and leadership that they have learned nothing and should get used to dealing with lesser funding.
gregbert on March 18, 2009 at 12:19 PM
I stopped donating to the RNC in February and decided to financially support a conservative organization instead:
SarahPAC
If that helps ’splain things.
Crusty on March 18, 2009 at 1:03 PM
This is not a big surprise. GOPAC was a fundraising failure under Steele, as well.
james23 on March 18, 2009 at 1:07 PM
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