Michael Steele's empty threat against Specter

In the 2004 cycle, Arlen Specter raised $14,953,355 in direct contributions. Of that, zero dollars came directly from the RNC. The state party made a $4,500 in-kind contribution. Additionally, a handful of Republican-related PACs (some of which, like the Republican Issues Campaign, received donations from the RNC) tossed in $5,000 apiece. There was nearly half a million dollars in coordinated contributions that the Republican Party as a whole spent – these are dollars that the Specter campaign and the party unit making the donation have a say in how they are spent. The RNC was responsible for about $38,000 of this and the state party was responsible for nothing…

Bottom line: Arlen Specter does not need the Republican Party organizations – not the state party, not the RNC, and not even the NRSC. If anything, they need him.