Short of cash, GOP Congressional Campaign Committee seeks rich, self-funding candidates

[DeepModem Mom]

The Hill: Short of cash, NRCC seeks millionaires
By Aaron Blake
November 09, 2007

Faced with lingering debt and a losing fundraising battle, House Republicans are recruiting a slew of self-funding candidates to run in many of their top races this election cycle. At least seven candidates with the ability to self-fund millions have stepped forward in key districts for the GOP so far, and more could be on the way.

Most of the wealthy candidates were recruited by the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), but some have stepped forward on their own and gotten the attention of a committee that could use the aid of their pocketbooks in its attempt to recoup its 2006 losses. Five are running against members of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s (DCCC) Frontline program for vulnerable members, while one is running against perennial target Rep. Darlene Hooley (D-Ore.). Another is running for retiring Rep. Dennis Hastert’s (R-Ill.) seat in a race that could become a battleground.

The NRCC had nearly $4 million in debt and $1.6 million in cash at the end of September, and it has raised about three-fourths of the DCCC’s haul this cycle.

Democrats are quick to point out that self-funding candidates have a shoddy track record. Last cycle, only four of 28 candidates who spent more than $1 million on their congressional bids were elected to Congress, and only three of 48 won in the previous three cycles combined, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

But this crop differs from others due to the competitive races at stake and the candidates’ résumés, said self-funding expert Jennifer Steen, the author of the book Self-Financed Candidates in Congressional Elections. “More typically, the party will let self-financers foot the bill for having a name on the ballot in long-shot districts,” Steen said. “But this crop of self-financers is atypical in one other significant respect: Several of them actually have some political experience.”...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/short-of-cash-nrcc-seeks-millionaires-2007-11-09.html

[gratuitous]

1. Then Mitt Romney is their candidate

What's his campaign contribution status? Isn't it still over 60% self-funded?

Odd, isn't it, to see the Republicans worrying over campaign cash? The Democrats are running more candidates and more credible candidates in more races, and I will happily credit Howard Dean for bringing Democratic party values and excitement for the platform back to places that had been written off for a decade or longer. Places like Utah and Kansas, which don't seem quite so solidly Republican Red anymore. And places like Virginia and Montana, which elected Democrats to the Senate when all the smart insiders said these races were hopeless.

There's a lot to criticize in the Democratic party and the performance of its leaders. But from a purely electoral standpoint heading into 2008, would you rather be a Democrat or a Republican?

[DeepModem Mom]

2. It's odd indeed to see Dems with more moolah than the GOP! At this point...

fingers crossed, it looks like a good year.

[tanyev]

3. More government of the wealthy, by the wealthy, for the wealthy.

Great.