WP: RNC has biggest cash-on-hand lead over DNC in more than a decade

[DeepModem Mom]

WP: The Wallet-to-Wallet Chasm
By Chris Cillizza and Peter Baker
Sunday, January 22, 2006; Page A05


Despite a lackluster showing in 2005 elections for the GOP, the Republican National Committee raked in better than $100 million last year and enjoys its largest cash-on-hand lead over its Democratic counterpart in more than a decade.

For the year just passed, the RNC brought in nearly $102 million -- give or take a few hundred thousand -- and had $34 million in the bank. The Democratic National Committee raised $51 million in 2005 but showed $5.5 million on hand at the end of the year.

That cash disparity, which has led to grumbling and fretting by some people in the Democratic establishment, will be a major asset come November, RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman argued.

"There's no question it's an advantage," he said. "We are in a position to be able to maintain majorities in the House and Senate by providing campaigns with the resources they need to be successful." Under campaign finance laws, the RNC can make unlimited transfers of campaign cash to other Republican national committees.

The Democrats -- led by DNC Chairman Howard Dean -- spent considerable resources in 2005 on resuscitating state parties and now have operatives on the ground in all 50 states. The party also made a successful investment in helping fund efforts to elect Democrat Timothy M. Kaine governor of Virginia....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/21/AR2006012101057.html

[shraby]

1. How much of the RNC money is tainted money?

That's the question that should be raised.

[guruoo]

6. ohyeah

[Maraya1969]

2. Whatever happened to people voting their conscience?

[Straight Shooter]

3. Fine. They'll be spending 80 percent of it defending the scandals. n/t

[Poppyseedman]

4. No, they won't hardly spend a dime defending the scandals

The MSM will be carrying their water.

Well, lawyers do charge about four bills an hour in DC. So they aren't off scot free

[Scout1071]

5. I think the Dems should point this out as the party of Corporate

Sponsorship. Dem money is from the people. Rethug money is Corporate....with an agenda, whether it's advancing corporate or personal interests, it always has an agenda....GREED.

[killbotfactory]

7. That was a nice love-letter to the RNC

:boring:

[janx]

11. Written by Mehlman, in effect... n/t

[Nutmegger]

8. People will vote with their conscience this year...

At least I hope so. Then again, there are always those fools who vote for who's tallest or with the darkest hair.

[depakid]

9. Whatever - if anyone believes the Post at this point

then there's always the proverbial swampland available in Arizona....

[More Than A Feeling]

10. The more money the Reps have in the bank

the more they AREN'T spending to try to win in '06. How much did Kerry have left over after November,and how much good did it do him?

[EFerrari]

12. Wait -- what happened to all the Jack Abramoff money?

Love it when they try to have it both ways to see which works.

This is a swipe at Doctor Dean.

You can have Howard Dean when you pry him out of my cold dead hands, you criminals.

[skids]

13. $2 per Kerry voter.

That's all that is. Earlier today I just sent in a small check to the DNC, (and I'm unemployed.) Though the better gift is to candidates directly, I think Dean's operation is showing sufficient signs of bottom-up motion that they deserve to get some.