Senate Fundraising Report
We all know that the Citizens United ruling means an unprecedented amount of cash will be flowing from the coffers of well-funded special interest groups into our eyes and ears via political advertising this year. But those well-honed messages don’t always coincide with a candidate’s actual level of support from constituents, or the voting and donating public.
Worthy of note is an article in today’s Anchorage Daily News that talks about the actual campaigns and their fundraising ability so far. Those examined are the competitive Alaska State Senate races which will determine the makeup of that body for the next legislative session. Those on the far right complain that the bipartisan coalition of the last session “stopped legislation.” Moderates have praised the bipartisan effort for that very thing, citing the group’s ability to prevent the passage of the governor’s tax bill which would have resulted in billions of no-strings-attached dollars going back to Houston and London, with no promise of Alaskan jobs, more throughput in the pipeline, or even more exploration.
So where are the Alaskan people putting their money?
Republicans are lagging behind the fundraising of their opponents in most of the competitive races that will determine the make-up of next year’s Alaska Senate.
The strong showing by five Democrats and one independent in raising money for ads, flyers, polls and other campaign activities was evident in the final full financial reports filed with the Alaska Public Offices Commission on Tuesday.
The only competitive senate race where the non-Republican candidate is lagging was expected to be a difficult one for the incumbent. Senator Bettye Davis got the brunt of the redistricting woes, and her new district which includes a large swath of Eagle River is far more right-leaning than the one she has served in the past.
But all other races show the Democratic candidate, or even the Independent candidate outraising the Republican opponent.
You’ve got to give credit to the outgoing Republican Party Chair for being able to analyze this trend, and give you his conclusion with a straight face.
Randy Ruedrich, chairman of the Republican Party of Alaska, said the fundraising advantage could, in part, reflect desperation on the part of Democrats.
“The Democrats cannot afford to lose a race so they have raised funds unmercifully — they’ve gone after their donor base with a much higher level of intensity than the Republicans have,” Ruedrich said.
Those with the largest war chests are clearly desperate. And unmerciful. Unlike the Republicans who are cool, confident, and fundraising with mercy. That’s how it works in politics, right? I tend to subscribe to the other side’s theory.
Democrats this year are tapping into concern over oil taxes, said Kay Brown, executive director of the Alaska Democratic Party.
“I think it shows we have a message that’s resonating with Alaskans and people are stepping up because they want to keep balance in our government,” Brown said. “They appreciate the leadership of these Democratic senators and they want to keep the bipartisan coalition going in Juneau.”
Read the full article for the breakdown of the races, and a chart showing which candidates are leading in successful fundraising efforts.
This election is a battle for the heart and soul of the senate. Will we continue to have a coalition that works across party lines and demands accountability on oil taxes? Will we continue to send to Juneau a measured and reasonable group of senators who don’t want the next legislative session to be about forced transvaginal ultrasounds, or rewriting the Constitution to allow public dollars to be used for all manner of private and religious schools?
The outcome of the senatorial races will define who we are as Alaskans, and what our priorities are. Bread and butter issues, or extreme ideologies. Fill in the oval.
Early voting is going on right now, or go to the polls on Tuesday, November 6. Make sure friends and family vote too. Polling reveals that several of these races are VERY tight. In Alaska, we know that only a few votes can really make a difference. We’ve had legislative races decided by a coin toss. Our future is too important for that.
Vote, vote, vote, vote, vote, vote vote!!!!
Love the cartoon only wish the donkey had cut off the pachyderm’s tail at the base. For African safaris a severed tail proves ownership of the carcass-which is what I hope this election brings for Dems and Independents. Have not voted yet,am waiting for Tuesday so I can spend some time around Obrien County courthouse in Primghar,Iowa(the only Primghar anywhere) to see what shenanigans might be going on. Don’t misunderstand Moi,handing them slimy rwnj bastards asses to them on a platter is way cool,too. Something for every good boy and girl to the left of center persuasion. Do Alaskans turn their clocks back?
Yep, Alaskans turn their clocks back. We are now on Alaska Standard Time.
At slipstream’s house today, sunrise at 11:39 a.m.; sunset at 4:39 p.m. It will get worse.
And then it will get better.
Slightly OT-http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/11/01/1125901/nonpartisan-government-agency-withdraws-study-on-high-income-tax-cuts-after-gop-complaints/ rethugs successfully bullied CBO into not releasing report that proves that taxcuts for the wealthy does not stimulate growth-except for the wealthy. rethugs have repeatedly tried to force CBO to falsely inflate figures to show taxcuts stimulate growth. As for wondering whether 150k is more than 6k-fall back on rw math where 6k is infinitely > 150k.
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/news/business/0915taxesandeconomy.pdf
That is the link to the CRS report that was withdrawn.
I long for the day when hostile, smarmy Republicans will get slapped upside their heads and told to sit down and shut up for doing evil things.
I guess that sounds kinda hostile, doesn’t it?
Oh well.
Whatev….
Thanks for the link Mike. It’s what we lowly libruls knew all along that tax cuts for the wealthy do not create jobs.
DD
Funny that Cathy Giessel claimed on Tea Party Radio yesterday that Ron Devon’s campaign was getting money “poured in” by the unions. Yet the article Jeanne is quoting from paints another picture…after looking at the actual numbers on the APOC reports:
“While he got $6,275 from labor unions and their leaders, most of the donations were in small amounts from retired people, the medical profession, attorneys and other individuals.”
More Republican lies refuted by facts.
Also, we must remember that these are the actual campaigns. Where the Repugs are winning is the PACs & Independent Expenditures:
http://m.adn.com/adn/db_90852/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=AYYmNHCb
“The $100,000 contribution, from the Republican State Leadership Committee of Washington, D.C., is being spent in part to beat Democrats in the Senate bipartisan coalition who blocked oil-tax cuts, the latest spending reports show.”
Significantly more than $6,000, no?
I think it is just amazing, when corporations including foreign ones are giving millions to the GOP, the Republicans still wave the bogey-man “unions” and whine about those huge union contributions. What a joke. If reality doesn’t work for the Republicans, they just lie.
It is heartening to see that all of the gazillions of dollars by anonymous pro Romney PACS also appear to not have made their desired impact in the presidential race.
People behind these PACS believe voters are stupid and don’t pay attention.
America – and hopefully, Alaska – will prove them wrong.
Connecting dots:
1) Rick Perlstein’s demonstration of the Republican Party functioning as a giant con to suck money from the pockets of resentful fools and put it into the pockets of their corporate leadership
2) The revelation of an Alaskan religious group purchasing from the Kochs a database of likely marks
You really have to hope that intelligent Republicans will wake up and re-register as Independents, the GOP party affiliation rapidly becoming a badge of shame.
“Criminy, you actually voted for someone who wants to give away 2 billion to the oil companies? And you contributed _how much_ of your hard-earned cash? Waddayou, nuts?”
http://delong.typepad.com/sdj/2012/11/rick-perlstein-romneyland.html#more
“Republicanism has devolved into a scam, a front organization for gangsters, a mob waiting to spill out into the streets, a fraternal organization of dumbos with grudges.” –Jeffrey Davis