Thread: GOP recruits show lagging fundraising

GOP recruits show lagging fundraising
By: Josh Kraushaar
April 16, 2008 07:01 PM EST

Several of the GOP’s most highly touted candidates posted mediocre fundraising numbers in this year’s first quarter, raising questions about their ability to seriously compete in races that were once at the top of the Republican radar screen.

The first-quarter fundraising period is often a make-or-break test for challengers. By April, candidates usually need to demonstrate they can consistently raise money to mount a credible race, or risk irrelevance in the months to come.

Businessman Steve Greenberg, running against Rep. Melissa L. Bean (D-Ill.), is perhaps the most striking example of a recruit failing to live up to expectations. Once highly touted by National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole, Greenberg is a candidate Republicans hoped could run a strong campaign against Bean, fueled with his own money.

But Greenberg raised only $113,000 for the quarter and is nearly broke, with just $5,000 left in his campaign account. By contrast, Bean has $1.35 million in her campaign account. Given the financial disparity, the prospect of Greenberg being able to run a competitive race looks dimmer by the day.

Another Republican fundraising disappointment was Lou Barletta, the mayor of Hazleton, Pa., who is running against Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski (D-Pa.). He raised $187,000 in the first quarter, underwhelming many GOP operatives who thought Barletta could translate his high-profile fight against illegal immigration into a powerful fundraising network.

Kanjorski, meanwhile, raised more than $453,000, giving him a nearly $1.9 million line of defense — well ahead of the $154,000 Barletta banked in his campaign account.

Another example is former California Assemblyman Dean Andal. Running against freshman Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.), Andal barely topped the $100,000 fundraising mark in the first three months of 2008.

And former GOP Rep. Melissa Hart has seen her quarterly fundraising totals trail off ever since she announced she was seeking a rematch against freshman Rep. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.), who defeated her in 2006. Hart raised only $143,000 in the quarter — well short of Altmire’s $478,000.

To be sure, many Republican recruits posted strong fundraising numbers. Arizona state Senate President Tim Bee raised $467,000 — one of the highest fundraising hauls among all Republican challengers — and now has $525,000 cash on hand.

Bee is challenging Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, one of the Democrats’ best-financed freshmen. She raised $479,000 in the first quarter and reported $1.67 million on hand at the end of March.

Former GOP Rep. Anne Northup raised $461,000 for her rematch against Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), who unseated her in 2006. Yarmuth raised only $255,000, making Northup one of the few Republican challengers to outraise a Democratic incumbent this quarter.

Another standout fundraiser has been Minnesota state Rep. Erik Paulsen, who raised more than $382,000 in his campaign to succeed retiring Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.). He begins the general election with an early financial advantage over his Democratic opponent, attorney Ashwin Madia. Paulsen reported $688,000 cash on hand, while Madia began April with $190,000 in his campaign account.

And Ohio state Sen. Steve Stivers has made a solid start in the expensive campaign to succeed retiring Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-Ohio). He raised $383,000 and reported $600,000 cash on hand for the first quarter. His Democratic opponent, Franklin County Commissioner Mary Jo Kilroy, has also been a fundraising standout, raising $411,932 in the first fundraising quarter and banking $944,000.

“Despite Democrats’ high hopes, Republican candidates in some of the most competitive districts in the country are setting huge fundraising paces,â€

For those who want to help Lou:
http://loubarletta.com/