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Tuesday, April 18, 2006

TX-28: Ciro Rodriguez Still Has $330K Cash-on-Hand

Posted by DavidNYC

[UPDATE: It appears this post was based on a flawed campaign finance report. See here for more information.]

Yeah, the title is not a mis-print. Evidently, Ciro thought it would be wiser to save all that money for a run-off, which of course never happened. Is it 20-20 hindsight to carp about this now? I'm not sure. What I can tell you, though, is that Cuellar spent $1.1M on the race. Ciro spent a mere $422K. The campaign had to know it was being badly outspent.

A fair response here might be to say, What good would a run-off have been if Ciro had been flat broke? To that I can only observe that Ciro was doing far better in fundraising in the final weeks before the election. From 2/16 on, he raised $282K - Cuellar raised only $150K. If Ciro had held Cuellar to under 50%, I think that he (Ciro) would have continued his strong fundraising.

If anything, we knew (or should have known) that what Ciro really needed was more time, and a run-off would have given him some, whether he was broke or flush. You can't, as they say, take it with you. At least that $330K can now wind up in the hands of other deserving Democrats. Indeed, I daresay it had better.

(Hat tip: House Race Hotline.)

Posted at 03:47 PM in 2006 Elections - House, Texas | Technorati

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Comments

Let us not forget the $15 Million John Kerry had left over in 2004. That could of made the difference in Ohio. I guess they were saving it for legal battles after the election that never happened.

Note to candidates: Spend the money. If you come down to a pinch resources will come in at a necessary time. Remember the Washington Gubernatorial election of 04.

Posted by: Demrock6 at April 18, 2006 04:09 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I would like to get Tracy Joan's view of this fact. She's the only one that would know the thinking.

AND if she reads this, I need her to contact me to help me understand the role, if any, of the absentee voter in the result. There are too many counties to track it down myself.

Email me here. And I would like to invite her onto a free teleconference I am planning.

PS: Do you think he will contest as an Independent Write In? That's a crazy thought...but one that just came to mind.

Posted by: Stuart O'Neill at April 18, 2006 04:46 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

I'd rather see Ciro spend that money on other worthy House races, instead of a quixotic and doomed independent candidacy.

Posted by: DavidNYC at April 18, 2006 04:58 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

RE: other candidates:

Here's my thoughts and some will really disagree. Senator Clinton has in excess of 17 Million. Senator Kerry has over X millions (haven't checked lately) and a few more are making real efforts to raise money for 2008 before we Win Back The House in 2006!

Who's not doing that who are obvious candidates?

Wes Clark and John Edwards. Edwards actually ended up with a deficit this quarter because of this Katrina efforts. When questioned he explained the Katrina relief efforts then said that he was dedicated to helping Congressional Candidates raise money in their District and win in Novemeber. His own PAC paid his expenses to do just that.

Wes Clark started down that path immediately after the 2004 Election. WesPac pays his expenses and he appears all over the country on behalf of candidates and doesn't take a dime.

He, like Edwards, won't discuss the 2008 election, other than in a wide grin hint, and is dedicated to Winning Back The House in 2006! He has told me and others directly how concerned he is if there is no check on the power of the Executive for two more years.

Imagine if the $30-$40 Million currently held by the major candidates were suddenly unleashed in the 2006 Congressional elections!

I think Clark started with the right idea and goal. I applaud Edwards for taking the same tack.

Their priorities are in the right place. Selflessness, Country over Self...good qualities....

Posted by: Stuart O'Neill at April 18, 2006 04:59 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment