The deadline for congressional candidates in Indiana and North Carolina to file their extended first quarter fundraising reports passed last night. Let’s take a look at the notable numbers (all figures are in the thousands):
A few notes:
- Andre Carson’s numbers cover 2/21-4/16, while Jon Elrod’s cover 2/21-3/31.
- All other filings cover the period from 1/1-4/16.
Nels Ackerson and Michael Montagano continue to impress in deep red districts (R+17.5 and R+16.3, respectively). Daniel Johnson, a Democrat running against the odious Patrick McHenry, is also raising a very respectable amount of money. Democrats truly are blessed with a deep second tier of challengers this year.
On another note, Larry Kissell’s slow fundraising pace ($106K raised, $131K cash on hand) continues to be weak, despite his presence on the DCCC’s Red to Blue program. Kissell needs to find money fast, because he won’t have the benefit of a surprise attack this cycle. For a top tier race, we need to be doing better here.
The extra $20k that most Blue Majority candidates have raised will surely help him.
Oh, wait…
…
In seriousness, that is a pretty pisspoor fundraising total from Kissell. I understand he is running a grassroots campaign in a poor district, but still.
Hopefully he has a strategy. Hopefully it relies on using incredibly good polling numbers to force the D-Trip to support his campaign, as it should have and didn’t last time.
Of course, that strategy didn’t work last time, as the polling didn’t reflect his real strength in the district.
I wonder how much Carol Shea-Porter raised in 2006, or in this cycle for that matter.
Also, where the hell is John Edwards? For all his “I love the American working class” schtick, he oughtta be helping put an ordinary American like Kissell, in his own damn backyard, into Congress. Running against a free-trader no less. Kissell may not know many rich people, but Edwards sure as hell does, and he could turn on the money spigot in a huge way if he cared to. And he could dump it into a 527 too if the “Kissell is just a stalking horse for Edwards” line is too damaging in NC, which I don’t think it would be anyway.
Anyway, I suppose everyone noticed that NY-29 is the number one race on Chris Cillizza’s Line? As in, the House seat most likely to change hands this fall? Dan Maffei raised $19k on Blue Majority.
for NC-03? Walter Jones is facing a primary challenge from the right from a county commissioner named Joe McLaughlin, who I thought was receiving Club for Growth money. (On our side is Marshall Adame, who is guess is most noteworthy for making Blackwater’s enemies list.)
Don’t they have to report numbers as well?
Also do we have the numbers for local races in those two states?
I really don’t understand why Kissell’s numbers are so poor. I began giving on a monthly basis nearly a year ago since with a little push he is an obvious candidate to pick up another southern seat. Can any Tarheels comment why that race hasn’t caught any national attention that would yield far larger results? Or even major attention, i.e., financial support on the state level? Yes, the district is poor, but this race hardly receives anything more than an “And also….”
This is sad and seems to be a great opportunity that is slipping away. Without some major infusions of cash, I just don’t think he can pull it off.
In their last three matchups, Mike Sodrel outraised him (the first time by self-funding to the tune of $1 million). Now he’s got a 3-1 advantage.
Thanks, JumpinGranny. Your comments are really helpful! My dad lives just west of Winston, and that district does depend on media campaigning. I wasn’t being critical so much of Kissell but rather of national media and national and other financial sources that might support him.
I’m certainly aware of Kissell’s grass-roots efforts even antedating the ’06 election and his announcement shortly after that he would be running again in ’08. (For what it’s worth, I signed onto automatic monthly support in mid ’07.) My main beef is that Kissell does not get the media attention–financial support typically follows–that, say, Childers or Cazayoux do.
I hope the DCCC is watching and will be supportive when he DOES need $!