Today Is the Day

No later than the 15th day after the end of all quarters save the fourth, campaigns must file their fundraising reports with the FEC. For the third quarter, that much-anticipated day is today. As we’ve seen, many campaigns choose to file early, but we should still expect to see a flood of reports, at least from House candidates.

Senate reports are also due today, but thanks to truly insane regulations, these reports are filed in hardcopy and then, at great expense and lousy resolution, scanned in electronically. This doesn’t just cost money, it takes time as well – there’s at least a three-to-four week lag before these reports become available. That means reports from the third quarter next year won’t even be available until after the election! (For more on this insane state of affairs – which is entirely the fault of the Republicans – and what you can do to help, read Adam B here.)

Obviously, this is wildly unacceptable in this modern age. So I have a piece of advice for smart Senate campaigns across the country: post your filings on your websites. Not just a press release with your totals raised and on-hand – I’m talking about the entire PDF, or better yet, an Excel spreadsheet. Not only should these campaigns have nothing to hide, there’s nothing they can hide, because all this information will become public soon anyway.

This also leads me to another point. In the online era, the concept of quarterly filings seems rather antique. While I doubt that hidebound legislators would ever go in for this, I think some form of rolling disclosures would make a lot more sense. On one occasion, I worked in the finance department of a campaign, and we had to track donations daily anyway. Shooting this information over to the FEC on, say, a weekly basis would have meant almost zero additional work, except perhaps hitting “upload.”

The fact is, some form of this is already happening now. ActBlue updates totals in real time, and a growing number of campaigns use it as their exclusive online donation mechanism. Obviously these numbers don’t reflect checks received at live events and the like, but as ever-increasing amounts of money are contributed on the Internet, ActBlue totals are becoming more meaningful.

Like I say, I’m sure most politicians would resist this sort of reform. But with things like ActBlue and Dean bats pushing them, some smart campaigns will embrace this sort of open-ness.

In the meantime, though, I’m looking forward to all the third quarter reports. James will have a mammoth chart of all available numbers as soon as it’s feasible, but for now, you can catch up on all the early reports at these links:

Fundraising Reports | Son of… | Bride of… | Revenge of… | Indiana Jones and…

25 thoughts on “Today Is the Day”

  1. In what should be the Dem’s only real race on defense, Senator Landrieu announced her 3Q numbers today.  Raised $857,000.  CoH is 3.4 million.  The following is from an e-mail she sent me.

    U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., will on Monday file a campaign finance report reflecting a total of $857,299.79 raised in the last three months of this year. This third quarter total is nearly five times more than the $178,673 Landrieu raised during the same period in her last re-election campaign six years ago. In the prior two quarters, Landrieu fundraising roughly doubled the totals from six years ago.

    Landrieu has nearly $3.4 million cash on hand to spend for her campaign. Six years ago, going into her 2002 re-election campaign, Landrieu had $1.5 million cash on hand at this point.

  2. I know this district isn’t a top target, especially with Marlowe’s disappointing performance in the special election.  However, one Democratic candidate named Bobby Saxon is making some waves.  He raised $44,000 over just four weeks, more than any Democratic candidate in that district for the first quarter in ten years.

  3. Dan Lipinski had a poor showing for an incumbent. 

    Illinois-03
    (D-Inc) Dan Lipinski
    Raised: $75,600
    CoH: $321,373

    Mark Pera is one of three primary challengers, the bloggers favorite primary challenger.  He hasn’t filed with the FEC yet.  Here’s someone who has though. 

    IL-03
    (D) Jerry Bennett
    Raised: $30,915
    CoH: $49,927 (-$24,885 in debts = $25,042 Real CoH)

  4. FEC filing shows (numbers rounded) that she raised 148,000 in 3Q, bringing her total raised up to $417,000.  In 2Q, she raised $154,000. 

    Cash on hand at the end of 3Q is $376,000.  At the end of 2Q, CoH was $256,000.

    http://images.nictus
     

  5. Chet Edwards (TX-17) looks good:
    $301,930.48 in Q3, $921,223.46 COH, $1,179.76 in Debts

    Larry Joe (TX-10)
    $53,765.00 in Q3, $171,236.60 COH, $100,000.00 in Debts

    Dan Grant (TX-10)
    $45,247.00 in Q3, $72,247.01 COH, no debts

    Ciro Rodriguez (TX-23)
    $105,154.05 in Q3, $592,062.81 COH, $2,139.00 in Debts

    Lampson has not posted yet (9:58 p.m. 10/15)

    On the Republican Side:
    TX-22 ROUND-UP!
    Sekula-Gibbs
    $174,353.07 in Q3, $465,399.77 COH, $496,000.00 in Debts
    State Rep. Talton
    $1,299.00 in Q3, $224.88 COH, $800.00 in Debts
    Squier
    $13,400.00 Raised and COH
    Former Sugarland Mayor Hrbacek
    $109,195.00 in Q3, $119,899.45 COH, $68,952.44 in Debts
    Student Steinberg, Cornyn’s Former Chief of Staff Olson, and Pasadena Mayor Manlove have not yet filed (Manlove did enter after Oct 1, however)

    BOR is reporting Mike McCaul (R-TX-10) is finishing in the red once his debts are acocunted for. $77,145 raised in Q3 for him. $124,873.59 COH, and $170,856.57 in debts.

    Also Ralph Hall raised $83,224.71 and has three primary challengers. I expect a retirement. His closest challenger was former Frisco Mayor Kathy Seei at $15,690.88 raised

    On a personal note, I am VERY pleased to report that the primary challenger to Rep. Ron Paul, Friendswood City Councilman Chris Peden, raised $8,654.00 in Q3, has $363.15 COH, and has $10,298.69 in Debts. Paul is bad, Peden is crazy.

  6. Just pulled this off of Daily Kos (from Kos himself)

    “Mark Warner (D) $1.1 million (entered race 9/13, so two weeks)

    Jim Gilmore (R) $200,000
    Tom Davis (R) $222,000″

    Wow, in a mere two-week period, Mark Warner has out-fundraised the combined numbers of Gilmore and Davis 2.5 to 1, that is great.

  7. McNerney (D) raised $234,000 in 3Q for a total to date raised of $1.4 million.  CoH is $758,000.

    Andal (R) raised $101,000 for total to date of $389,000.  He has CoH of $351,000. 

    McNerney has raised money far faster than Pombo did for 2006.  And I bet the money is clean! 

  8. Charlie Brown continues to swamp dirty Doolittle. 

    Brown raised $212,000 in 3Q for a total to date of $499,000.  He reports CoH of $382,000.

    Incumbent Rep. Doolittle raised ONLY $55,000 in 3Q for a total to date of $302,000.  He reports CoH of AN AMAZING $38,000.

  9. From today's Hotline. 

                      3rdQ    3rdQ         3rdQ
                       Indiv.  Total        Oper.                      Cash
                       Contr.  Receipts     Exp.     PACs      Debt    On-Hand
    Alabama
    SESSIONS (R)      474,536   687,913   242,499 110,550         0  3,589,929
    Figures (D)*******************Not Available*******************************
    Alaska
    STEVENS (R)       303,767   466,182   249,094 142,550         0  1,073,242
    Caldero (D)*******************Not Available*******************************
    Arkansas
    PRYOR (D)         401,656   565,338   178,917 158,650         0  3,268,637
    Huckabee (R)*^  1,023,005 1,034,486   818,276   9,774    47,810    651,301
    Colorado
    Schaffer (R)      724,070   801,137   310,680  52,036         0  1,160,339
    Wolf (R)******************Filed candidacy after 9/30/07*******************
    Udall (D)         862,097 1,114,920   476,575 186,899         0  3,131,112
    Delaware
    BIDEN (D)**     1,691,181 1,770,625 2,651,674  36,275   128,210  3,345,741
    Georgia
    CHAMBLISS (R)     647,307 1,017,931   446,661 353,684         0  3,917,652
    Jones (D)         181,266   187,266    75,680   6,000         0    265,988
    Cardwell (D)       56,950    56,950    64,338       0         0     35,277
    Knight (D)         10,235    38,235    38,754       0    55,200     20,245
    Idaho
    Risch (R)*****************Filed candidacy after 9/30/07*******************
    Rammell (R)***************Filed candidacy after 9/30/07*******************
    LaRocco (D)        94,743   107,453    48,774  12,554     5,575    103,620
    Illinois
    DURBIN (D)        623,343   892,400   330,445 180,250         0  6,611,344
    Sauerberg (R)      65,750    66,570   183,708       0   250,000    170,137
    Iowa
    HARKIN (D)        775,861 1,028,892   517,376 215,387         0  3,079,993
    Latham (R)*^       49,252    92,501    44,659  39,518         0    412,186
    King (R)*^         34,530    78,446    35,549  43,916    21,820    114,625
    Rathje (R)********************Not Available*******************************
    Kansas
    ROBERTS (R)       171,842   397,708   214,742 179,086         0  2,152,391
    Kentucky
    MCCONNELL (R)   1,064,778 1,549,182   371,756 419,986         0  6,814,196
    Stumbo (D)************Exploratory Phase — No 3rdQ Filing*****************
    Louisiana
    LANDRIEU (D)      561,307   857,300   307,424 229,337         0  3,357,344
    Kennedy (R)^                                    CoH as of 6/30:        125
    Maine
    COLLINS (R)       621,022 1,039,412   241,876 366,509         0  3,104,891
    Allen (D)         542,053   666,096   267,069  85,829         0  2,112,801
    Massachusetts
    KERRY (D)**       220,684 2,233,861 3,716,055  68,250       402  9,828,268
    O'Reilly (D)       15,575    15,575     7,826       0    33,152     18,231
    Beatty (R)************Exploratory Phase — No 3rdQ Filing*****************
    Michigan
    LEVIN (D)         709,748   871,650   350,182 141,185         0  3,366,489
    Raczkowski (R)^    50,138    50,138    46,422       0    58,344      8,291
    Minnesota
    COLEMAN (R)     1,253,007 1,707,157   696,881 301,336         0  4,980,467
    Franken (D)     1,859,390 1,909,055 1,388,017  21,150   182,000  2,445,787
    Ciresi (D)        307,700   311,803   306,432     100         0    607,915
    Cohen (D)*********************Not Available*******************************
    Franson (D)           100     7,086     6,618       0         0        630
    Mississippi
    COCHRAN (R)        14,124    46,386    61,372  29,500         0  1,083,772
    Montana
    BAUCUS (D)        906,484 1,365,013   316,612 415,750         0  5,364,975
    Lange (R)*********************Not Available*******************************
    Bushman (R)***************Filed candidacy after 9/30/07*******************
    Nebraska
    Bruning (R)       211,854   222,506    82,424   4,150         0    782,414
    Flynn (R)          35,421    46,514    32,245       0    10,500     13,680
    Johanns (R)***************Filed candidacy after 9/30/07*******************
    Kerrey (D)^                                     CoH as of 6/30:    342,086
    Kleeb (D)*^        16,135    17,448     6,842       0         0     78,642
    New Hampshire
    SUNUNU (R)        522,196   713,212    80,933 178,559         0  2,728,872
    Shaheen (D)        93,993   187,888     9,522  93,895         0    178,366
    Buckey (D)         31,100    49,100    36,451       0    18,000     27,178
    New Jersey
    LAUTENBERG (D)    682,045   908,547   179,450 162,000 2,090,000  3,620,175
    Estabrook (R)*********Exploratory Phase — No 3rdQ Filing*****************
    Pennacchio (R)********Exploratory Phase — No 3rdQ Filing*****************
    New Mexico
    Wilson (R)*       159,696   247,302    83,838  79,763         0    755,609
    Pearce (R)*^      203,021   255,180    52,040  48,000         0    582,312
    Rich'son (D)*^  5,187,577 5,358,585 6,637,396  71,675    75,222  5,821,588
    Wiviott (D)       130,034   130,294   163,634      50   426,968    371,712
    Madrid (D)*^            0    10,776     4,497       0    10,330      2,266
    North Carolina
    DOLE (R)          827,369 1,118,423   556,060 179,389    72,021  2,302,593
    Oklahoma
    INHOFE (R)        346,059   549,154   291,263 186,363         0  1,653,439
    Rice (D)          304,656   311,103    50,960   6,250         0    260,143
    Oregon
    SMITH (R)         529,028   829,353   282,633 251,430   188,894  4,039,346
    Novick (D)        124,872   125,373    83,788     500         0    218,580
    Merkley (D)       247,495   294,345    81,314  46,850         0    211,281
    Frohnmayer (I)************Filed candidacy after 9/30/07*******************
    Rhode Island
    REED (D)          313,422   520,539   111,180 190,366         0  2,771,898
    South Carolina
    GRAHAM (R)        249,341   472,272   204,822 148,050         0  4,223,909
    South Dakota
    JOHNSON (D)       257,245   454,222   150,821 153,300         0  2,043,483
    Herseth (D)*^      47,094   117,532    37,659  67,500         0    500,219
    Dykstra (R)        81,873    81,873    44,482       0         0     37,391
    Kephart (R)         8,700     8,800     8,448       0         0        352
    Tennessee
    ALEXANDER (R)     401,592   674,562   238,132 260,800         0  1,476,622
    McWherter (D)*********Exploratory Phase — No 3rdQ Filing*****************
    Texas
    CORNYN (R)      1,269,081 1,846,922   512,899 379,300   109,504  6,609,801
    Watts (D)         442,676 4,260,168   825,087       0 5,594,668  8,304,414
    Noriega (D)       508,172   580,722    69,813  22,550    50,000    510,314
    Virginia
    Goodlatte (R)*^     7,195    51,672    54,801  16,650         0  1,382,921
    Davis (R)*^       120,901   222,745   203,300  97,944         0  1,049,450
    Cantor (R)*^      136,078   338,960   269,049 191,750         0    711,622
    Forbes (R)*^       24,329    56,260    65,672  28,800         0    356,968
    Goode (R)*^        30,295    56,109    19,222  22,700         0    351,757
    Drake (R)*^        80,735   197,585    89,872 116,850         0    324,423
    Wolf (R)*^         52,614    80,550    32,273  26,000         0    230,278
    Gilmore (R)*^       1,100     6,101    49,663       0   147,048     18,203
    Warner (D)      1,033,481 1,109,081    92,055  71,000         0  1,017,026
    West Virginia
    ROCKEFELLER (D)   458,685   714,083   201,493 209,112         0  3,183,267
    Wyoming “A”
    ENZI (R)            7,525   140,678    72,423 114,000         0    458,081
    Wyoming “B”
    BARRASSO (R)      252,370   653,441    53,111 396,071         0    599,329
          ^=Potential candidate
          *=House or WH account
          **=Combined from mult. accounts

  10. Due to the death of Craig Thomas and Republicans are in the minority- Enzi retire- Wyoming loses its seniority clout.

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