NRCC Outraises DCCC
As FEC fundraising reports for February roll in, the National Republican Campaign Committee has outraised the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee – the first report in qjuite some time where they have done so. The NRCC reported raising $5.1 million to the DCCCs’ $4.4 million. The DCCC still dwarfs the NRCC in cash-on-hand however, $19.8 million to $6 million.
It will be interesting to see how the Democrats’ victory on health care reform affects both parties’ fundraising. As the health care vote only happened at the end of March, however, we probably won’t see this reflected until April numbers are reported.
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A Special Day in Georgia
The special election to replace retiring Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA) will be held on May 11th. This will be an all-party election, with the winner requiring 50% +1 to win. If there is no winner in that election, a run-off will be held June 8th. This is a heavily Republican district, with little chance of a Democrat prevailing. However, with 11 Republican candidates in the race, and a “resign to run” rule that candidates cannot hold any other office while running, the special has set off a dairy chain of elections to fill the seats being left open by the Republican candidates.
Florida Tea Party
Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) won a narrow victory over incumbent Rep. Ric Keller (R) in 2008. He was already a Republican target when he was quoting as saying the Republican health care plan was to “die quickly.” He then became a top target and was widely attacked on conservative talk radio. He hasn’t been shy about taking on high profile targets since then.
Perhaps because of his aggressive tactics, or perhaps because of his large campaign warchest, Republicans have had a hard time recruiting a top level candidate to run against him. They have been left instead with a number of political unknowns. Republican chances of launching a serious challenge to Grayson may have been further undermined with one of those candidates, former hospital administrator Peg Dunmire quit the Republican party to run an independent Tea Party campaign, possible further dividing the conservative vote against Grayson.
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Do Not Go Gently Into That Good Night
Despite local GOP leaders selecting businessman Tim Burns as their candidate in the special election to fill the seat left open by deceased Rep. John Murtha in PA-12, Burns’ rival for the nomination refuses to back the candidate. Bill Russell, the 2008 candidate for the seat, stated, “I still think I am the best candidate to take over in the 12th. So I’m going to vote for myself as a write-in.”
It is not clear that Russell could pose a serious threat to Burns, but it is undoubtedly frustrating to Republican leaders that they do not have a clear field in what is already a tough race for them.
