Let's be honest here. Darcy Burner's fundraising thus far this year is robust, and strong enough that she's likely moving herself up on the list of challengers the DCCC (Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee) is going to focus on supporting this cycle.
Meanwhile, Dave Reichert's fundraising is comparatively modest - raising about $240,000 $331,000 from January 1st to March 31st compared to her $500,000+. She now leads him in cash-on-hand with about $920,000 to his almost $700,00.
Yes, money isn't everything in politics, not by any means. Reichert has established an obviously strong rapport with his constituents based on his service as Sheriff and Congressman. Yet, he has never been known as a fierce campaigner or a prodigious personal fundraiser. Given the loss of the GOP majority and the massive number of Republican seats up for grabs due to retirement, his campaign is much less likely to receive the direct and indirect national financial support of election cycles past.
It's true the top of the Republican ticket looks exceptionally strong for Washington state. It's also true that Congressional race re-matches tend to favor the winner of the first contest. And, if ever there was a year for a Democratic candidate to sweep out a Republican incumbent in a lean-Democratic district, it was...2006.
All that said, Reichert's race has to be taken very, very seriously.
UPDATE: The cash-on-hand numbers in the original post were correct. Reichert's total raised during the quarter was not. Seems I fell for the same trick that snared David Postman.
Funny thing, when an FEC report has a "Summary Page of Receipts and Disbursements," one would expect the summary would, you know, list the total amount of receipts.
It doesn't. That's in the "Detailed Summary" section. Let us applaud the government bureaucrat that devised such a brilliant formulation. He/she has reminded me of something my survey of world religions said in college:
"The problem with stereotypes is that they are usually true."
Posted by Eric Earling at April 16, 2008 07:12 AM | Email ThisWHAT! IMO Reichert has been a 'vanilla-flavored rep' at BEST!
Burner will lite a flame under this 'empty suit' next time around, the likes of which you have never seen. Hope the movie does well Dave. :)
And don't discount George Soros aka moveon from adding to the coffers, too.
Posted by: swatter on April 16, 2008 07:25 AMEric, that may have been true - up until this year. With Obama at the top of the ticket, expect 2008 to be a much bigger wave than 2008.
Posted by: Daniel K on April 16, 2008 07:41 AMThe irony of such a statement is so rich it's painful.
Posted by: Cliff on April 16, 2008 08:24 AM"Darcy Burner's fundraising thus far this year is robust", and is there the risk that she can do to Reichert what Cantwell did to Gorton in 2000.
Dave Reichert needs to clearly state what he has accomplished for his district and the nation from 2005 to 2007, and his plans for the future.
Unless he does, and given the shifting demographics of the 8th CD, the loss of Toms and Jared, Reichert's seat is significantly at risk
Posted by: Green Lake Mark on April 16, 2008 09:36 AMAnd when it's not, are you guys going to start screaming about 'stolen elections' again? Or are you going to take your lumps because you've got a lousy candidate?
Posted by: jimg on April 16, 2008 10:58 AMFixed it for you:
And just what has Rossi done to improve his resume/qualifications in the past 41 months?
Thank-you for conceding the point by attempting to change the subject. Another fine example from you of the logical fallacy known as ignoratio elenchi.
Posted by: ewaggin on April 16, 2008 01:13 PMNow it is entirely possible that we may end up with McDermott in a skirt representing the 8th.
Posted by: russell garrard on April 16, 2008 01:22 PMGlad to help, proved my point. Dinno hasn't done squat and he's had twice as long as Darcy to pad his resume. Yet somehow he's more qualified than Darcy to be in office?
Hatred of anyone involved with a political party can be a powerful thing. But it's going to take more than your hatred for the empty suits (either empty suit, come to think of it) that you support to ever win.
And the longer that democrat circular firing squad keeps putting rounds down range into each other, the less likely it is that Burnout, who's suit is no less empty this time around than it was last, will muster up the support she needs.
Remember, every leftist outfit on the planet can give her money like they did last time.... but they can't vote. And with the abysmal efforts of the democrat-led congress (How's that "we'll end the war" thing workin' for ya?), there's little enough of a reason to strengthen the idiocy of the leftist leadership of THE government body that makes Bush look wildly popular in comparison.
Posted by: hinton on April 16, 2008 04:24 PM"Dinno[sic]," he spews, "hasn't done squat and he's had twice as long as Darcy to pad his resume. Yet somehow he's more qualified than Darcy to be in office?"
Well, aside from the fact that Burnout's unqualified to hold any office outside her condo association, it's hard to believe that anyone without a loose screw could possibly believe that SENATOR Rossi (You do remember, don't you, cato, that Rossi has ACTUALLY BEEN ELECTED TO AN OFFICE?) who chaired the State Senate Ways and Means Committee while working with Locke and implementing the Priorities of Government" budget, somehow compares favorably to a receptionist like Darci?
So, in direct answer to your rather moronic question: "Yet somehow he's more qualified than Darcy to be in office?" I say yes.... yes he is. In every conceivable way... in any and every way you can possibly think of. Much, come to think of it, like Reichert.
And I can state that while simultaneously not supporting Rossi. But some things are such no-brainers that they have to be said in the face of such monumental ignorance.
Thank you so much for asking, and do come back again soon.
Posted by: hinton on April 16, 2008 04:38 PMI'd vote for lawn furiture before her...
Posted by: flyguy2 on April 16, 2008 09:44 PMI'd vote for lawn furiture before her...
Posted by: flyguy2 on April 16, 2008 09:45 PMShe's obviously very motivated, but has tripped herself up many times by trying to appear either larger than her real accomplishments, or by appealing to angry and mostly irrational hatred of the President.
This is not the behavior of someone who wants to win a suburban congressional district race. And Democrats don't often change strategy. That's the nature of their ideology, they are right, and if you don't agree, they will shout you down. I doubt Burner will make any significant changes to her campaign. And then after another failure, she'll be done, because voters will tire of her tone.
Posted by: Jeff B. on April 17, 2008 10:16 AMDarcy would make a fine representative or Seattle - but the 8th district is not Seattle. The politics she offers is exactly they kind of thing that the residents of the area are rebelling against right now in a 1000 little ways. (We're caring a whole lot more about taxes and roads and a lot less about war and Bush bashing on the eastside these days.)
Darcy couldn't win at a time when Reichert was a first termer and hatred for "R's" was at a fever pitch. That won't be the case this time.
Reichert will get his money when the time comes. The national party won't let this seat go to the Dems without a fight and it won't cost that much comparatively to hold it versus other places they're drawing battle lines.
Posted by: johnny on April 17, 2008 11:14 AM- I have made a number of small donations to her campaign. Itemized donations as listed in the FEC reports are required for donations of $200 or greater. A large amount of her donations have been smaller ones like mine, and are characterized as "unitemized" donations. Burner received 4,859 contributions from 4,416 individuals in the first quarter. She has received 11,615 contributions from 8,817 donors who have given over the course of the current campaign.
- Not only did Burner receive more money overall, but she also received more contributions from within the district than Reichert did. About 200 of her itemized contributions came from donors in the 8th district, while a little under 180 of Reichert's are (and that includes those from the Laura Bush fundraiser). Only half of Reichert's big money donors at the Laura Bush event were from the 8th.
- And thanks for pointing out that Burner provides medical benefits to people on her campaign staff. That's not only legal and ethical, it's responsible management of employees.
Posted by: Daniel K on April 17, 2008 10:15 PMAs an example of bi-partisanship (not that partisanship is a bad thing IMO), you need look no further than the Iraq Plan which was developed working with Bush's ex-Iraq General, Paul Eaton.
Posted by: Daniel K on April 18, 2008 07:37 AMI am curious, Darcy talks about "investments" in public education, does that mean she will start to send Henry to public school?
Posted by: Smokie on April 18, 2008 07:49 AM