Early reports on Monday indicated that Fred Thompson had raised over $8 million dollars for his campaign during the third quarter. This has been confirmed by the Thompson campaign.
Thompson is still running behind his closest rivals, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney, when it comes to campaign cash. Romney continues to benefit from the use of his own private funds which he channels into his campaign.
Both Ron Paul and John McCain came on strong during the third quarter. Mr. Paul raised around $5 million and so did McCain. Yet McCain is reportedly $2 million bucks in the red. With his strong showing in the third quarter, however, he could yet be a force with which to be reckoned in the long run.
The mainstream media are sure to downplay the significance of Thompson's $8 million, just as they did when he announced he had raised $3.5 million before he had even announced as a candidate. After all, Thompson's campaign funds are dwarfed by those of Giuliani and Romney.
However, one must bear in mind that Thompson only announced during the first week of September. Fully two months of the third quarter had passed before he jumped into the race. This means, of course, that the totals Giuliani and Romney have posted for the third quarter include all three months, not just one.
I believe it is fairly safe to say that it is highly doubtful that any Republican candidate has raised $8 million bucks in one month. This makes Thompson's totals all the more impressive.
Impressive, that is, until one begins to look at the totals raised by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. The Democrats have out-raised the Republicans 2-to-1 so far.
Thompson has some serious catching up to do in order to be competitive in the general election against Hillary or Obama.
But then, let's not forget to bear in mind the all-important question, how much of that money the top two Democrats are raising is 'dirty money' funded by sleazy pyramid schemes in the murky world of corrupt political fundraisers?
And even more importantly than that, when will the mainstream media begin treating Norman Hsu as the Democrats' Jack Abramoff?
Showing posts with label campaign cash. Show all posts
Showing posts with label campaign cash. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Media Bias in Reporting Thompson Fundraising
The mainstream media, relying on the skewed opinions of a few pundits with a vested interest in negative spin, have shown remarkable bias in reporting Fred Thompson's fundraising. The former U.S. Senator from Tennessee raised 3.5 million dollars in the month of June alone.
Yet Katie Couric and CBS News put a negative spin on the story, as did the pundits at Politico.com. Even Fox News reported the story with a negative slant.
Couric emphasized that Thompson did not reach the stated goal of 5 million in June. Fox pointed to supposed turmoil in the Thompson camp, leading to the failure to build on the momentum the Senator had originally exhibited. Politico said that the 3.5 million is an indication that Thompson's appeal is turning lackluster.
First, the goal of raising 5 million dollars in one month by a former Senator who has not even announced his candidacy admittedly was a lofty goal. Perhaps the rationale was to deliberately set the bar high so that everyone would try harder.
Second, the failure to reach that lofty goal is not the issue. The amount raised is the issue.
3.5 million in one month is no failure by anyone's estimation. It took Ron Paul, for example, two quarters (six months) to gather a warchest of 2.5 million in cash.
Thompson is now number four among the Republicans in total funds raised and number three in available cash, now that we know McCain has already spent most of his available funds.
Third, the thing that is entirely remarkable about these facts is that Thompson was able to accomplish this feat in only one month as compared to six months for everyone else. The pundits and talking heads of the mainstream media totally missed this point.
Fourth, it would appear that not only are the Democrats afraid of Thompson, but so is the mainstream media. Anyone who is viewed as the one candidate who can derail the Clinton-Obama bandwagon is to be viewed with fear and trembling as far as the socialists are concerned.
We think their fears are well-founded.
And thus, we can expect the media establishment and the Democrats to hurl mud and accusations at a frantic pace.
The Fox News spin is the one that is the most surprising of all. Fox pointed to grumbling among Thompson's campaign staff as an indication things are falling apart.
As it turns out, Thompson's wife, who is a political consultant and campaign expert, is the target of the staffers' grumbling. It is well-known among those who cover political campaigns that candidates' spouses are normally vilified by staffers for their intrusiveness. So this is nothing new.
The difference in Thompson's case is that the spouse is probably more qualified and skillful than 99% of the staff. Thompson's staff will either have to find a way to live with that fact, or else they will have to leave. This is the candidate's wife, and she is considered a formidable force when it comes to political strategy.
The bottom line? The story about Thompson's 'failure' at fundraising is pure spin and nothing more.
But then, what did you expect? Couric and all of the others at CBS, NBC, ABC, and CNN are in the hip-pockets of the Democrats. I suspect that Fox supports Rudy Giuliani.
Our opinion is that by the time this is all said and done, Fred Thompson will have some big surprises in store for Fox and the Democrats' mouthpieces at the other networks.
Yet Katie Couric and CBS News put a negative spin on the story, as did the pundits at Politico.com. Even Fox News reported the story with a negative slant.
Couric emphasized that Thompson did not reach the stated goal of 5 million in June. Fox pointed to supposed turmoil in the Thompson camp, leading to the failure to build on the momentum the Senator had originally exhibited. Politico said that the 3.5 million is an indication that Thompson's appeal is turning lackluster.
First, the goal of raising 5 million dollars in one month by a former Senator who has not even announced his candidacy admittedly was a lofty goal. Perhaps the rationale was to deliberately set the bar high so that everyone would try harder.
Second, the failure to reach that lofty goal is not the issue. The amount raised is the issue.
3.5 million in one month is no failure by anyone's estimation. It took Ron Paul, for example, two quarters (six months) to gather a warchest of 2.5 million in cash.
Thompson is now number four among the Republicans in total funds raised and number three in available cash, now that we know McCain has already spent most of his available funds.
Third, the thing that is entirely remarkable about these facts is that Thompson was able to accomplish this feat in only one month as compared to six months for everyone else. The pundits and talking heads of the mainstream media totally missed this point.
Fourth, it would appear that not only are the Democrats afraid of Thompson, but so is the mainstream media. Anyone who is viewed as the one candidate who can derail the Clinton-Obama bandwagon is to be viewed with fear and trembling as far as the socialists are concerned.
We think their fears are well-founded.
And thus, we can expect the media establishment and the Democrats to hurl mud and accusations at a frantic pace.
The Fox News spin is the one that is the most surprising of all. Fox pointed to grumbling among Thompson's campaign staff as an indication things are falling apart.
As it turns out, Thompson's wife, who is a political consultant and campaign expert, is the target of the staffers' grumbling. It is well-known among those who cover political campaigns that candidates' spouses are normally vilified by staffers for their intrusiveness. So this is nothing new.
The difference in Thompson's case is that the spouse is probably more qualified and skillful than 99% of the staff. Thompson's staff will either have to find a way to live with that fact, or else they will have to leave. This is the candidate's wife, and she is considered a formidable force when it comes to political strategy.
The bottom line? The story about Thompson's 'failure' at fundraising is pure spin and nothing more.
But then, what did you expect? Couric and all of the others at CBS, NBC, ABC, and CNN are in the hip-pockets of the Democrats. I suspect that Fox supports Rudy Giuliani.
Our opinion is that by the time this is all said and done, Fred Thompson will have some big surprises in store for Fox and the Democrats' mouthpieces at the other networks.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
When Elephants Fly
The GOP finds itself in unfamiliar territory during this election cycle. Fundraising by Republican candidates has lagged far behind that of the Democrats. Some sources suggest that Democrats have out-raised Republicans 10-to-1.
Normally it is the Democrats who are lagging behind in fundraising for the Presidential election.
This raises several uneasy questions for the GOP.
Is George W. Bush now so thoroughly unpopular with the electorate that a Republican will be elected to the White House in 2008 only when elephants fly?
Is the electorate, including most Republicans, terribly unhappy and unmoved by the slate of candidates put up by the Republicans so far?
Are Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama so wildly popular with the electorate in general that people are hypnotically opening their wallets and purses to empty their pockets into the coffers of the Democrats?
The obvious fact is that an unpopular President can potentially be a significant liability in an election.
Richard Nixon's standing with the public had so deteriorated in 1974 that the midterm Congressional elections that year proved to be a near-death march for the GOP.
Jimmy Carter was such a joke in American politics in 1980 that Republicans swept to power in the U.S. Senate and succeeded in electing Ronald Reagan to the White House.
And who can forget Harry Truman's dismal approval ratings that nearly cost him the Presidency in 1948 and led to his decision not to run again in 1952? Democrats suffered in Congressional elections during the 50s for the first time since 1932.
The thing that sets this election apart from some of the ones cited above is that President Bush is not running. That fact may not be enough to save the GOP from some losses, however.
It depends on how much the electorate blames Republican Senators and Congressmen for the War in Iraq.
Although the Democrats have worked feverishly to distance themselves from their own votes for the War in 2002, the fact remains that the decision to invade Afghanistan and Iraq were bipartisan decisions.
Thus, if the electorate is intent on fixing blame, it must go to BOTH Parties.
Despite widespread public disapproval of the manner in which the Bush Administration has conducted the War, voters will not necessarily hold that against GOP candidates.
The problem is that so far none of the declared candidates have energized the electorate.
Fred Thompson could change all of that. Rumors swirled that he would announce his candidacy on July 4, but this was merely a rumor. He chose that date to announce that his campaign headquarters would be in Nashville, Tennessee once he declared.
Thompson plans to announce in September, after the next Republican debate. This gives him a chance to stay above the fray and use his campaign exploratory committee to raise funds without the stringent federal regulations imposed on the fundraising of a declared candidate.
Ron Paul is another GOP candidate who could easily energize the electorate if he begins to catch on with the public. As an anti-war Republican, his views may resonate with voters who oppose the War in Iraq. Yet Paul is a dyed-in-the-wool stalwart of liberty that is entirely refreshing in modern politics.
Despite the success of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in raising campaign cash, this is very often no indication of how popular a candidate is with the electorate as a whole. It is not unusual for candidates with the most money to fizzle once the primaries are underway.
And we must remember that 48% of the electorate has an entirely negative view of Hillary Clinton. 50% say they will under no circumstances vote for her. Her negatives are higher than any Republican candidate. And with 50% of voters saying there is no way they would ever vote for her, all the money in the world will do her no good.
The same goes for Obama. He can raise money, turn heads, and attract attention like a Hollywood paparazzi magnet. Yet he barely registers 10% support among the general public.
My hunch is that neither Clinton nor Obama are nearly as popular as their campaign cash suggests.
And this means that elephants may well fly in November of 2008.
Normally it is the Democrats who are lagging behind in fundraising for the Presidential election.
This raises several uneasy questions for the GOP.
Is George W. Bush now so thoroughly unpopular with the electorate that a Republican will be elected to the White House in 2008 only when elephants fly?
Is the electorate, including most Republicans, terribly unhappy and unmoved by the slate of candidates put up by the Republicans so far?
Are Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama so wildly popular with the electorate in general that people are hypnotically opening their wallets and purses to empty their pockets into the coffers of the Democrats?
The obvious fact is that an unpopular President can potentially be a significant liability in an election.
Richard Nixon's standing with the public had so deteriorated in 1974 that the midterm Congressional elections that year proved to be a near-death march for the GOP.
Jimmy Carter was such a joke in American politics in 1980 that Republicans swept to power in the U.S. Senate and succeeded in electing Ronald Reagan to the White House.
And who can forget Harry Truman's dismal approval ratings that nearly cost him the Presidency in 1948 and led to his decision not to run again in 1952? Democrats suffered in Congressional elections during the 50s for the first time since 1932.
The thing that sets this election apart from some of the ones cited above is that President Bush is not running. That fact may not be enough to save the GOP from some losses, however.
It depends on how much the electorate blames Republican Senators and Congressmen for the War in Iraq.
Although the Democrats have worked feverishly to distance themselves from their own votes for the War in 2002, the fact remains that the decision to invade Afghanistan and Iraq were bipartisan decisions.
Thus, if the electorate is intent on fixing blame, it must go to BOTH Parties.
Despite widespread public disapproval of the manner in which the Bush Administration has conducted the War, voters will not necessarily hold that against GOP candidates.
The problem is that so far none of the declared candidates have energized the electorate.
Fred Thompson could change all of that. Rumors swirled that he would announce his candidacy on July 4, but this was merely a rumor. He chose that date to announce that his campaign headquarters would be in Nashville, Tennessee once he declared.
Thompson plans to announce in September, after the next Republican debate. This gives him a chance to stay above the fray and use his campaign exploratory committee to raise funds without the stringent federal regulations imposed on the fundraising of a declared candidate.
Ron Paul is another GOP candidate who could easily energize the electorate if he begins to catch on with the public. As an anti-war Republican, his views may resonate with voters who oppose the War in Iraq. Yet Paul is a dyed-in-the-wool stalwart of liberty that is entirely refreshing in modern politics.
Despite the success of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in raising campaign cash, this is very often no indication of how popular a candidate is with the electorate as a whole. It is not unusual for candidates with the most money to fizzle once the primaries are underway.
And we must remember that 48% of the electorate has an entirely negative view of Hillary Clinton. 50% say they will under no circumstances vote for her. Her negatives are higher than any Republican candidate. And with 50% of voters saying there is no way they would ever vote for her, all the money in the world will do her no good.
The same goes for Obama. He can raise money, turn heads, and attract attention like a Hollywood paparazzi magnet. Yet he barely registers 10% support among the general public.
My hunch is that neither Clinton nor Obama are nearly as popular as their campaign cash suggests.
And this means that elephants may well fly in November of 2008.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Jim Gilmore Drops Out of Republican Race
Washington, DC (TLS). Former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore announced today that he is dropping out of the race for the Republican Presidential nomination.
Citing money woes, Gilmore stated that there was not enough spendable cash to sustain the campaign.
Gilmore is surely to be merely the first in a string of candidates who will announce their departure. The most high-profile of these is John McCain who, despite the insistence that he will fight on, is facing his own money woes. Others who are in dire financial straits include Democrats Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich, and Republicans Tommy Thompson and Tom Tancredo.
In addition, while Democratic Senator Joe Biden has done well in the debates, he has not exactly set the woods on fire with fundraising. While we believe that Biden is a serious candidate, we look for him to decide to stay in the Senate rather than continue with a campaign that so far is appearing lackluster.
The impending entry of former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson into the race will definitely change the entire makeup of the campaign. Sources inform us that Thompson is already poised not only to be the front-runner but the top fundraiser as well, right out of the starting gate.
Republican and Independent activists with deep pockets have either already committed or will commit to giving the candidate large sums of money that will not only rival but surpass the campaign cash raised by Rudy Giuliani.
Meanwhile, Ron Paul continues with his grassroots surge, raising 2 million in the last three months, mainly from online contributions. We see his prospects continuing to improve as time progresses.
Something to think about--perhaps Ron Paul's 'ace in the hole' is his stance against the War in Iraq. Among Republicans not only is this rare but it is seen almost as anathema.
However, given the present mindset of the electorate as a whole, independents, libertarians, and disenchanted Democrats may well come flocking to the Ron Paul campaign because of the War.
And this is not to mention the fact that many conservative Republicans, though openly castigating Paul on his stance on the War, privately express delight over his emphasis on the return to core conservative values, such as small government and low taxes.
The Liberty Sphere still puts its money on Fred Thompson, although we like Duncan Hunter and Ron Paul.
But as they say in politics, it really is getting interesting out there, isn't it?
Citing money woes, Gilmore stated that there was not enough spendable cash to sustain the campaign.
Gilmore is surely to be merely the first in a string of candidates who will announce their departure. The most high-profile of these is John McCain who, despite the insistence that he will fight on, is facing his own money woes. Others who are in dire financial straits include Democrats Mike Gravel and Dennis Kucinich, and Republicans Tommy Thompson and Tom Tancredo.
In addition, while Democratic Senator Joe Biden has done well in the debates, he has not exactly set the woods on fire with fundraising. While we believe that Biden is a serious candidate, we look for him to decide to stay in the Senate rather than continue with a campaign that so far is appearing lackluster.
The impending entry of former U.S. Senator Fred Thompson into the race will definitely change the entire makeup of the campaign. Sources inform us that Thompson is already poised not only to be the front-runner but the top fundraiser as well, right out of the starting gate.
Republican and Independent activists with deep pockets have either already committed or will commit to giving the candidate large sums of money that will not only rival but surpass the campaign cash raised by Rudy Giuliani.
Meanwhile, Ron Paul continues with his grassroots surge, raising 2 million in the last three months, mainly from online contributions. We see his prospects continuing to improve as time progresses.
Something to think about--perhaps Ron Paul's 'ace in the hole' is his stance against the War in Iraq. Among Republicans not only is this rare but it is seen almost as anathema.
However, given the present mindset of the electorate as a whole, independents, libertarians, and disenchanted Democrats may well come flocking to the Ron Paul campaign because of the War.
And this is not to mention the fact that many conservative Republicans, though openly castigating Paul on his stance on the War, privately express delight over his emphasis on the return to core conservative values, such as small government and low taxes.
The Liberty Sphere still puts its money on Fred Thompson, although we like Duncan Hunter and Ron Paul.
But as they say in politics, it really is getting interesting out there, isn't it?
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
McCain Campaign Starts to Unravel
Washington, DC (TLS). All of Washington is abuzz this afternoon with the announcement of some key resignations within the John McCain campaign that could well spell the end of his bid for the Presidency.
McCain's chief political strategist and his campaign manager both announced their resignations today in a major shakeup that most insiders say bodes ill for the candidate.
The two key staff members have been McCain loyalists from the start.
One top Republican operative stated that the departure of the two key players in McCain's inner circle is earth-shattering news that could have ominous ramifications down the road for the candidate.
Stating that major shakeups such as these rarely turn out well, the operative said that it would be very easy at this point for the entire campaign to unravel. McCain's cash woes certainly play into this assessment, but without the energy, drive, and strategy offered by the two staffers who are now gone, the McCain campaign finds itself at a turning point.
Can McCain carry on without two of his most trusted and loyal operatives?
One Beltway strategist answers that question with a resounding 'no.' McCain has already suffered from his support of the disastrous immigration reform bill. And, despite the fact that the candidate is a certified war hero--a Viet Nam Vet who underwent the most gruelling and torturous experiences of being a prisoner of war--his unswerving support of the Iraq War has not won him any votes.
As Americans, unfortunately, turn their backs on the War on Terror and its tributary in Iraq, they increasingly view with suspicion politicians such as McCain who support the President's strategy almost without question.
In addition, the Senator's record on gun rights and taxes has certainly not won him any support with the Republican base.
And the worst news of all for McCain is that he has now fallen to fourth place in available campaign cash as rival Ron Paul has surged ahead into third place.
The real energy within the Republican field of candidates revolves around Fred Thompson and Ron Paul. Most politicos are increasingly regarding the McCain campaign as a lackluster attempt to recapture the energy surrounding his campaign in 2000.
That energy and momentum is simply gone this time around.
As one Republican operative stated today, 'Now that his top lieutenants are gone, look for more to leave. And look for the money to start drying up as well.'
McCain's chief political strategist and his campaign manager both announced their resignations today in a major shakeup that most insiders say bodes ill for the candidate.
The two key staff members have been McCain loyalists from the start.
One top Republican operative stated that the departure of the two key players in McCain's inner circle is earth-shattering news that could have ominous ramifications down the road for the candidate.
Stating that major shakeups such as these rarely turn out well, the operative said that it would be very easy at this point for the entire campaign to unravel. McCain's cash woes certainly play into this assessment, but without the energy, drive, and strategy offered by the two staffers who are now gone, the McCain campaign finds itself at a turning point.
Can McCain carry on without two of his most trusted and loyal operatives?
One Beltway strategist answers that question with a resounding 'no.' McCain has already suffered from his support of the disastrous immigration reform bill. And, despite the fact that the candidate is a certified war hero--a Viet Nam Vet who underwent the most gruelling and torturous experiences of being a prisoner of war--his unswerving support of the Iraq War has not won him any votes.
As Americans, unfortunately, turn their backs on the War on Terror and its tributary in Iraq, they increasingly view with suspicion politicians such as McCain who support the President's strategy almost without question.
In addition, the Senator's record on gun rights and taxes has certainly not won him any support with the Republican base.
And the worst news of all for McCain is that he has now fallen to fourth place in available campaign cash as rival Ron Paul has surged ahead into third place.
The real energy within the Republican field of candidates revolves around Fred Thompson and Ron Paul. Most politicos are increasingly regarding the McCain campaign as a lackluster attempt to recapture the energy surrounding his campaign in 2000.
That energy and momentum is simply gone this time around.
As one Republican operative stated today, 'Now that his top lieutenants are gone, look for more to leave. And look for the money to start drying up as well.'
Monday, July 09, 2007
The Ron Paul Surge
Washington, DC (TLS). With 2.5 million dollars in cash on hand, U.S. Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) finds himself at the top of the second tier Republican candidates in terms of the amount raised in campaign funds. In terms of the amount of spendable cash, Rep. Paul has moved up into the top tier, surpassing John McCain and placing third behind Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney.
McCain has raised more money overall than Dr. Paul. Yet McCain finds himself in a precarious situation of waning support, falling poll numbers, and only 2 million in cash left in the bank due to the overly-optimistic spending of the 21 million he has raised.
As McCain finds himself on the downward slide, Dr. Paul is surging ahead. Even the mainstream media has taken notice.
The Ron Paul organization has been largely a grassroots movement right from the start. The candidate has an entire volunteer army of citizens who promote Dr. Paul through blogs, emails, text messages, and other free publicity. This has enabled the candidate to run on a shoestring budget with very little overhead.
Thus, that 2.5 million he has in the bank will not be gobbled up by staff salaries, a gruelling travel schedule, or slick campaign ads on TV.
This gives the candidate the freedom to decide where he wants to focus in terms of campaign logistics and strategy.
Admittedly, having a mere 2.5 million in the bank is in all likelihood woefully inadequate in this day and age, given the nature of the 2008 campaign and its ridiculously early primaries. That all-important deadline of January 1, 2008 is moving closer and closer.
Remember, each candidate will need 100 million bucks by Jan. 1 in order to be competitive.
Even Dr. Paul recognizes that his candidacy is a long shot. But who would have thought back in March that Ron Paul would come in fourth in terms of overall fundraising among Republicans, and third in terms of available cash on hand?
Ron Paul can now be competitive with both Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani. And this has caught almost everyone by surprise.
McCain has raised more money overall than Dr. Paul. Yet McCain finds himself in a precarious situation of waning support, falling poll numbers, and only 2 million in cash left in the bank due to the overly-optimistic spending of the 21 million he has raised.
As McCain finds himself on the downward slide, Dr. Paul is surging ahead. Even the mainstream media has taken notice.
The Ron Paul organization has been largely a grassroots movement right from the start. The candidate has an entire volunteer army of citizens who promote Dr. Paul through blogs, emails, text messages, and other free publicity. This has enabled the candidate to run on a shoestring budget with very little overhead.
Thus, that 2.5 million he has in the bank will not be gobbled up by staff salaries, a gruelling travel schedule, or slick campaign ads on TV.
This gives the candidate the freedom to decide where he wants to focus in terms of campaign logistics and strategy.
Admittedly, having a mere 2.5 million in the bank is in all likelihood woefully inadequate in this day and age, given the nature of the 2008 campaign and its ridiculously early primaries. That all-important deadline of January 1, 2008 is moving closer and closer.
Remember, each candidate will need 100 million bucks by Jan. 1 in order to be competitive.
Even Dr. Paul recognizes that his candidacy is a long shot. But who would have thought back in March that Ron Paul would come in fourth in terms of overall fundraising among Republicans, and third in terms of available cash on hand?
Ron Paul can now be competitive with both Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani. And this has caught almost everyone by surprise.
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Campaign Fundraising: Who's Ahead So Far?
Washington, DC (TLS). With precious time ticking away as we draw ever closer to that important but early deadline of 1/1/08, Republican and Democratic Presidential candidates are reporting their fundraising totals for the second quarter.
Never before in a campaign has money been so vitally important this early. And it is way too early, indeed. Yet, in order to be competitive in the early 2008 primaries, each of the candidates will need at least 100 million bucks on hand.
We can thank the masterminds of both Parties for setting up this scenario, moving state primaries earlier and earlier supposedly giving their states more clout. What they may succeed in doing instead is making the electorate totally sick of politics a year ahead of the election.
Nonetheless, this is the situation we have, and we must deal with it.
So, who is ahead so far?
Republican campaign contributions are lackluster. This is due in part to a fairly unpopular President who continues to make gargantuan mistakes, all in the name of attempting to secure a positive 'legacy.' The other factor is Fred Thompson.
And this points to a much deeper problem. The present field of candidates are not catching on with the Party's base, and thus, most are holding on to their money until Fred Thompson makes his announcement.
Among the announced Republican candidates, Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, and John McCain are still the top three, although McCain's 2nd quarter totals were totally disappointing, leading the candidate to cut campaign staff. Although Romney's totals look fairly good, his 2nd quarter was not up to par with his 1st quarter totals, and the candidate loaned personal cash to his campaign. Giuliani still leads the pack with a steady and consistent stream of contributions.
Giuliani's 2nd quarter totals were approximately equal to his 1st quarter totals, bringing his grand total to over 32 million.
While the Ron Paul campaign claims it has more cash on hand than McCain, in terms of totals raised so far Dr. Paul is not in the top tier. When his 1st and 2nd quarter totals are combined he comes up with roughly 2.5 million in campaign funds.
However, Paul runs a very frugal campaign. He rarely travels to campaign on the stump, and most of his funds are raised on the Internet. Thus, the candidate can make a couple of million go a very long way, and he doesn't have to worry about overhead that eats through money faster than Michael Moore can inhale four Big Macs from Mickey D's.
Duncan Hunter and Mike Huckabee appear to be in a dead-heat with regard to funds, and the rest of the 2nd tier lags far behind.
On the Democratic side, Barack Obama beat Hillary Clinton in the 2nd quarter, raising 32.5 million. This means that he is now ahead of Hillary for the year, raising 55.7 million as compared to her 53 million.
John Edwards comes in third with a lackluster 9 million, followed by Bill Richardson with 7.2 million.
Although the money has taken on more importance than normal given the unusually early primaries, it is nonetheless common in campaigns for candidates who have the most money to lose in the actual vote counts. This would give hope to candidates such as Bill Richardson, Ron Paul, Duncan Hunter, and Mike Huckabee.
Here is a quick wrap-up of the top fundraisers so far, in order of their year-to-date totals:
REPUBLICANS
**Rudy Giuliani
**Mitt Romney
**John McCain
**Ron Paul
**Duncan Hunter, Mike Huckabee
**Sam Brownback
**Jim Gilmore
**Tom Tancredo
**Tommy Thompson
DEMOCRATS
**Barack Obama
**Hillary Clinton
**John Edwards
**Bill Richardson
**Chris Dodd
**Joe Biden
**Dennis Kucinich
**Mike Gravel
Never before in a campaign has money been so vitally important this early. And it is way too early, indeed. Yet, in order to be competitive in the early 2008 primaries, each of the candidates will need at least 100 million bucks on hand.
We can thank the masterminds of both Parties for setting up this scenario, moving state primaries earlier and earlier supposedly giving their states more clout. What they may succeed in doing instead is making the electorate totally sick of politics a year ahead of the election.
Nonetheless, this is the situation we have, and we must deal with it.
So, who is ahead so far?
Republican campaign contributions are lackluster. This is due in part to a fairly unpopular President who continues to make gargantuan mistakes, all in the name of attempting to secure a positive 'legacy.' The other factor is Fred Thompson.
And this points to a much deeper problem. The present field of candidates are not catching on with the Party's base, and thus, most are holding on to their money until Fred Thompson makes his announcement.
Among the announced Republican candidates, Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, and John McCain are still the top three, although McCain's 2nd quarter totals were totally disappointing, leading the candidate to cut campaign staff. Although Romney's totals look fairly good, his 2nd quarter was not up to par with his 1st quarter totals, and the candidate loaned personal cash to his campaign. Giuliani still leads the pack with a steady and consistent stream of contributions.
Giuliani's 2nd quarter totals were approximately equal to his 1st quarter totals, bringing his grand total to over 32 million.
While the Ron Paul campaign claims it has more cash on hand than McCain, in terms of totals raised so far Dr. Paul is not in the top tier. When his 1st and 2nd quarter totals are combined he comes up with roughly 2.5 million in campaign funds.
However, Paul runs a very frugal campaign. He rarely travels to campaign on the stump, and most of his funds are raised on the Internet. Thus, the candidate can make a couple of million go a very long way, and he doesn't have to worry about overhead that eats through money faster than Michael Moore can inhale four Big Macs from Mickey D's.
Duncan Hunter and Mike Huckabee appear to be in a dead-heat with regard to funds, and the rest of the 2nd tier lags far behind.
On the Democratic side, Barack Obama beat Hillary Clinton in the 2nd quarter, raising 32.5 million. This means that he is now ahead of Hillary for the year, raising 55.7 million as compared to her 53 million.
John Edwards comes in third with a lackluster 9 million, followed by Bill Richardson with 7.2 million.
Although the money has taken on more importance than normal given the unusually early primaries, it is nonetheless common in campaigns for candidates who have the most money to lose in the actual vote counts. This would give hope to candidates such as Bill Richardson, Ron Paul, Duncan Hunter, and Mike Huckabee.
Here is a quick wrap-up of the top fundraisers so far, in order of their year-to-date totals:
REPUBLICANS
**Rudy Giuliani
**Mitt Romney
**John McCain
**Ron Paul
**Duncan Hunter, Mike Huckabee
**Sam Brownback
**Jim Gilmore
**Tom Tancredo
**Tommy Thompson
DEMOCRATS
**Barack Obama
**Hillary Clinton
**John Edwards
**Bill Richardson
**Chris Dodd
**Joe Biden
**Dennis Kucinich
**Mike Gravel
Friday, May 11, 2007
Show Me the Money--Campaign Funds Raised So Far
Washington, DC (TLS). The Liberty Sphere has reported many times that each candidate for President will need a campaign war-chest of at least 100 million dollars by January 1, 2008 in order to mount a competitive campaign.
Let's see who has the most money thus far, in order of their rank in total funds raised:
Over 20 Million, but under 30 Million
--Hillary Rodham Clinton
--Barack Hussein Obama
--Mitt Romney
Over 10 million, but under 20 million
--Rudy Giuliani
--John Edwards
--John McCain
Over 5 million, but under 10 million
--Bill Richardson
Under 5 million
--Chris Dodd
--Joe Biden
--Sam Brownback
--Tom Tancredo
--Ron Paul
--Mike Huckabee
--Duncan Hunter
--Dennis Kucinich
--Tommy Thompson
--Jim Gilmore
--Mike Gravel
As you can see by these official rankings, the three candidates who are well on their way to raising the necessary funds by Jan. 1 are Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Hussein Obama, and Mitt Romney. Those who are lagging a bit behind but are still easily within reach are Rudy Giuliani, John Edwards, and John McCain.
It is our opinion that anyone who at this point has less than 10 million dollars on hand in campaign cash is going to have a very tough time raising the amount needed by that all-important deadline.
For example, in order for Bill Richardson to have 100 million by Jan. 1 he will have to raise at least 14 million bucks PER MONTH between now and Dec. 31, 2007. That is roughly twice as much per month as the TOTAL he has raised thus far.
By anyone's estimation that is an exceedingly tall order.
This is why with each passing day I am growing more and more pessimistic about the prospects of a viable candidacy out of anyone who has raised less than 5 million by now. This bodes ill for candidates such as Duncan Hunter, Ron Paul, and Mike Huckabee, I am sorry to say.
Yet this is not an entirely impossible scenario. If a dark horse candidate catches on with a large segment of the electorate, the campaign cash will come rolling in in fairly short order.
But the time is growing short. We can thank the almighty intellects at the helm of both Parties for this sorry state of affairs. Jan. 1 is way too early to start primaries. But the Parties all moved up their primary dates in the name of attempting to be 'the very first one.'
As much as I hate the scenario they have created with primaries taking place as early as January, this is the reality we must face. And reality dictates that in this election cycle a candidate is going to need 100 million by January 1 in order to be competitive in those early primaries.
Let's see who has the most money thus far, in order of their rank in total funds raised:
Over 20 Million, but under 30 Million
--Hillary Rodham Clinton
--Barack Hussein Obama
--Mitt Romney
Over 10 million, but under 20 million
--Rudy Giuliani
--John Edwards
--John McCain
Over 5 million, but under 10 million
--Bill Richardson
Under 5 million
--Chris Dodd
--Joe Biden
--Sam Brownback
--Tom Tancredo
--Ron Paul
--Mike Huckabee
--Duncan Hunter
--Dennis Kucinich
--Tommy Thompson
--Jim Gilmore
--Mike Gravel
As you can see by these official rankings, the three candidates who are well on their way to raising the necessary funds by Jan. 1 are Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Hussein Obama, and Mitt Romney. Those who are lagging a bit behind but are still easily within reach are Rudy Giuliani, John Edwards, and John McCain.
It is our opinion that anyone who at this point has less than 10 million dollars on hand in campaign cash is going to have a very tough time raising the amount needed by that all-important deadline.
For example, in order for Bill Richardson to have 100 million by Jan. 1 he will have to raise at least 14 million bucks PER MONTH between now and Dec. 31, 2007. That is roughly twice as much per month as the TOTAL he has raised thus far.
By anyone's estimation that is an exceedingly tall order.
This is why with each passing day I am growing more and more pessimistic about the prospects of a viable candidacy out of anyone who has raised less than 5 million by now. This bodes ill for candidates such as Duncan Hunter, Ron Paul, and Mike Huckabee, I am sorry to say.
Yet this is not an entirely impossible scenario. If a dark horse candidate catches on with a large segment of the electorate, the campaign cash will come rolling in in fairly short order.
But the time is growing short. We can thank the almighty intellects at the helm of both Parties for this sorry state of affairs. Jan. 1 is way too early to start primaries. But the Parties all moved up their primary dates in the name of attempting to be 'the very first one.'
As much as I hate the scenario they have created with primaries taking place as early as January, this is the reality we must face. And reality dictates that in this election cycle a candidate is going to need 100 million by January 1 in order to be competitive in those early primaries.
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