Okay. It's the end of the fundraising quarter, everyone who can and wants to donate needs to before 12 AM Tuesday, July 1st. We've all seen the "Orange to Blue" push around the website. My dilemma is deciding who and where. I am set on either $20 to Obama (Wouldn't be my first donation), a senate candidate, and a house candidate. Or, I could split my donation into six $10 donations, or four $15 donations. If I go with three $20 donations, I could drop Obama if we think he'll ride alright without me this quarter. (He didn't fly alright in May, and I regret not donating)
Side note: When the primary hasn't been decided yet (most notably MO-09) I picked the candidate I expect to be the nominee, usually the best fundraiser.
Senate candidates I am deciding between:
Musgrove, Hagan, and Merkley probably need the money most. I am expecting Begich to get a big haul this quarter. I am leaning towards Merkley because I hate how 75%-85% party voting scores instead of 90% party voting scores being called "moderate" voting records = Gordon Smith. Also, Merkley will be a solid progressive.
House candidates - I am picking seats I rate as toss up or lean Republican.
- New York-29 (R+5) - - - R2B
Eric Massa v. Representative Randy Kuhl
Total Raised --- $875,000 v. $609,000
Cash On Hand - $565,000 v. $365,000
CQ Politics - "Lean Republican" / Cook Political Report - "Toss Up"
(Toss Up)
- Illinois-10 (D+4) - - - R2B
Dan Seals v. Representative Mark Kirk
Total Raised --- $1,418,000 v. $2,893,000
Cash On Hand --- $745,000 v. $2,252,000
CQ Politics - "Lean Republican" / Cook Political Report - "Toss Up"
(Toss Up)
- Missouri-06 (R+5) - - - R2B
Kay Barnes v. Representative Sam Graves
Total Raised --- $1,389,000 v. $1,347,000
Cash On Hand --- $954,000 v. $1,132,000
CQ Politics - "Lean Republican" / Cook Political Report - "Lean Republican"
(Toss Up)
- Florida-24 (R+3) - - - R2B
Suzanne Kosmas v. Representative Tom Feeney
Total Raised --- $665,000 v. $967,000
Cash On Hand - $580,000 v. $549,000
CQ Politics - "Lean Republican" / Cook Political Report - "Lean Republican"
(Toss Up)
- Connecticut-04 (D+5) - - - R2B
Jim Himes v. Representative Chris Shays
Total Raised --- $1,362,000 v. $1,612,000
Cash On Hand - $1,105,000 v. $1,137,000
CQ Politics - "Lean Republican" / Cook Political Report - "Toss Up"
(Toss Up)
- Alaska-AL (R+14) - - - R2B
Ethan Berkowitz v. Representative Don Young
Total Raised --- $400,000 v. $884,000
Cash On Hand - $287,000 v. $604,000
CQ Politics - "Lean Republican" / Cook Political Report - "Toss Up"
(Toss Up)
- Michigan-09 (R+0) - - - R2B
Gary Peters v. Representative Joe Knollenberg
Total Raised --- $729,000 v. $1,833,000
Cash On Hand - $644,000 v. $1,336,000
CQ Politics - "Lean Republican" / Cook Political Report - "Lean Republican"
(Toss Up)
- Ohio-01 (R+1) - - - R2B
Steve Dreihaus v. Representative Steve Chabot
Total Raised --- $689,000 v. $1,294,000
Cash On Hand - $567,000 v. $1,132,000
CQ Politics - "Lean Republican" / Cook Political Report - "Toss Up"
(Toss Up)
- Nevada-03 (D+1) - - - R2B
Dina Titus v. Representative Jon Porter
Total Raised --- $0 v. $1,623,000
Cash On Hand - $0 v. $1,033,000
CQ Politics - "Lean Republican" / Cook Political Report - "Lean Republican"
(Toss Up)
- Colorado-04 (R+9) - - - R2B
Betsy Markey v. Representative Marilyn Musgrave
Total Raised --- $559,000 v. $1,381,000
Cash On Hand - $376,000 v. $1,014,000
CQ Politics - "Lean Republican" / Cook Political Report - "Toss Up"
(Toss Up)
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- Louisiana-04*** (R+7) - - - R2B
Paul Carmouche v. Chris Gorman
Total Raised --- $111,000 v. $368,000
Cash On Hand - $109,000 v. $329,000
CQ Politics - "Lean Republican" / Cook Political Report - "Toss Up"
(Lean Republican Retention)
- Idaho-01 (R+19) - - - R2B
Walt Minnick v. Representative Bill Sali
Total Raised --- $713,000 v. $495,000
Cash On Hand - $321,000 v. $157,000
CQ Politics - "Republican Favored" / Cook Political Report - "Safe Republican"
(Lean Republican Retention)
- Wyoming-AL*** (R+19) - - - R2B
Gary Trauner v. Mark Gordon
Total Raised --- $648,000 v. $412,000
Cash On Hand - $550,000 v. $86,000
CQ Politics - "Lean Republican" / Cook Political Report - "Safe Republican"
(Lean Republican Retention)
- California-04*** (R+11) - - - R2B
Charlie Brown v. Thomas McClintock
Total Raised --- $1,030,000 v. $1,000,000
Cash On Hand - $498,000 v. $99,000
CQ Politics - "Lean Republican" / Cook Political Report - "Likely Republican"
(Lean Republican Retention)
- New Mexico-02*** (R+6) - - - R2B
Harry Teague v. Ed Tinsley
Total Raised --- $465,000 v. $532,000
Cash On Hand - $86,000 v. $132,000
CQ Politics - "Lean Republican" / Cook Political Report - "Likely Republican"
(Lean Republican Retention)
- Ohio-02 (R+13)
Victoria Wulsin v. Representative Jean Schmitt
Total Raised --- $546,000 v. $556,000
Cash On Hand - $170,000 v. $176,000
CQ Politics - "Republican Favored" / Cook Political Report - "Lean Republican"
(Lean Republican Retention)
- Missouri-09*** (R+7)
Robert Gaw v. Bob Onder
Total Raised --- $110,000 v. $120,000
Cash On Hand - $102,000 v. $369,000
CQ Politics - "Lean Republican" / Cook Political Report - "Likely Republican"
(Lean Republican Retention)
- Alabama-02*** (R+13) - - - R2B
Bobby Bright v. Jay Love
Total Raised --- $212,000 v. $567,000
Cash On Hand - $150,000 v. $141,000
CQ Politics - "Lean Republican" / Cook Political Report - "Lean Republican"
(Lean Republican Retention)
- Arizona-03 (R+6) - - - R2B
Bob Lord v. Representative John Shadegg
Total Raised --- $832,000 v. $1,168,000
Cash On Hand - $632,000 v. $937,000
CQ Politics - "Republican Favored" / Cook Political Report - "Likely Republican"
(Lean Republican Retention)
- West Virginia-02 (R+5) - - - R2B
Anne Barth v. Representative Shelly Capito Moore
Total Raised --- $379,000 v. $1,143,000
Cash On Hand - $326,000 v. $974,000
CQ Politics - "Republican Favored" / Cook Political Report - "Likely Republican"
(Lean Republican Retention)
- Virginia-02 (R+6) - - - R2B
Glenn Nye v. Representative Thelma Drake
Total Raised --- $298,000 v. $1,179,000
Cash On Hand - $226,000 v. $615,000
CQ Politics - "Lean Republican" / Cook Political Report - "Lean Republican"
(Lean Republican Retention)
- Florida-13 (R+4) - - - R2B
Christine Jennings v. Representative Vernon Buchanan
Total Raised --- $1,119,000 v. $2,338,000
Cash On Hand --- $483,000 v. $1,123,000
CQ Politics - "Lean Republican" / Cook Political Report - "Likely Republican"
(Lean Republican Retention)
- Texas-10 (R+13)
Larry Doherty v. Representative Mike McCaul
Total Raised --- $455,000 v. $721,000
Cash On Hand - $122,000 v. $318,000
CQ Politics - "Safe Republican" / Cook Political Report - "Safe Republican"
(Lean Republican Retention)
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The worst part about donating before the end of the quarter, is we have the least idea of where the candidates are sitting financially, as opposed to 15 days from now when they will report. I also don't want to jump into some of the most expensive races my money means next to nothing. If you had $60 to spare for the cause, what would you do?