Hold on to your horses Democrats! And, your donkey's, and what every else may help keep you steady for this upcoming 2014 election because when it comes to campaign spending, the Republicans are going to be giving us a run for our money. Nicholas Confessore, of the New York Times sounds the wake up call in his alarming clanger Big G.O.P. Donors Stir Senate Runs.
In the races that will determine control of the Senate, Democrats are burning through their campaign cash defending themselves from attacks from conservative groups, as well as from their opponents. But, we are "out-fundraising" our opponents if you exclude outside money, and out polling our opponents according to one expert from the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee. (See below)
The spending on both sides underscores the critical role that outside conservative groups are playing as Republicans try to retake the Senate. In state after state, organizations like Americans for Prosperity, the nonprofit linked to the conservative billionaires David H. and Charles G. Koch, have kept Democrats on the defensive with a barrage of negative ads while establishment-backed Republican candidates raise money and navigate their way through primaries.
Democratic strategists say their candidates have faced a historic early onslaught of outside spending — about $33 million in all, most of it from Koch-linked groups — without squandering their coffers and while staying, for the most part, ahead of or even with their Republican rivals in the polls.
In the five battleground races where both candidates have reported their totals — Alaska, Colorado, Louisiana, Montana and North Carolina — Democrats reported a combined $25.2 million in cash on hand, compared with $12.1 million for Republicans. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee had $22 million, compared with $15.9 million for the Republican committee.
If one took away the outside money, the Democrats seem to have the advantage, according to Justin Barasky, a spokesperson for the DSCC, who says the Democratic Senate candidates are "outpolling and out-fund-raising their Republican opponents." He feels confident we will he resources "we need to win in November."
If I am reading this rather complicated article correctly, our big challenges come in the area of he outside groups, and "super PACs," as well as non-profit groups that do not have to disclose their donors.
This long and detailed article provides excellent background explanations of the different funding mechanisms, as well as breaks down the spending and fund-raising situations in key Senate races.
9:38 AM PT: hanks to Radiowalla for helping me think "one step ahead" on this Saturday morning, by asking how do I give directly to the candidates and not to the DSCC. Here's a first pass list of the critical Senate races so you can google the race you want and get to their official website. Ive invited campaigns and even the DSCC to put their fundraising links here if they like.
I have to do some errands, and may put some up when I come back. I'd particularly like to see Alison Crimes beat the pants off of Turkey Man Mitch McConnell in Kentucky if anyone is looking for a an idea of a worth cause.
Senators
Mark Pryor of Arkansas,
Mark Begich of Alaska,
Kay Hagan of North Carolina and
Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana,
IJohn Walsh, Montana a Democrat, spent Representative Bruce Braley of Iowa (likely Senate Candidate)Alison Lundergan Grimes, Kentucky
Michelle Nunn, Georgia
Representative Gary Peters, a Democrat running for Senate, Michigan