Raising money for Republicans must be a scam artist's dream, whether you're talking about Newt Gingrich getting millions from Sheldon Adelson to wage a hopeless presidential campaign or you're talking about Karl Rove's exceptional talent at convincing wealthy GOP donors to part with their cash.
The latest:
The Republican outside-spending group American Crossroads raised $5.2 million in March, marking a sharp uptick in fundraising for the super PAC that largely defined the GOP air war during the last presidential election.
Crossroads stayed quiet during the 2013 off year, and its early midterm fundraising reports showed a steep drop-off in support from major donors. Republicans attributed that to fatigue and frustration among GOP financial benefactors upset about the outcome of the 2012 elections.
But now, the flow of money to Rove's outfit is surging, leaving it with $6.4 million in cash at the end of the March reporting period. According to American Crossroads, the reason for the influx of cash is a "rise in enthusiasm among our donors" due to the perception that there is a good chance "to win a Republican majority in the Senate."
That sounds like bad news for Democrats, but let's review the highlights from Rove's 2012 track record, when American Crossroads was saying the same thing:
• Connie Mack (FL-Sen, more than $4 million)
• Denny Rehberg (MT-Sen, almost $5 million)
• Heather Wilson (NM-Sen, almost $500,000)
• Tommy Thompson (WI-Sen, more than $7 million)
• George Allen (VA-Sen, more than $11 million)
• Rick Berg (ND-Sen, almost $2 million)
• Josh Mandel (OH-Sen, more than $6 million)
Each one of those candidates lost. Well over $30 million, down the drain—minus fees to Rove and his favorite consultants, of course. The reasons for that go beyond Rove, but the best thing you could say about his impact is that he was irrelevant. Republican donors might as well have given their money to a clown like John Bolton for all the good their funding of Rove did them, yet they are throwing money Rove's way again.
Actually, speaking of John Bolton:
Ambassador John Bolton’s PACs Raise $1.85 Million
Moral of the story: It's a great time to be a GOP grifter.