Jim VandeHei of the
Washington Post has the following story.
A surge in small, individual contributions is lifting Democratic campaigns this year and is helping close a Republican fundraising advantage that has existed for years in national politics, according to Federal Election Commission data. Democratic House and Senate candidates and their two major campaign committees are enjoying stronger grass-roots support than at any time since the GOP took over both chambers of Congress in the 1994 elections, according to strategists from both parties who have reviewed the most recent FEC data released this spring
http://www.washingtonpost.com
Remember when people thought Howard Dean was crazy for campaigning and pursuing, small donors in all 50 states? Now its just considered CONVENTIONAL WISDOM
The good news keeps on rolling as Jim Vandehei continues with his article.
At the same time, Republican campaign committees are stumbling. The Republican National Committee is lagging behind its totals from two years ago, though it continues to have a financial lead over the Democratic National Committee. The National Republican Senatorial Committee, headed by Sen. Elizabeth Dole (N.C.), has raised more than $50 million this election cycle -- $6 million less than its Democratic counterpart.
On the House side, the National Republican Congressional Committee remains ahead of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. But the gap is smaller than in the past, and the trends are in the Democrats' favor. The DCCC had raised 45 percent more through the end of April than it had at the same point in 2004. The NRCC, meanwhile, saw a 13 percent drop over the same period.
(emphasis mine)
I don't want to read too much into the number at this point. But notice how Harry Reid who enjoys wide spread blogger support (based on Kos' rate our leaders polls) and doesn't constantly anonymously back stab Dean, enjoys fundraising success? Now notice how Rahm Emanual who constantly attacks Dean, and Nancy Pelosi who only enjoys luke warm netroots support, is doing better but still lagging? Remember the Democrats are doing better because of small donors who are politically active. In todays progressive world that to a large extent means bloggers!
A similar story is unfolding in many competitive congressional races. In six of the 10 open House races -- in which incumbents are not running -- that the two leading nonpartisan political handicappers regard as up for grabs this fall, Democratic candidates are out-raising their GOP opponents, according to data analyzed by the nonpartisan Campaign Finance Institute.
Meanwhile, in contrast to the past few elections, Democratic incumbents in tough races are keeping pace with at-risk Republican incumbents.
Some experts see these numbers as a potential harbinger of larger shifts in the political winds.
I hope this is true! We just need to remind people that fundraising support is great, but we also need human volunteers! I started out just donating money, but I am also going to donate hours of my time each week!
Cumulatively, Republicans still have more money than Democrats, but the disparities are less stark than in recent elections. At this point in the 2003-2004 cycle -- adding up money to the national parties, the congressional campaign committees and individual candidates through March 31 -- Democrats raised 69 percent of what Republicans did. So far this cycle, Democrats are raising 85 percent of what Republicans have.
Republican National Committee officials are privately expressing concern about a slowdown in some core fundraising programs over the past few months.
(emphasis mine)
This is good news but the story also points to areas we need to work on.
We should aim to outraise the GOP! Namely we need to do a better job of raising money at the State Party level. As more
upscale professionals vote Democratic and the GOP becomes more of the party of the
white non-union working class, there is no reason we can't out fundraise them! Just focus on upscale professionals but also start regrowing unions so we don't keep getting pasted there! The
State Party Fundraisng is the area that Rahm Emanual and Howard Dean are
fighting over.
RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman, whose committee has seen a 10 percent fundraising drop, compared with 2004, said Internet fundraising has allowed Democrats to reach a new group of liberal donors and narrow the GOP's edge with individuals. But he said his party still holds a solid financial lead because of money raised by state parties.
(emphasis mine)
Money doesn't mean everything in politics but people have to be motivated in order to give.
Amy Walter, a nonpartisan political handicapper for the Cook Political Report, agreed that Republicans' problems appear to be at the grass roots. "This mirrors the problems Republicans could have with turnout," she said.
Success breeds more success!
Some of the nation's biggest companies, which typically invest more in the majority party, might start hedging their bets in the months ahead in case Democrats win back the House, according to a top Bush fundraiser, who requested anonymity.
Also keep up the good work in swing districts!
One of the biggest surprises of this campaign season is the fundraising performance of Democrats in open House and Senate races...
In recent elections, Republicans held a decisive fundraising edge in these contests. Not this time. In Arizona's 8th Congressional District, which handicappers consider among the most competitive in the nation, Democrat Gabrielle Giffords has raised almost $600,000, more than twice as much as Republican Steve Huffman.
Read the full story at the washingtonpost. It's more good news ahead of the fall elections!