That leftover war chest would have at least given Tinklenberg a head start on the money hunt for 2010, but most of it’s since been spent. Last month the campaign cut two $125,000 checks to the DCCC. At the end of March, Tinklenberg’s campaign coffers were down to roughly $180,000.
Tinklenberg acknowledges that the campaign could have done a more effective job with advertising and that get-out-the-vote efforts in Anoka and Wright counties were insufficient. He’s been getting an earful from DFL operatives about what the campaign could have done better as he contemplates another run.
"They are willing to be brutally honest and that’s what we need," he says. "There’s no room left for being naïve. This is a tough district, and we know we have to have the very best approach if we were to decide to do it again."
Tinklenberg says he will make the call by July. "I think if someone’s going to run an effective campaign they would need to start by the beginning of the third quarter of this year and start raising money aggressively," he says.
If he was going to run again I would think the smart thing would have been to hold on to the money. I don't like the thoughts of turning the money back to the DCCC and then trying to get it back from them. Something just doesn't sit right with me on that.
I also don't like the idea of waiting until the third quarter to start raising money aggressively. I think we start right now on this. Bachmann put up a $300k quarter and I'm sure there is plenty more where that came from.
So what does all of this mean:
The DFL and the DCCC are recruiting other candidates
Nancy Schumaker, chair of the DFL in the Sixth Congressional District, says three possible candidates have emerged for the post, but she’s not offering names. "I do not have permission to release their names," she says. "Right now it’s just conversations."
Mentioned by DFL insiders is State Sen. and Assistant Majority Leader Tarryl Clark. However, no comments have been made by the Clark camp.
The DCCC maintains that whoever ultimately emerges as the party’s candidate, it’s eager to wage a vigorous campaign against Bachmann.
"Instead of addressing the needs of the people she represents, the Congresswoman focuses her efforts on promoting far right-wing ideology and pursuing extremist rhetoric," says Gabby Adler, Midwest Regional Press Secretary for the DCCC, in a statement to MnIndy.
"The people of the Sixth District are fed up with Congresswoman Bachmann, and we expect a strong challenger to emerge who will reflect the voters’ values and fight to protect jobs, reduce home foreclosures and promote local economic growth by promoting small business development."
My thoughts are that we encourage our strongest possible candidate to get into this race. Again, (at the expense of sounding like a broken record) I've already started a MN-06 Dem Nominee Fund. But it's important that we make a good strategic play in this race and that means we need a nominee that will come well-funded. We are more likely to get a good strong candidate if they know they already have money sitting there ready to be used.
Thoughts?
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