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1

Well, the DNC/DCCC/DSCC might be able to talk some of the unopposed democrats to give up some of their war chests, but it is unrealistic to expect to get all of it, it what money they get will come with strings attached.

Our own Jim McDermott, for example, is for all practical purposes unopposed. And he probably has surplus money in his campaign coffers that probably looks like an easy target, no? But he's still being hounded by the Republican lawsuits (you've written about it in The Stranger and slogged about it several times), and is constantly being bled for legal fees. So he might be persuaded to give up some money, but he'll need to keep some on hand. Likewise, I'm sure there are lots of other "unopposed" Dems around the country who have legitimate need to hold on to at least some of their war chests.

And while we might hope they'll give up the cash out of the spirit of party loyalty, that isn't how it works. It works like this: "I'll give you some of my excess campaign money if you support me to be the head of xyz commission/support my favorite pet legislation/support more pork for my district."

It would be great if some of these candidates give up some cash to help more needy Dems, but I'd hate to see them start off their newly won majority mired in all sorts of back-room deals.

Posted by SDA in SEA | October 19, 2006 12:40 PM
2

In reality there's way more cash in Blue hands than there is in Red hands. The burn rate by Reds resembles their "fiscal discipline" restraint - e.g. we're talking dot com burn on the Red side. And that's just to keep from being slaughtered.

Posted by Will in Seattle | October 19, 2006 4:55 PM
3

What the person reading open secrets failed to read was the more important number for John Kerry, cash on hand. He has raised about $8 million in 2006, but he has already given that to candidates. He only has about $140,000 left.

Way to make a story out of nothing. I would be curious if they added up the other money the same way, by looking at money raised rather than cash on hand.

Posted by Read the whole thing | October 19, 2006 6:27 PM
4

The dems need a blowout vote in their favor to counter the diebold vote flipping and voter suppression of the republicans to have a chance of majorities in the house.

Posted by neo-realist | October 19, 2006 8:20 PM

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