Desertdog
Member
This may be the year to run gun friendely candidates against unfriendelys in office. I would like to see a number of gun friendely candidates running, and maybe we can change things in DC and across the company.
Challengers rake in cash
By Alexander Bolton and Jeffrey Young
http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/041906/news1.html
New campaign-finance records show that key challengers are surpassing or matching the fundraising of incumbents this year in competitive races around the country, a sign of the gathering strength of an anti-incumbent wind that doesn’t necessarily distinguish between Republicans and Democrats.
Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.) raised less money than two opponents during the first three months of this year and barely outraised a third.
In Missouri, Sen. Jim Talent (R) has raised more money this election cycle and has more saved than his Democratic opponent, Claire McCaskill. But McCaskill has raised the same amount in total contributions ($1.22 million) collected this year (see chart).
“Almost two-thirds of Americans think the country is heading in the wrong direction. When you have that type of situation, incumbents are in danger,” said Darrell West, a professor of political science at Brown University, in Chafee’s home state.
In most cases, incumbents maintain a serious advantage in cash on hand, but the first-quarter results could be a sign of things to come.
While President Bush’s sub-40-percent approval rating has been blamed for the political woes of many lawmakers, Brown said that Chafee faces his most imminent threat from Republican primary voters upset that he has often opposed the president.
Incumbents are alarmed at their own dismal approval rating. A recent Gallup poll found that Congress has its lowest approval rating since the fall of 1994, shortly before Republicans captured the House and Senate.
In the nation’s most competitive House races, challengers have raised more money this year than Republican and Democratic incumbents alike.
Democratic challengers this year have raised more money than vulnerable GOP Reps. Rob Simmons (Conn.), Christopher Shays (Conn.) and Jim Gerlach (Pa.). And Republican opponents have raised more since January than three endangered House Democrats: Reps. Leonard Boswell (Iowa), Jim Marshall (Ga.) and John Barrow (Ga.).
In other races, the challenger has come close to matching the incumbent’s 2006 fundraising figures. That’s the case in New Mexico’s 1st District, represented by Republican Rep. Heather Wilson, who faces a challenge from state Attorney General Patricia Madrid.
Amy Walter, a House race analyst for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, noted that in five of those six races the challenger has previously faced the incumbent. Only Boswell is facing a new foe, State Sen. Jeff Lamberti (R). The experience of having run before gives the challengers a network of donors to tap for the rematch.
However, Walter said, more important than the challengers’ fundraising performance during the first part of the election year will be whether they are able to save enough money to run a viable campaign in the final months before Election Day.
Competitive Senate races
1st quarter ’06 cycle Cash on hand
ARIZONA
Sen. Jon Kyl (R) $1.77M $8.71M $7.3M
Jim Pederson (D) $2.38M $3.92M $2.72M
FLORIDA
Sen. Bill Nelson (D) $2.84M $13.06M $10.31M
Katherine Harris (R) $1.04M $3.42M $3.79M
MARYLAND
Michael Steele (R) $1.09M $2.37M $1.77M
Ben Cardin (D) $949,000 $3.59M $2.62M
MICHIGAN
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) $950,000 $8.66M $6.27M
Keith Butler $262,000 $2.22M $307,000
Michael Bouchard (R) $604,000 $1.39M $1.05M
MINNESOTA
Mark Kennedy (R) $1.16M $4.71M $3.41M
Amy Klobuchar (D) $1.27M $3.72M $2.48M
MISSOURI
Sen. Jim Talent (R) $1.22M $7.76M $5.67M
Claire McCaskill (D) $1.22M $ 2.81M $2.04M
MONTANA
Sen. Conrad Burns (R) $698,000 $5.54M $3.35M
John Morrison (D) $354,000 $1.41M $882,000
Jon Tester (D) $231,000 $697,000 $261,000
NEBRASKA
Sen. Ben Nelson (D) $805,000 $4.71M $3.22M
Don Stenberg (R) $134,000 $372,000 $34,000
Pete Ricketts (R) $108,000 $578,000 $729,000
NEW JERSEY
Sen. Robert Menendez (D) $2.52M $6.32M $6.36M
Tom Kean Jr. (R) $1.61M $2.68M $2.03M
OHIO
Sen. Mike DeWine (R) $2.32M $8.18M $5.21M
Sherrod Brown (D):* $1.26M $2.08M $2.79M
PENNSYLVANIA
Sen. Rick Santorum (R) $3.13M $16.24M $9.05M
Bob Casey Jr. (D) $2.16M $8.0M $4.54M
RHODE ISLAND
Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R) $282,000 $2.04M $1.87M
Sheldon Whitehouse (D) $534,000 $2.34M $1.81M
Stephen Laffey (R) $328,000 $1.02M $1.09M
Matt Brown (D) $259,000 $1.74M $356,000
TENNESSEE
Harold Ford Jr. (D) $1.47M $4.6M $2.27M
Bob Corker (R) $749,000 $5.46M $4.23M
Van Hilleary (R) $404,000 $1.8M $1.17M
Ed Bryant (R) $354,000 $1.77M $1.07M
WASHINGTON
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D) $1.74 M $12.53M $5.59M
Mike McGavick (R) $1.21M $2.67M $896,000
WEST VIRGINIA
Sen. Robert Byrd (D) $475,000 $3.8M $2.83M
Hiram Lewis (R) $278,000 $939,000 $291,000
John Raese (R) $139,000 $139,000 $52,000
* Federal Election Commission report unavailable. Estimate obtained from Brown campaign and previous filing. Source: Federal Election Commission reports
Competitive house races
1st quarter ’06 cycle Cash on hand
Arizona 8
Steve Huffman (R) $240,000 $240,000 $226,000
Randy Graf (R) $62,000 $131,000 $25,000
Patty Weiss (D) $174,000 $174,000 $138,000
Colorado 7
Rick O’Donnell (R) $283,000 $936,000 $686,000
Peggy Lamm (D) $162,000 $407,000 $216,000
Ed Perlmutter $185,000 $701,000 $444,000
Connecticut 2
Rep. Rob Simmons (R) $222,000 $1.35M $894,000
Joe Courtney (D) $275,000 $807,000 $674,000
Connecticut 4
Rep. Chris Shays (R) $354,000 $1.73M $1.09 M
Diane Farrell (D) $515,000 $1.09M $832,000
Florida 22
Rep. Clay Shaw (R) $693,000 $1.87M $2.06 M
Ron Klein $511,000 $1.85M $1.55 M
Georgia 8
Rep. Jim Marshall (D) $202,000 $967,000 $1.05 M
Mac Collins (R) $255,000 $954,000 $699,000
Georgia 12
Rep. John Barrow (D) $254,000 $1.27M $1.11 M
Max Burns (R) $275,000 $913,000 $682,000
Illinois 8
Rep. Melissa Bean (D) $536,000 $2.34M $1.75 M
David McSweeney (R) $146,000 $608,000 $147,000
Iowa 1
Bill Dix (R) $126,000 $505,000 $302,000
Brian Kennedy (R) $26,000 $211,000 $165,000
Mike Whalen (R) $58,000 $391,000 $130,000
Bruce Braley (D) $97,000 $487,000 $258,000
Rick Dickinson (D) $47,000 $291,000 $142,000
Iowa 3
Rep. Leonard Boswell (D) $161,000 $946,000 $745,000
Jeff Lamberti (R) $311,000 $744,000 $505,000
Kentucky 4
Rep. Geoff Davis (R) $675,000 $1.54M $1.03M
Ken Lucas (D) $391,000 $391,000 $329,000
New Mexico 1
Rep. Heather Wilson (R) $632,000 $1.96M $1.43M
Patricia Madrid (D) $612,000 $1.13M $826M
Ohio 18
Rep. Bob Ney (R) * $140,000 $1.19M $470,000
Democratic candidates’ figures not available
Pennsylvania 6
Rep. Jim Gerlach (R) $269,000 $1.72M $1.20M
Lois Murphy (D) $499,000 $1.31M $982,000
Texas 22
Tom Campbell (R) ** $139,000 $197,000 $215
Nick Lampson (D) $653,000 $2.02M $1.76M
*estimate, ** Lost to Rep. Tom DeLay in GOP primary.
Source: Federal Election Commission
Challengers rake in cash
By Alexander Bolton and Jeffrey Young
http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/041906/news1.html
New campaign-finance records show that key challengers are surpassing or matching the fundraising of incumbents this year in competitive races around the country, a sign of the gathering strength of an anti-incumbent wind that doesn’t necessarily distinguish between Republicans and Democrats.
Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.) raised less money than two opponents during the first three months of this year and barely outraised a third.
In Missouri, Sen. Jim Talent (R) has raised more money this election cycle and has more saved than his Democratic opponent, Claire McCaskill. But McCaskill has raised the same amount in total contributions ($1.22 million) collected this year (see chart).
“Almost two-thirds of Americans think the country is heading in the wrong direction. When you have that type of situation, incumbents are in danger,” said Darrell West, a professor of political science at Brown University, in Chafee’s home state.
In most cases, incumbents maintain a serious advantage in cash on hand, but the first-quarter results could be a sign of things to come.
While President Bush’s sub-40-percent approval rating has been blamed for the political woes of many lawmakers, Brown said that Chafee faces his most imminent threat from Republican primary voters upset that he has often opposed the president.
Incumbents are alarmed at their own dismal approval rating. A recent Gallup poll found that Congress has its lowest approval rating since the fall of 1994, shortly before Republicans captured the House and Senate.
In the nation’s most competitive House races, challengers have raised more money this year than Republican and Democratic incumbents alike.
Democratic challengers this year have raised more money than vulnerable GOP Reps. Rob Simmons (Conn.), Christopher Shays (Conn.) and Jim Gerlach (Pa.). And Republican opponents have raised more since January than three endangered House Democrats: Reps. Leonard Boswell (Iowa), Jim Marshall (Ga.) and John Barrow (Ga.).
In other races, the challenger has come close to matching the incumbent’s 2006 fundraising figures. That’s the case in New Mexico’s 1st District, represented by Republican Rep. Heather Wilson, who faces a challenge from state Attorney General Patricia Madrid.
Amy Walter, a House race analyst for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, noted that in five of those six races the challenger has previously faced the incumbent. Only Boswell is facing a new foe, State Sen. Jeff Lamberti (R). The experience of having run before gives the challengers a network of donors to tap for the rematch.
However, Walter said, more important than the challengers’ fundraising performance during the first part of the election year will be whether they are able to save enough money to run a viable campaign in the final months before Election Day.
Competitive Senate races
1st quarter ’06 cycle Cash on hand
ARIZONA
Sen. Jon Kyl (R) $1.77M $8.71M $7.3M
Jim Pederson (D) $2.38M $3.92M $2.72M
FLORIDA
Sen. Bill Nelson (D) $2.84M $13.06M $10.31M
Katherine Harris (R) $1.04M $3.42M $3.79M
MARYLAND
Michael Steele (R) $1.09M $2.37M $1.77M
Ben Cardin (D) $949,000 $3.59M $2.62M
MICHIGAN
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D) $950,000 $8.66M $6.27M
Keith Butler $262,000 $2.22M $307,000
Michael Bouchard (R) $604,000 $1.39M $1.05M
MINNESOTA
Mark Kennedy (R) $1.16M $4.71M $3.41M
Amy Klobuchar (D) $1.27M $3.72M $2.48M
MISSOURI
Sen. Jim Talent (R) $1.22M $7.76M $5.67M
Claire McCaskill (D) $1.22M $ 2.81M $2.04M
MONTANA
Sen. Conrad Burns (R) $698,000 $5.54M $3.35M
John Morrison (D) $354,000 $1.41M $882,000
Jon Tester (D) $231,000 $697,000 $261,000
NEBRASKA
Sen. Ben Nelson (D) $805,000 $4.71M $3.22M
Don Stenberg (R) $134,000 $372,000 $34,000
Pete Ricketts (R) $108,000 $578,000 $729,000
NEW JERSEY
Sen. Robert Menendez (D) $2.52M $6.32M $6.36M
Tom Kean Jr. (R) $1.61M $2.68M $2.03M
OHIO
Sen. Mike DeWine (R) $2.32M $8.18M $5.21M
Sherrod Brown (D):* $1.26M $2.08M $2.79M
PENNSYLVANIA
Sen. Rick Santorum (R) $3.13M $16.24M $9.05M
Bob Casey Jr. (D) $2.16M $8.0M $4.54M
RHODE ISLAND
Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R) $282,000 $2.04M $1.87M
Sheldon Whitehouse (D) $534,000 $2.34M $1.81M
Stephen Laffey (R) $328,000 $1.02M $1.09M
Matt Brown (D) $259,000 $1.74M $356,000
TENNESSEE
Harold Ford Jr. (D) $1.47M $4.6M $2.27M
Bob Corker (R) $749,000 $5.46M $4.23M
Van Hilleary (R) $404,000 $1.8M $1.17M
Ed Bryant (R) $354,000 $1.77M $1.07M
WASHINGTON
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D) $1.74 M $12.53M $5.59M
Mike McGavick (R) $1.21M $2.67M $896,000
WEST VIRGINIA
Sen. Robert Byrd (D) $475,000 $3.8M $2.83M
Hiram Lewis (R) $278,000 $939,000 $291,000
John Raese (R) $139,000 $139,000 $52,000
* Federal Election Commission report unavailable. Estimate obtained from Brown campaign and previous filing. Source: Federal Election Commission reports
Competitive house races
1st quarter ’06 cycle Cash on hand
Arizona 8
Steve Huffman (R) $240,000 $240,000 $226,000
Randy Graf (R) $62,000 $131,000 $25,000
Patty Weiss (D) $174,000 $174,000 $138,000
Colorado 7
Rick O’Donnell (R) $283,000 $936,000 $686,000
Peggy Lamm (D) $162,000 $407,000 $216,000
Ed Perlmutter $185,000 $701,000 $444,000
Connecticut 2
Rep. Rob Simmons (R) $222,000 $1.35M $894,000
Joe Courtney (D) $275,000 $807,000 $674,000
Connecticut 4
Rep. Chris Shays (R) $354,000 $1.73M $1.09 M
Diane Farrell (D) $515,000 $1.09M $832,000
Florida 22
Rep. Clay Shaw (R) $693,000 $1.87M $2.06 M
Ron Klein $511,000 $1.85M $1.55 M
Georgia 8
Rep. Jim Marshall (D) $202,000 $967,000 $1.05 M
Mac Collins (R) $255,000 $954,000 $699,000
Georgia 12
Rep. John Barrow (D) $254,000 $1.27M $1.11 M
Max Burns (R) $275,000 $913,000 $682,000
Illinois 8
Rep. Melissa Bean (D) $536,000 $2.34M $1.75 M
David McSweeney (R) $146,000 $608,000 $147,000
Iowa 1
Bill Dix (R) $126,000 $505,000 $302,000
Brian Kennedy (R) $26,000 $211,000 $165,000
Mike Whalen (R) $58,000 $391,000 $130,000
Bruce Braley (D) $97,000 $487,000 $258,000
Rick Dickinson (D) $47,000 $291,000 $142,000
Iowa 3
Rep. Leonard Boswell (D) $161,000 $946,000 $745,000
Jeff Lamberti (R) $311,000 $744,000 $505,000
Kentucky 4
Rep. Geoff Davis (R) $675,000 $1.54M $1.03M
Ken Lucas (D) $391,000 $391,000 $329,000
New Mexico 1
Rep. Heather Wilson (R) $632,000 $1.96M $1.43M
Patricia Madrid (D) $612,000 $1.13M $826M
Ohio 18
Rep. Bob Ney (R) * $140,000 $1.19M $470,000
Democratic candidates’ figures not available
Pennsylvania 6
Rep. Jim Gerlach (R) $269,000 $1.72M $1.20M
Lois Murphy (D) $499,000 $1.31M $982,000
Texas 22
Tom Campbell (R) ** $139,000 $197,000 $215
Nick Lampson (D) $653,000 $2.02M $1.76M
*estimate, ** Lost to Rep. Tom DeLay in GOP primary.
Source: Federal Election Commission