4th Quarter Fundraising Flops
We told you the good news, spotlighting the cash kings of the last quarter. Now, for the bad news, the candidates who fell short of expectations:
Rep. John Spratt (D-SC): The budget chair raised just $77K in the 4th quarter, a low total for such a prominent post. He holds a district Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) won by 7 points, and GOPers are excited about his challenger, state Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R). Mulvaney didn't have a hot quarter either, raising a little over $50K and lending himself $75K. But the long-time incumbent has been the subject of retirement rumors, and such a paltry effort isn't going to make those go away.
Rep. William Delahunt (D-MA): Who wants to bet that MA Dems started stockpiling cash when AG Martha Coakley (D) lost to Sen.-elect Scott Brown (R)? That would be a good thing for Delahunt, who managed to raise just $31K last quarter, and who has only raised $55K so far this cycle. He still has $568K left over from earlier years, but he could face ex-Treas. Joe Malone (R), a tougher contender than he's faced in a long time. The NRCC, meanwhile, is suggesting he may retire instead of run for another term.
Rep. Bill Young (R-FL): Talk about retirement rumors. Young will be 80 shortly after election day, and after 20 terms in Congress he may be ready to hang them up. Young raised just $1K -- not a typo -- over the last 3 months. His rival, state Sen. Charlie Justice (D), has $90K in the bank. Both will need to raise more to advertise in the pricey Tampa market.
Reps. Frank Kratovil (D-MD), Harry Teague (D-NM) and Gerry Connolly (D-VA): All 3 Dem freshmen were outraised by their GOP counterparts last quarter. Kratovil faces a tough rematch in an environment more favorable to his GOP foe. Teague will run against ex-Rep. Steve Pearce (R), who wants his old seat back. And Connolly faces wealthy businessman Keith Fimian (R) in another rematch from last time out.
NRCC Young Guns: Though some did very well, the NRCC's roster of up-and-coming all-stars has more than a few slackers on it. Ex-Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta (R) raised just $61K, his 2nd straight poor showing against Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH). Corning Mayor Tom Reed (R) pulled in just $86K against the very aggressive Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY). And physician Scott DesJarlais (R), an early favorite against Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-TN), raised a paltry $27K over the last 3 months.
One DCCC flak pointed out that, of the 41 candidates in the top tier of the Young Guns program, 16 raised less than atty Grier Raggio (D), the long-shot candidate mounting a challenge to NRCC chair Pete Sessions. Every promising candidate who gets swamped by their Dem opponents will either turn to the NRCC for help or lose. At the moment, the NRCC doesn't have much help to give.