Markey Banks Big After Health Care Vote
Rep. Betsy Markey (D-CO) is widely seen as one of the most vulnerable Dems in the nation this year, but she's going to have the money to defend her record.
Markey will report having raised $505K during the first quarter, her campaign told the Daily Coloradoan this weekend. That would be a strong performance for any candidate.
What makes it more impressive is that she raised $355K between March 21 and the end of the month, after she voted for health care reform. In total, 3,700 of the 4,300 people who gave money to Markey's campaign in the last quarter gave after the vote.
Markey holds a district Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) won in '08, and ex-AK Gov. Sarah Palin (R) said her PAC would make Markey a target this year. Markey used Palin's threat to raise more money, according to a campaign spokesperson.
The health care debate was a tide that lifted all fundraising boats. The RNC raised well over $1.5M in online contributions following the debate; sources said the DNC pulled in $2M and the DCCC raised another $2M. Candidates on both sides of the debate pulled in hundreds of thousands after the vote passed by a narrow 219-212 margin.
It even helped Markey's likely rival this fall, state Rep. Cory Gardner (R). Gardner raised $75K of his own after Markey voted in favor of the bill.
More fundraising updates later this afternoon when we do our daily roundup.
Join the Discussion
The National Journal Group has the right (but not the obligation) to monitor the comments and to remove any materials it deems inappropriate.
Comments powered by Disqus