Dean touring Texas to help Democrats boost party coffers

Dallas Morning News ^ | June 16/Updated June 17, 2005 12:42 p.m | GROMER JEFFERS JR.

[NewMediaFan]

Howard Dean, who has created plenty of headlines bashing Republicans, brings his fiery style to Dallas today as part of a three-city fundraising swing through Texas

The tough-talking chairman of the Democratic National Committee will attend a rally at which participants will be asked to contribute $35. Later, Mr. Dean will be featured at a dinner hosted by Dallas lawyer Fred Baron, where donors will be asked to give $5,000 to $10,000.

Other events are planned for Houston and Austin.

Thus far, Mr. Dean's pointed criticism of the GOP hasn't translated into a fundraising bonanza, political analysts say.

The Federal Election Commission says the DNC raised $20.9 million from January through April and now has about $7.4 million in the bank.

By comparison, Republicans raised $44.7 million for the first quarter with their new and less controversial chairman, Ken Mehlman. They have $30.1 million stockpiled.

"They won the election and we didn't," said Texas Democratic Party Chairman Charles Soechting, who doesn't blame Mr. Dean for not raising more money...

DNC spokesman Luis Miranda said Mr. Dean has raised twice the amount of money that Democrats scored during a similar period in 2001.

"They've got the White House and both houses of Congress," he said of his counterparts. "But we're competitive."

Since becoming party chairman, Mr. Dean has rattled leaders in both parties with his stinging criticisms of Republicans.

In the span of a few weeks, he's said that Republicans "have never made an honest living in their lives" and called the GOP "pretty much a white, Christian party."

...

But Danny Diaz, spokesman for the Republican National Committee, offered some advice to Mr. Dean during his Texas visit.

"Howard Dean would be well served to not insult voters in the red states he travels to," Mr. Diaz said.

[jveritas]

Is this a joke? if it is not, I still laugh my a** off.

[L,TOWM]

I was wondering what that strange smell I noticed on my way into work. I figured it was a stockyard or fertilizer plant or something else I had'nt noticed in my home, yet.

Mystery solved.

[L,TOWM]

I was wondering what that strange smell I noticed on my way into work. I figured it was a stockyard or fertilizer plant or something else I had'nt noticed in my home, yet.

Mystery solved.

[FlingWingFlyer]

A free tin of Vermont maple syrup to each "Texan" that donates $5000.00.

[texas_mrs]

GIT A ROPE.

[thoughtomator]

Corrected headline:

Dean touring Texas to help Republicans boost party coffers

[Darkwolf377]

"Hello, white Christians, where are your guns? Boy you folks all look so much alike." Hmmm, not too impressive as a fundraising speech opener, but if it works for him...

[Go Gordon]

The Federal Election Commission says the DNC raised $20.9 million from January through April and now has about $7.4 million in the bank. By comparison, Republicans raised $44.7 million for the first quarter with their new and less controversial chairman, Ken Mehlman. They have $30.1 million stockpiled.

So if I interpret the numbers correctly, both parties spent roughly 14 milliond during the fundraising period. At the end of the day, the RATs have $7M in the bank and the Pubbies have $30M - over four times as much. Kudos to Dean, Pelosi, Durbin, Reid and apologies to other Democrats I failed to mention.

[numberonepal]

The only thing that comes to mind is "dumb as a bag of hammers".

[longtermmemmory]

Dean is not stupid.

He is creating a base for future "deaniacs".

Essentially he is trying to create a force of unpaid volunteers like the republicans.

I don't think he is after money as much as he is after feet on the pavement for 2006 and 2008 and 2010 and 2012.

[Dog Gone]

"Howard Dean would be well served to not insult voters in the red states he travels to," Mr. Diaz said.

At least not in Texas.

[Minus_The_Bear]

Sadly I think that a majority of DNC $$$ comes out of Texas

[Moorings]

Dean is just relieved, that some of the heat is off him and on Durbin. He must have felt lonely as the Dem party's #1 jacka$$ for a bit.

[Dog Gone]

No, a lot does, but Texas is third behind New York and California.

[Right_at_RiceU]

I was just protesting at Dean's fundraiser Houston. Most people walking into the very posh Warwick Hotel (right across the street from Rice) looked like they either worked with Planned Parenthood or could remember when they voted for FDR.

[GOPJ]

Here's a question for Dean:

Dems don't support the mission, the President, the War, or the Military. So what is it the dems support? They support young healthy men. In their prime. And the cute uniforms they wear. Period.

And if that's not the case, I would like someone to ask them what they do support. Because just liking healthy young men isn't enough. And it's creepy.