Posted on 11/04/2010 2:42:06 PM PDT by bwc2221
I just received this e-mail:
Dear Supporter,
Election night, after the ten counties in my district had reported their votes, I led Bob Etheridge by 2,100 votes. (That number is crucial because under North Carolina law Congressman Etheridge is not entitled to an ‘automatic recount’ if he trails by more than 1% – or 1,888 votes.)
Then, yesterday afternoon – unexpectedly – the vote totals changed. The State Board of Elections reported my lead had dropped to 1,600 votes. Two hours later Bob Etheridge announced he intended to call for a recount.
As a result, last night my campaign began hiring attorneys – eleven attorneys in all. One in each county to monitor each recount and an attorney to work with the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
Right now, our best estimate of the minimum cost we face is $50,000. But, of course, my campaign spent every penny we had before the election.
Yesterday, we appealed to the National Republican Congressional Committee for support, asking if they could contribute to help pay the costs of this recount. Their answer, unfortunately, was, No – that we would have to raise the money to pay for the recount ourselves. I was afraid that would be their answer. Months ago, I went to Washington and asked the National Republican Congressional Committee and many conservative leaders to help my campaign. Many conservative groups – like the Susan B. Anthony List, Concerned Women of America, Freedom Works, and Sarah Palin’s Sarah PAC all helped, but the NRCC declined. Later, they did support other campaigns in North Carolina – which, unfortunately, lost – but we never received their support. In fact, their spokesman told the press “that the campaign wasn’t ready for prime time” – which actually made it even harder for us to raise money. So, I am doubtful we will get support from the NRCC to help with the expense of the recount.
Right now, I lead Bob Etheridge by 1,600 votes. That lead should hold up. But we can’t take anything for granted. We must leave no stone unturned to insure a fair recount. We cannot allow the kind of mishap that happened in Minnesota – when Al Franken was elected – to repeat itself in North Carolina.
This morning my campaign manager set up a special fund – Renee Ellmers for Congress Recount Fund - to pay for the recount. I never dreamed I’d be asking you for another donation two days after the election – but I need to raise $50,000 ‘yesterday.’ The maximum you may give is $2,400. Each contribution – whatever the amount, whether it’s $25, $250, or $500 – is crucial and will be deeply appreciated. Could you send a donation and mail it today? Or, better still, click here, to give on my website.
I apologize for asking for another gift so soon – but I am sure you understand.
As ever, thank you and best wishes.
Renee Ellmers
Can you copy the ping list from the bottom of my profile and make the ping? I’m on my iPhone and can’t do it but want everyone to see this ASAP. Thanks
Please. The NRCC meant exactly what it said, no more, no less. Theirs may be a disputable or disagreeable conclusionm, but it just gets ridiculous to say they want the Rat to win, etc.
Ellmers had very little chance to win until Etheridge collared that young man on video. She’s worked hard; I supported her financially and will do so again.
But think about it: every time someone such as yourself says “don’t donate to the NRCC” and THEN TURNS AROUND AND COMPLAINS when the NRCC can’t pony up to every single race in America . . . that’s gets kinda dumb.
Of course we will be seeing more direct support of candidates. That’s great! But that takes away from what used to be donated to the party. So, again, let’s take care of business, not sit around throwing punches at the NRCC for not being Moneybags all the while we’re not giving them our money.
Go Renee Ellmers!
So if an automatic recall is triggered why do you have to pay for it it should come under the elections division budget if in fact you are forced into an auto recall.
The whole don’t donate money to the RNC stuff also needs to stop.
The GOTV efforts are often funded by the party who has the infrastructure in place, not the individual candidates, and the party needs money to run them effectively.
ping
They need attorneys to supervise the recount to make sure there are no shenanigans.
ping
Damn...check out Gore from 100 pounds ago...
bttt
I made up my mind NOT to contribute to the NRCC when the Reps in the Senate and Congress sat on their fat asses instead of raising the Obama birth certificate issue. That told me that something inside the Republican establishment stinks to the high heavens.
sure
Your argument sounds plausible, but the GOP establishment types have a record of throwing conservative candidates under the bus. For example, when Pat Toomey ran for Senate in 2004, George W. Bush (admittedly by tradition) supported incumbent Arlen Specter in the primary. (Specter returned the favor by warning Bush about his judicial nominee picks.)
When Andy Harris won his 2008 primary against Wayne Gilchrest, Gilchrest pulled a “scuzzyfava” and supported Frank Kratovil. When conservative Brent Schundler ran for governor of New Jersey, his primary opponent supported the Democrat after losing to Schundler.
And here we have Ellmer, beating the odds, and the NRCC, seeing that the victory they thought impossible is within her grasp, won’t help fund her defense against Cheaties Etheridge. And you’re wondering why people aren’t sending money to GOP establishment funding organs? Screw ‘em!
A Republican must win by more than the “margin of lawyer” (Mark Steyn) to win the actual election. There is no bare majority for a Republican.
Oh, I have no doubt that the national party has been more skeptical of challengers than the grassroots.
But let’s not get start throwing around accusations that they want Rats to win! Of course they don’t. But, yes, they do often see the path to winning somewhat differently than maybe we see it.
Every organization and PAC has to prioritize its spending, just like individuals do. Even you and I look at what we can give to campaigns and distribute it according to what we think is most important or most effective.
All I’m saying is that is all the NRSC is doing. It’s not nefarious! And they don’t want Rats to win any more than we do!
In the future, they are going to be even more chary with which candidates they help, because millions and millions of donations are going to bypass them and go directly to candidates or other PACs, such as Palin’s.
NO, I'm not wondering about this!
That's my point: I'm wondering why people are complaining that the GOP is not funding every candidate and every issue to the desired level when, in fact, people are not sending money to the GOP to help them fund those things!
Yes, many people have decided to fund candidates and individual PACs directly. That’s great!
But then people have to stop complaining when the GOP doesn’t have the money to fund candidates and issues the way we would like them to.
Oh I see thank you-
I’m in the 4th but will send her some.
To NRCC, Remember Renee
bttt
Thank you!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.