Posted on 10/22/2017 4:32:38 PM PDT by familyop
House Republicans are growing increasingly alarmed that some of their most vulnerable members aren’t doing the necessary legwork to protect themselves from an emerging Democratic tidal wave. In some of the biggest media markets, where blockbuster fundraising is a prerequisite for political survival—most notably in New York City, Los Angeles, and Houston—Republican lawmakers aren’t raising enough money to run aggressive campaigns against up-and-coming Democrats.
Of the 53 House Republicans facing competitive races, according to Cook Political Report ratings, a whopping 21 have been outraised by at least one Democratic opponent in the just-completed fundraising quarter. That’s a stunningly high number this early in the cycle, one that illustrates just how favorable the political environment is for House Democrats.
The third-quarter fundraising reports paint a gloomy picture for many Republicans. Rep. Steve Knight of California raised only $144,000 in the last three months, less than the total of two lesser-known Democratic challengers. Veteran Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen of New Jersey brought in only $154,000—just over one-third the amount of his leading Democratic rival, retired Navy helicopter pilot Mikie Sherrill. In the Houston area, Rep. John Culberson, who typically doesn’t face competitive races, raised only $172,000 in a Democratic-trending district that backed Hillary Clinton last year.
The list goes on: Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of California, under scrutiny over his unseemly ties to Russia, was outraised by a highly touted challenger and has only $600,000 in the bank. Rep. Claudia Tenney of New York saw her leading opponent raise twice as much money she did; even her Republican predecessor, former Rep. Richard Hanna, donated to the Democratic challenger. Rep. Leonard Lance of New Jersey brought in less than $200,000 in the quarter and has less than a half-million in cash on hand in a district where advertising is prohibitively expensive.
“They’re not where we want them to be. People want to see legislative movement. Donors want something done; they want tax reform done. What will affect things is if there’s progress on the president’s agenda,” said one House Republican official.
Money doesn’t always translate to victory, but the sheer number of House Republicans struggling to adequately prepare for difficult reelection campaigns—combined with the historic amount brought in by little-known Democratic candidates—points to an ominous political environment ahead for Republicans. Just as Republican voters are disillusioned with the lack of legislative accomplishments despite holding majorities in both chambers of Congress, some GOP donors are withholding their checks to protest the inactivity as well.
In addition, weak fundraising totals in the year before an election often suggest that members are thinking about heading for the exits. One senior Republican House strategist warned that if Congress can’t pass tax reform into law, a wave of retirements will soon follow.
Just this week, veteran Rep. Pat Tiberi of Ohio announced he’s resigning to join a business roundtable back in his home state. Tiberi, who is an influential member of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, is vacating a suburban seat around Columbus that could be competitive under the right circumstances. President Trump won 53 percent of the vote there in 2016, a slightly narrower percentage of the vote than Romney won in 2012.
Tiberi’s departure follows recent moves by other allies of Speaker Paul Ryan, many of whom represent competitive districts that Democrats plan to challenge. So far, 18 House Republicans have announced their retirements in this election cycle, the highest number at this stage since 2004, according to an analysis by Daily Kos. If the retirement pace continues, Democrats will find themselves with an easier pathway to winning back control of the House, since incumbency is one of the most powerful advantages Republicans hold.
The odds of a Democratic House takeover in 2018 have never looked greater this election cycle. One plugged-in House Democratic strategist, who has previously been circumspect about the party’s chances to win control of the lower chamber, put the chances of Nancy Pelosi again becoming speaker at a 7 (with 10 being the most likely). The strategist’s outlook is bolstered by a growing pile of empirical evidence, like eye-popping fundraising from the party’s top challengers, suggesting that next November is poised to be a wave election for the Democrats.
The energy con game will be running out within two or three years, too, with the increases in oil consumption in the enormous populations of formerly poor countries. We can produce more on our own soil to use less energy for transportation.
Fakestream media thinks spending on fakestream media ads is going to elect Demorats.
So the media is telling Republicans that they need to spend money on the media.
Riiiight.
Its the Dems who are falling behind raising money, this is Fake news.
The GOPE is worried that their tons of money won’t help them win races that Bannon runs conservatives that primary Mitch’s boy Rino’s.
But Bannon is also pitting Conservatives against Dems in Red states who are incumbents, maybe we pick up some Dem column Senators seat for Conservative GOP so we can get rid of the likes of Collins, Murkowski.
Really?
This is a pile of horse manure. Rats have money problems, although I am sure Soros is helping them out.
Reps. Rodney Frelinghuysen, Knight and Culberson are all Cheap Labor Express stooges. The only ones in trouble are those who sold us out.
The wave that’s coming is primary losses for incumbents who side with illegal aliens and their employers
Money is no longer the driver in politics.
House Republicans are growing increasingly alarmed that some of their most vulnerable members aren’t doing the necessary legwork to protect themselves from an emerging Democratic tidal wave.
BOL. Pure fairy tale propaganda from partisan Democrats in the media.
House Republicans are growing increasingly alarmed that some of their most vulnerable members aren’t doing the necessary legwork to protect themselves from an emerging Democratic tidal wave.
BOL. Pure fairy tale propaganda from partisan Democrats in the media.
DNC chair Peres is a lousy fundraiser, and their party’s obstructionism isn’t getting any credit for them to run on accomplishments.
Dems are still hurting with base, Bernie people blame losing on picking Hillary
Please the far left National Journal .
A hard core Left wing rag from D.C. .
It reads like the left wing writers is having a fantasy and regurgitates the same lies every two or four years .
these same liars predicting all these open house seats were going Dem like in GA and all their Fake Polls were spreading the same lie .
The stock market is booming and the economy is doing great .
What a sick Delusional bubble the Reporters at this lefty Rag in DC live in .
This is stupid. Didn’t these guys hear? Putin spent $100,000 on Facebook ads and turned that puny investment into a presidential win.
In other words, GOP candidates are ahead in fund raising in the majority of competitive races, yet somehow this is a crisis because the GOP is behind in some of the races.
The Stupid Party would have had tons of money if they would have simply enacted Trump’s agenda.
Yup. Perez is a race baiter. Unfortunately, the people whose anger he stokes are broke locusts and criminals.
DNC enters 2018 in cash panic (donors take a knee)
https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3597512/posts
So that’s Republicans in New York City, Los Angeles, and Houston along with their Democrat associates in similar cities.
Ain't that the truth, and finally.
Clinton outspent Trump 3 to 1.
Roy Moore got outspent something like 15 to 1.
Ideas are beginning to be important again, and the Left is bankrupt of good ideas.
God has blessed President Trump with stupid enemies.
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