Howard the Duck: Dean Dodges NBC Appearance with Republican

Dem Chair Dean Ducks Last Second Joint MEET THE PRESS Appearance With GOP Chair Mehlman

The DRUDGE REPORT has learned from exclusive sources that Democrat Party Chair Howard Dean turned down Republican Party Chair Ken Mehlman’s last minute offer to appear together on NBC’s MEET THE PRESS this morning.

Moments before taping was to begin with host Tim Russert, Mehlman asked Dean outside the NBC studio’s green room: “There’s still time for us to go on together Governor.” Dean declined with a shrug of his shoulders and an uncomfortable cackle and then proceeded to walk away into the green room.

DRUDGE has learned MEET THE PRESS producers have been working to get a head to head Dean/Mehlman appearance on the program since Dean was named chair back in February. Dean and his handlers have repeatedly turned down the request. The former Vermont governor only agreed to do this week’s program if they appeared in back-to-back interviews.

Mehlman brought up Dean’s unwillingness to appear alongside him during the show: “I was hoping that Chairman Dean would be on sitting next to me this morning. Maybe we can do that on a future program. Look, he's somebody I've enjoyed getting to know. We meet in a lot of green rooms….”

Former Dem Party Chair Terry McAuliffe participated in regular head-to-head appearances with his Republican counterparts during his tenure from ‘01 to ‘05. McAuliffe went head-to-head with Republican chairmen at least five times on MEET THE PRESS alone, going up against past GOP chairs Ed Gillespie (twice), Marc Racicot (twice) and Jim Gilmore (once).

This weekend on ABC’s THIS WEEK the Democrat heads of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), Sen. Chuck Schumer, and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), Rep. Rahm Emanuel, both appeared head-to-head with their Republican committee counterparts Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Rep. Tom Reynolds.

"Howard Dean raised $1.77 million through a PAC headed by his brother, Jim Dean"

November 13, 2005

Bayh's fundraising arm is 'fueled up' for potential presidential race

By Maureen Groppe
Star Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON -- Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh is among the most prolific money raisers in the early jockeying among potential 2008 presidential candidates.

Bayh raised $1.17 million this year through a fundraising arm that will help him raise his profile and build a campaign team, according to recent disclosure reports. Some of that money paid for a public speaking consultant whose former clients include Princess Diana.

But even though Bayh collected more through his political action committee (PAC) than New York Sen. Hillary Clinton did through hers, Clinton showed why she is considered the most formidable fundraiser of the potential Democratic candidates, raising $10 million in six months for her 2006 re-election campaign.

Still, Bayh did raise more money than Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., and Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., who have had less-active exploratory campaigns.

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Former presidential candidate Howard Dean raised $1.77 million through a PAC headed by his brother, Jim Dean. Howard Dean, who has said he will not run in 2008 since becoming chairman of the Democratic National Committee, stepped down as head of his Democracy for America PAC in February.

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Bayh spent nearly $500,000 of the money he raised, about two-thirds of it on aides and consultants. That includes $11,375 to Richard Greene, a Beverly Hills speech consultant whose past clients include Princess Diana, race car driver David Coulthard, supermodel Naomi Campbell and top executives of media companies.

Bayh has been criticized for a less-than-exciting speaking style, but at least one political columnist has remarked this year that Bayh seems to have improved in that area.
Bayh also spent:

-- $52,500 on a polling firm.
-- $51,070 on fundraising consultants.

-- $214,928 on five full-time and three part-time salaried employees, including $9,474 paid to Tom Sugar, chief of staff for Bayh's Senate office.

After salaries and consultants, Bayh's next largest expense was travel. He and his aides spent more than $28,000 on airfare, hotels and other travel expenses.

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After Indiana, Bayh received the next largest amount of funds from individuals in New York ($267,000) and California ($168,600).

Bayh's noteworthy contributors include: Robert J. Fisher, chairman of Gap Inc., $5,000; Robert Kaplan, vice chairman of Goldman Sachs, $5,000; Andrew Tisch, chairman of Loews Corp., $5,000; Adam Aron, chairman and CEO of Vail Resorts, $5,000.

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Bayh's re-election fund has raised $725,004 so far this year, with nearly 60 percent of that coming from large-dollar contributors in California, New York, Maryland and Florida -- his most lucrative states.

The contributors include:

-- Actor Robert Desiderio, known recently for guest appearances on "The Sopranos," $250.

-- S. Daniel Abraham, CEO of Slimfast, $2,100.

-- Harold Ickes, former aide to President Clinton and a campaign adviser to New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, $500. (Hillary Clinton's vice-presidential candidate - Evan Byah?)

Clinton, probably the most formidable fundraiser among the potential Democratic candidates, raised $715,851 through her PAC. Most of her fundraising prowess, however, was aimed at her reelection fund.

Kerry collected $563,885, distributing some of that to Democrats in New Hampshire and to federal candidates. Edwards, who has one of the more active travel schedules among the potential 2008 candidates, raised $624,813 and spent most of it.

Feingold raised $192,498 and Biden raised $34,246 through the PACs they started this year.

Former presidential candidate Wesley Clark's PAC raised $151,517.

Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack has raised $635,000 through a different type of political action committee, which has fewer restrictions on fundraising and more on spending.

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