These guys are pathetic.
We already reported that prospective Walz challenger St. Rep. Randy Demmer raised just $17k in the 3rd Quarter. Now the Star Tribune is reporting that St. Sen. Dick Day raised $40k. To put these numbers in perspective, St. Sen. Terri Bonoff, who is running in the 3rd CD, raised $88.5k, or more than double Day’s total for the whole quarter, in just ten days.
Quite simply, these FEC Reports indicate that Demmer and Day are not credible candidates. In a normal year, an successful challenge to an incumbent Congressman costs upwards of $1 million. It would take Day six years to raise that much money at his current rate.
Rochester physician Brian Davis raised $81k, a number that would be semi-respectable for a second-tier House race, but is pretty feeble for a race that the GOP wants to pretend is one of their top pickup opportunities.
Congressman Walz, on the other hand, raised $311k and has over $700k cash on hand.
This race just dropped into the bottom half of the second tier of House races in the country. Walz is now a clear favorite for reelection.
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To be fair, it might be six years to raise that at his “current rate,” but this is also not election season for CD1.
I’m sorry, but credible candidates for Congress all across the country (and here in Minnesota) are raising far, far more than Day or Demmer.
Face it, in this brave new world, its always election season.
After watching my party lose the majority by focusing
on fundraising and attempts to purchase re-election by raiding the public treasury — imagine my surprise in seeing the Democrats beginning to make the same mistake.
If you continue to worship at a golden cross, don’t expect to be in the majority too long. Ideas win elections. Not money. Despite what the political hack crowd (of both parties) thinks.
I wonder if Day’s fundraising could be improved by some creative events. Like, oh, I don’t know, a golf tournament.
Damn! That’s right! He’s running because he doesn’t care for golf!
“I don’t have a lot of hobbies. I’m not a golf player. I get up early in the morning. I like politics so I figured, hey, let’s take a shot at it.”
I can feel the flames coming now from the hardcore Dems on here, but the fact of the matter is, Walz IS beatable. Tough, given that he’s a damn impressive campaigner and the current political environment, but possible. But he certainly won’t go down to these clowns.
But take heart, 1st CD Republicans, you’re not the only ones with this problem. When the hell is a real DFL candidate for Senate going to step up?
Zack,
Your post is pretty funny because out of the four candidates, Day has already raised three times what Walz raised in 2005, the year before he went on to defeat Gil Gutknecht. There is still another quarter left in this off year and more than a year before the election. Keep scoffing my friend. I hope you all take the seat for granted.
Chris,
Dick Day is no Tim Walz and 2008 will not be 2006 for Republicans. Your comparison is absurd.
In addition, Gutknecht was not seen as vulnerable and Walz at this point in the cycle was still perceived as little more than the sacrificial lamb for the DFL in CD1. The race wasn’t even on the radar. If Republicans want to continually put Walz as one of their top targets then the race needs to generate the money to justify that claim. It hasn’t. If Gutknecht had only won by 6% in 2004 then I’m pretty damn sure a lot more attention would have been paid to his race in 2006 than there was, meaning a lot more money coming in for his challenger.
Look nationally at fundraising totals for challengers in top tier races and you’ll see that the four-pack just doesn’t measure, especially the “experience” candidates of Day and Demmer.
Zack,
Take the seat for granted. That’s my advice for you. Nevermind that Day already has raised over $150k this year (more than three times what Walz raised in ‘05). Just take the seat for granted. That’s the best thing that could happen.
Tim Walz raising over $300K for the 3rd Quarter is quite impressive when you consider he was away from the scene for 2 weeks straight during the recess with the Flooding that ripped through our area.
Just over the weekend, Tim held 2 Town Hall meetings on the War in Iraq in Mankato and Rochester that were open to the public and well attended. He plans more throughout the coming months on issues that affect us all.
Tim is doing a damn fine job here in the 1st CD. Despite the unwillingness of Bush to work with Congress, things are getting done. Tim has been visible, accessible, asking constituents for their feedback so he can take their voice back to D.C., meeting with various groups, etc.
Tim serves on 3 major Committees, plus several sub-committees, is President of the Freshman Class of Democratic Congressman, plus serves on a non-partisan committee regarding China. The man has a full work load, yet makes time for the people in the 1st CD when he is home on the weekends.
The GOP 4 pack running to oppose Tim will have an uphill battle. They all will paint Tim as “too Liberal and out of touch for the 1st CD”. Tim is one of the more Conservative Democrats I know. His ideals resemble more of the ideals that the old GOP of the 50’s and 60’s used to stand for before the NeoCons took over in the early 90’s. Funny how that works??
If Randy Demmer and Dick Day believe they have what it takes to unseat Tim, let them put on a challange. The voters in the 1st CD have now seen what it means to be “represented” and they are liking what they are seeing, and they are contributing.
Chris,
I understand why you give that particulary piece of advice, because its the only way you are going to win this race. Unfortunatley for you, Tim Walz is not taking the seat for granted - he’s got $700k in the bank.
When Tim Walz started running for Congress back in 2005, he had nothing. AS he traveled the District during that time, people were getting to know him, and began to contribute.
My husband met Tim Walz in January of 2005 and knew then he was for real and was going to defeat Gil Gutknecht. I met Tim months later and felt the same way. Here was a passionate man, honest, transparent, a no B.S. kind of guy. I felt then and all throughout 2006 that Gil was going to be put in the hot seat. The GOP made the big mistake of not seeing that this teacher, retired Sgt.Major, could pose a credible challange to Gil. The MNGOP and National Party exudeded arrogance that the 1st CD would remain in GOP hands. Boy were they proven wrong!!
Now we are back into an election cycle that has 4 GOP challangers for the GOP nomination. With the work Tim has been doing since his swearing in an open and transparent manner, what will the GOP come up with???
Zach,
Since your mentioning poor fundraising by congressional candidates, I was wondering if you wanted to comment on what Bachmann’s opposition has been able to RAISE (not donate) so far????
:) I’m willing to be intellectually honest and say that CD1 will be incredibly difficult for the GOP to reclaim…….can you liekwise be honest about the DFL’s chances in the 6th? 
:) I won’t hold my breath!!!
kathy,
Tim Walz didn’t take time off from politics to be with flood victims. He has a campaign staff and if you look at his report, he hired at least three different fundraising consultants. He’s a politician, Kathy, not a saint.
Sorry Chris. You can spin this any way you want.
The fact remains that staff are paid to be the eyes, ears, and voice wether a Rep. or Senator is present at Fundraisers, meetings, etc, or not. The flooding was a traumatic event in this area and Tim’s being there was of the utmost importance. Fundraising was the least of his concerns at that particular time.
kathy,
They are paid campaign staff - not official House staff (who would be his eyes and ears in the district) and he also hired three consultants to do fundraising for him. To say that fundraising was the least of his concerns at that particular time is, frankly, naive. Why did he hire three fundraising consultants if he wasn’t concerned about fundraising?
Is Tim the only one who has a fundraising staff? He was not concerned about wether or not money was being contributed while he focused his attention on doing all that he could when the floods hit in August. Most of his staff switched their attentions from their duties to assist Flood victims along with Tim.
The Gipper -
The candidate who will beat Michele Bachmann, El Tinklenberg, did not enter the race until October 1. I cannot judge his fundraising abilities until January, when the next round of FEC Reports come out.
I will say, and I have said before, that CD 6 is a very tough district for DFLers to win. The ONLY reason why we have a shot there this cycle is that the incumbent is crazy and we’ve got a great challenger in Tinklenberg.
Crazy to liberals. Adored by conservatives. And seen as attractive by non-politicos.
A pretty good formula for the 6th!!!
By the way, current odds are running against Tink for getting the nod………..apparently he doesn’t satiate the appetite of red meat salivating liberal caucus goers
C’mon, do you really think the DFL will give their crowning endorsement to a conservative preacher who opposes abortion and is against gay marriage??? My friend, Hubert Humphrey isn’t on the ballot (see Al Franken) and a fellow conservative democrat in the mold of Carter is missing as well (see Hillary Clinton). The GOP will have another poor performance, but to the annoyance of many liberals…..Bachmann will win, and win big!!!
If you choose to respond, please try and save yourself the appearance of a pathetic partisan prizm analysis……and rather opt for poignant relevant banter.
Tim Walz has open town hall forums? Whoa, what’s that about? Listening sessions with his constituents? As in, he’s interested in hearing what they have to say and what they are concerned about??? I. Am. Amazed. Amazed, I tell you.
In CD2, we have John “The Phantom” Kline, whose only town hall forum of which I’ve ever been aware (and attended) was carefully controlled by his dozens of paid “eyes and ears.”
May not matter, though. Word is that Chris “I promoted the legislation that resulted in Hannah Montana ticket scalping” Gerlach is poised to relieve The Colonel.
Meanwhile, Tim Walz has been the only hope CD2 has had for a voice in the House. President of the freshman class of Reps. No small thing for the teacher from Mankato. Bush Republicans go ballistic at competence. It scares them. A lot. And it should.
John Kline is running!!! John Kline will win!!! Next story…..
Partisan dreams aside…..the only real congressional races in the state of MN will be the Senate race and CD#3 — — barring any tragedies or retirements!!! The rest of the races could get competitive at best…….that being said, the winners/losers are for all intents and pruposes forgone.
Gipper-
saying that Kline and BAchman have already got their races rapped up is quite naive, and wrong headed. Both of them will have srong challenges and could potentially be unseated, as could Rep. Walz should a stong rival come out of the pack of GOP.it was at this time last cycle that the only competitve seat would be the 6th, well that turned out to be a flop and the old Gil lost to a STUNNING upset to Walz, a race that was no where on the radar for the GOP or DFL, the point is that no one has these races locked up until the last vote is cast, predicting otherwise is foolish and irresponsible.
Sarvi could do some serious damage by attacking Kline’s abysmal record on veterans benefits and his extreme indifference to talking to his constituents. All El has to do to win is act normally. That would be a huge change for that district. With a strong “get the vote out” effort and a moderate position the 6th is a very vulnerable district. The evangelical right will stay home in ‘08 and even the most conservative republican will tire of being represented by Minnesota’s version of Katherine Harris. ‘08 will not be decided with the GOP mantra of God, Guns and Gays. People are aching for real leadership on a variety of issues that are way over the heads of empty suits like Bachmann and Kline.
For the 6th CD to go Blue, whoever the DFL endoresed candidate is, needs to focus on Bachmann’s performance, voting record, and stay focused on the issues.
It will be hard for Bachmann to debate on terms not her own and in front of those who disagree with her. The fact that she has been pretty much AWOL in the 6th since taking office shows that she is nervous facing her constituents outside of her comfort zone.
The 6th CD Race will be an interesting one at best.
Keep drinking the Kool-Aid…….but not too much, because your going to need to save some for Nov. 08 if you really think Kline and Bachmann will lose :)
As I was surfing the net, I can across several tidbits where Michele Bachmann has her undies in a bundle because people are protesting outside her Congressional offices in Woodbury and Stillwater about her SCHIP vote as well as the Ad running. She pissed about that and wants it off the air.
Then in several 6th CD newpapers, LTE are not being kind to her. Bachmann even goes so far as to recycle an Editorial in the Star-Tribune regarding her vote in response to an email that was published on blogs all over the net…http://liberalinthelandofconservative.blogspot.com/2007/10/recycled-crap-is-this-best-you-can-do.html
Thenn these LTEs from the Strib…http://www.startribune.com/letters/story/1486509.html
AS Bachmann makes more stupid mistakes and gets all huffy about them, voters will eventually see the need to unseat her. How long will she be allowed to carry on this way??
Are people in the 6th CD that blind or inept in thier ability to see through her thin veneer???
i believe Michelle bachmann raised the same aswalz….is Tinklenberg pathetic too?
only lefty looons write LTE to the strib..they are meaningless
A Guest Editorial by Tim Walz regarding SCHIP that isn worth reading…http://www.startribune.com/562/story/1491526.html
Tim goes on to say that Michele Bachmann’s Strib piece was “overblown and inaccurate”. Tim goes on to set the record straight and outright asks that Bachmann vote to do the right thing.
Beacause they raised just about the same amount of money during the 3rd Quarter, here is where they differ on the SCHIP issue…Both presented Editorials to the Strib.
Bachmann: “But some want to move SCHIP in the wrong direction. Under the bill passed by Congress and vetoed by the president, SCHIP dollars could be used to cover childless adults and more-affluent families — in some cases, households earning up to $83,000 per year. It also changes current law to make it easier for illegal immigrants to get SCHIP funds.”
Walz: “Some have expressed concerns that, under this program, wealthy parents will enroll their children in SCHIP instead of providing them with private health insurance. But if these concerns were well-founded, then private insurance companies would be leading the charge against an expansion of SCHIP. Instead, they are among its strongest supporters.”
Walz: “What about the claim that SCHIP will provide health insurance to illegal immigrants? That is completely false. No illegal immigrants are covered by the bill, and any claim to the contrary is simply disingenuous.”
Bachmann: ” Congressional Budget Office study shows that more than 77 percent of children affected by this expansion already have personal, private health insurance. So why create an incentive that pushes kids out of private insurance into a government-run program, rather than focusing on low-income, uninsured children?”
Walz: “The Congressional Budget Office estimates that it would take an additional $14 billion to keep SCHIP operating at its current levels for the next five years. The fact that President Bush has proposed only $5 billion in additional funding for a program that provides health insurance to America’s poorest children reflects how shamefully misguided his priorities are.”
Bachmann: “And what are the taxpayers getting in return? According to the CBO, the bill will lead to only 800,000 eligible-but-unenrolled children being enrolled in SCHIP by 2012. The sad fact is that it would be cheaper to give each of these kids $72,000 than it would be to enact this bill, and it would probably show healthier results.”
Walz: “Under SCHIP’s public-private partnership, private health-care plans work with individual states to cover uninsured children. That is why this legislation has been endorsed by America’s Health Insurance Plans, the American Medical Association and the American Hospital Association. In other words, SCHIP is as good for America’s health-care industry as it is for keeping America’s kids healthy.”
AS I read both Editorials, Michele Bachmann is coming from the narrower GOP Talking Points POV, making claims, but does not present hard evidence.
Tim Walz, on the other hand, sees the big picture from all angles. Thus he does provides a broader opinion as to how this Bill will benifit America’s Children. A win-win situation.