The Washington Re-Post

Just as they have convinced themselves that they are going to win both houses of Congress in November and having started to pick out curtains, Democrats are now fighting between themselves about having enough money to get their voters to the polls.

Rep. Rahm Emanuel of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and Sen. Chuck Schumer of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) are facing off against Howard Dean of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).  According to the Washington Post, the congressmen are concerned that Dean is spending money too fast, leaving Democrats high and dry in November.  Further, they are concerned that he is spending money in Republican leaning districts instead of competitive districts.  [1]

Despite exceeding funding raising expectations, the DNC has only raised $74 million for this election cycle and has only about $10 million in cash on hand.  Since DNC money traditionally is spent on get out the vote efforts at election time, Democrats could be short funded. 

In contrast, the Republican National Committee have raised $142 million and have about $43 million in cash on hand, during the same period.  So approximately, at the national committee level, Republicans have raised twice as much money, spent about a third more money, and still have four times as much cash on hand.

While the DCCC and DSCC want to pick the DNC pocket to take advantage of the opportunities they perceive in November, Dean is spending money in districts and states where the Democrats will not win a seat this fall.  Further, Dean does not plan to change this behavior because this spending fulfills the pledge he made to build the party for the long term but making it a party that can compete everywhere.

Will Democratic hopes of electoral victory flame out like the Dean presidential campaign?  Perhaps not, but they are sure giving it a good shot.

[1] Thomas B. Edsall, “Democrats Are Fractured Over Strategy, Funds,” The Washington Post, 5/11/2006, A1.

Udder Nonsense (12/29/2003)

Dean RetrAction Figure (1/14/2004)

Campaign Trailing(1/30/2004)

New Direction (2/7/2005)

Image Source: Cox and Forkum

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