Random Fundraising Observations

I’m breaking down my coverage of the Congressional October Quarterly Reports into three segments. This first one looks at Districts 1, 3, and 5 where I think the incumbent will be reelected easily. Now that doesn’t mean there are not nuggets of info to be found in these reports.

I will follow with the 4th and 2nd Districts shortly. Each deserve their own post/

Iowa’s 5th District Race

Congressman Steve King
Raised this Period: $191,689.27
Current Cash on Hand: $351,239.55

Challenger Ron Hubler
Raised this Period: $95,235.42
Current Cash on Hand: $64,654.06

What we should take away from this.

First, Hubler doesn’t have a chance. King does a good job of working his base and traveling the district, King’s money advantage and name ID plus the size of the district make it nearly impossible for Hubler to dethrone King.

If you are a fan of King, you should be encouraged by the fact that King is having his best fundraising year by a huge margin. In 2002 (the year he was elected) King raised just under $650k, in his 04 campaign he raised just under $540k, in 2006 he raised just over $612k. In 2008 with a month or so to go King has raised $862,337.09. I guess the argument that he can’t raise money needs to be put to rest.

Iowa’s 3rd District Race

Congressman Leonard Boswell
Raised this Period: $133,045.34
Current Cash on Hand: $325,757.93

Challenger Kim Schmett
Raised this Period: $56,294.35
Current Cash on Hand: $25,357.72

What we should take away from this.

Well while Boswell was down with yet another mystery sickness, it looks like he was still able to call his special interest groups and ask for money. Boswell took in over $98,000 from special interest groups this quarter.

This race isn’t close. My good friend John Deeth said recently that “Kim Schmett looks like an abandoned backup plan, positioned for a serious race if Ed Fallon had knocked off Leonard Boswell in the Democratic primary.” I couldn’t agree more. Shortly after Boswell won his reelection Schmett’s fundraiser bailed as did his campaign manager. What Republican’s failed to realize is that the advantage that the Dem primary provided them wasn’t the fact that Ed Fallon might knock off the Boz, it was that the primary forced Boswell to spend a ton of money. If a serious Republican would have stepped up early in 2007 and started running and raising money the challenger might be on equal footing money wise.

Iowa’s 1st District Race

Congressman Bruce Braley
Raised this Period: $184,854.12
Current Cash on Hand: $402,586.60

Challenger David Hartsuch
Raised this Period: $25,163.00
Current Cash on Hand: $7,391.01

What we should take away from this.

Hartsuch was never able to get his campaign off the ground and Braley has proven to be a good fundraiser (thanks trial lawyers!). Braley has raised almost a million bucks, but only has $400k in the bank against a challenger who hasn’t raised mush over $40k for his campaign. Sure he has given a bunch to the DCCC and IDP, but 600K is more than King used to raise for a cycle.