DNC Lags Behind GOP In Fundraising, Ended Year Almost Broke

NY Times:

For all the success that Democratic presidential candidates have had in raising money -- taking in a combined total of over $500 million in the current race -- the Republicans are beating them in one crucial area of fund-raising: the money being raised by the parties themselves.

The Democratic National Committee ended 2007 nearly flat broke, with cash of $2.9 million and debts of $2.2 million. Since then it has raised some money, paid down debt and managed to put $3.7 million in its piggy bank. This compares, however, with $25 million that the Republican National Committee has in cash on hand, after having raised $97 million since the beginning of 2007.

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Read the whole story: NY Times

Comments

[S1m0n]

Oooh, insulting domain names!

That's so......90s!

[Jeffersonian1]

For all you folks who are bitching and moaning and withholding your contributions to the DNC due to some perceived failings of the Democratic congressional leadership, I have some bad news. Both the DCCC and DSCC (the campaign operations of House and Senate Democrats, respectively) are raising unprecedented amounts of money and far outdistancing their Republican counterparts.

The success of the congressional campaign committees coupled with the enormous fundraising tallies of both Senators Clinton and Obama are significant reasons that the DNC's dollar tally does not yet match the RNC's. The most important reason for the RNC's comparative financial advantage at this time, however, is that they have an incumbent President. Yes, even as disastrous a President as George W. Bush can still raise enormous amounts of money for his party (and the 25% who still, mystifyingly, approve of his performance obviously have more disposable income than sense).

For decades the DNC was a political backwater, the place where you could find a job for that Senator's idiot nephew if you absolutely had to get him employment in DC. Then, under the Clinton administration, the DNC essentially ceased to exist as a "National Committee" and became first an arm of Bill Clinton's 1996 reelection campaign and then a mechanism solely devoted to promoting or defending the Clinton presidency.

Howard Dean has done a hell of a job both by installing a competent staff at the DNC and by restoring what should have always been its focus, strengthening the organization of the Democratic Party at every level and electing Democrats across the country.

[xrepublican]

I gave thousands to INDIVIDUAL candidates who were willing to do 'the right thing'.

But I - like so many others won't give one dime to the DNC until the Dems already in Congress start doing their job.

Don't they get it? People are PO'd beyond belief - FURIOUS - at the Dems for letting Bush get away with his BS. The people WANT IMPEACHMENT, INVESTIGATIONS and ACCOUNTABILITY. If the Dem leadership thinks the electorate supports their do-nothing- you -have-to-vote-for-us-you-don't-have-a-choice approach they're delusional..... and if they keep up the current circular firing squad, don't be surprised to see Nader take even more votes this time.

[S1m0n]

"People are PO'd beyond belief - FURIOUS - at the Dems for letting Bush get away with his BS. The people WANT IMPEACHMENT, INVESTIGATIONS and ACCOUNTABILITY."

Bravo!

That's it, exactly.

[enoughalready13]

Like many others on this blog, I will not contribute one penny to the DNC until they immediately begin impeachment hearings on Bush and Cheney.

How has this not happened already ?!?! This is a complete OUTRAGE!

The Senate has all the time in the world to ruin one ballplayer's life for using steroids, and try to impeach a former President for essentially having an affair ... but we can't find time to hold men accountable for completely fabricating a war, robbing the country of $3 trillion dollars, causing 5,000 Americans deaths, and sending an entire region into chaos. Somehow that does not make the priority list.

It's times like these that I am embarrassed to be associated with the Democrats. When can they get a backbone? When can they be a functional and coherent party? When will they start closing ranks and organizing like the Republicans do so well?

[the964kid]

Howard Dean is weak, period. If he was a stronger leader he'd figure out a way to settle this knife fight between Hillary and Obama - and use all the money they're wasting fighting each other and take aim at the Republicans. How much money has been thrown away on Dems fighting Dems?? The DNC is a joke, watch the GOP win the election in November, despite all the factors of what should have made a Dem victory almost certain. Obama or bust 2008!!

[AmandaRuth]

I want the Dems to start impeachment, and address the politicization of the Justice department, specifically the disappearing of Don Siegelman. They have called a couple of times and that is exactly what I told them. When I asked what they would do concerning Siegelman, the person on the other end literally let out an exasperated sigh. For Gods sake, if this party cannot even stand up for one of its own, why should they get my money? I can see the politicians handling policy, but this is an issue that is all about Democrats as a party and in my opinion, it is up to the Democratic Party to fight it.

[research]

Howard: I believe you are one of the GOOD dems, but since half the congress dems seems to be of the BAD dem dlc.org type, I will not donate to the DNC.

I will only donate to specific, non dlc.org dem candidates in the primaries.

Nancy, Rahm Dean, If you had impeached and stopped the damn war crime, you would be getting my donations.

[Average]

Couldn't you find a better picture of old Howard? He looks NUTS in this picture--but then...........

[drkazmd65]

Not at all surprized here - I have made 3 $25 cash donations so far this season, 2 to Kucinich (1 Presidential, 1 Congressional), and one to a non-incumbant Democrat running for my Federal Congressional seat.

The Democratic National Committee doesn't represent me, or the vast majority of actual Liberal Democrats. Why should we shovel money into their general fund when it can be better spent by our selected, individual, progressive candidates?

[samuraijack]

Caption for Dean reads "Duh, that mean lady Hillary threatened me and said I better be nice to her, duh! Duh Duh Duh
Way to go Dean, you have been an absolute reject. You are handing the keys over to a really bad driver, Hillary. She and Bill wrecked Dems chances before they left the white house.
Do you get paid in your position? Do you have any cajones, whatsoever? Stand for something or you will fall for everything.
Hillary is wrecking our chances for eight years of relative sanity.

[V4Vigilance]

Hey samuraijack,

Hate to say it but you're tripping over your sword here. Howard Dean isn't "handing the keys over" to anyone. His tenure at the DNC has been all about growing the grassroots of the Democratic Party and lessening the influence of the Beltway, GOP-lite, DLC, LIEberscum wing of the party. He's had the cajones to stand up to likes of Chuck Schumer and Rahm Emannuel, who'd just as soon see every dime of money the DNC raises go to losers like Penn, Wolfson, Schrum, Carville, etc.

Bottom Line: Go do a little research and come back when you have a clue what you're talking about.

OBAMA 08

[Seattlelite]

All the more reason the DNC better step in and bring this race to a close. People are spending all their money on their candidate, I know I've not sent them a dime and won't until this thing is OVER.

[Seattlelite]

And if Hillary is allowed to steal this election by pandering to her establishment super delegates, they will see that coffer really dry up like a desert.

[EspritDeVoltaire]

I'll be happy to send money when I know it won't be wasted attempting to elect Lady Macbeth.

[lvogt]

The failure of Dems to secure many changes since 2006 has hurt the DNC I'm sure even though it isn't a DNC function. Dean's strategy did work in 2006 with the Dems taking the House and Senate, unfortunately, without enough votes to prevent GOP obstruction. That can change in 08. Dean's plan is great because not only does it build strength and win elections in places that otherwise were lost, he forces the GOP to spend resources competing in places they didn't have to before spreading out their resources. Go Howard.

[Bushgirlsgonewild]

.

Well, the RNC is finally as nearly financially broke as it is morally bankrupt.

Not that those republicans in charge of the finances didn't help things along by stealing from their own people.

YEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

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