30% Drop In RNC Fundraising Under Steele

According to the AP:

The Republican National Committee will report raising $5.1 million during February, Michael Steele's rocky first month as the GOP's party chairman.

That's according to figures obtained by The Associated Press.

While the RNC took in $13.2 million in January, I think the best apples-to-apples comparison would be to measure last month to February 2007, the same period after the 2006 federal elections:

Feb 2009: $5.1 million (-29%)
Jan 2009: $13.2 million (+26%)
            
Feb 2007: $7.2 million
Jan 2007: $10.5 million

So, while the RNC saw a 25 percent increase in January 2009 fundraising, compared to January 2007, its February 2009 fundraising was a 30 percent decrease compared to February 2007.

Of course, Steele was elected chairman on January 30, 2009, so he was responsible for all of its February fundraising. Not a good sign for his longevity.

Mark Nickolas is the Managing Editor of Political Base, and this story was from his original post, "30% Drop In RNC Fundraising Under Steele."

 

Follow Mark Nickolas on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mnickolas

Comments

[pons1595]

03:25 PM on 03/19/2009

It seems Steele's attempt to tap into the money-lade­n Hip-hop community has failed.

"Suicidal Tendencies
Suicidal Tendencies
Two-Sided Politics
I'm not anti-socie­ty, society's anti-me
I'm not anti-relig­ion, religion is anti-me
I'm not anti-tradi­tion, tradition is anti-me
I'm not anti-anyth­ing, I just wanna be free

"Fascist state, no freedom
Unless you control yourself
Use self expression­, lose your freedom
You're undesirabl­e, you go straight to jail

"Kill someone, in a war
Get a medal, you're a hero
Protect yourself in every day war
You're undesirabl­e you go straight to jail

"I'm not anti-Reaga­n, Reagan's anti-me
I'm not anti-gover­nment, government­'s anti-me
I'm not anti-polit­ics, politics is anti-me
I'm not anti-anyth­ing, I just wannna be free

"Innocent, never guilty
High class lawyer, you are rich
If you're poor must be guilty
Even if innocent you go straight to jail"

by Suicidal Tendencies

[BLinCincinnati]

12:30 PM on 03/19/2009

Actually, if you want to compare apples to apples you need to go further, just as a business would.

If a business has an increase of 5% in a same month comparisio­n from the previous year, then suddenly they have a 2% loss, that's actually a bigger loss, because they should have had business at the higher 5% level.

Based on the increase from Jan to Jan they should have raised a Feb 09 total of $9.05 million, but they actually game in 43% lower.

[realpolitic]

11:41 AM on 03/19/2009

Perhaps the RNC will ask for TARP funds.

[jsgaetano]

10:35 AM on 03/19/2009

The GOP reminds me of a really horrible restaurant who is blaming the waiter for the terrible junk coming out of the kitchen.

[NOLAMoCity]

10:32 AM on 03/19/2009

My theory is that Steele has absolutely nothing to do with the ebb and flow of RNC fundraisin­g. Steele is not running for anything. The problem with the RNC is the RNC. They have no cohesive message, a radio talk show host as a leader (who doesn't represent anybody), low overall approval ratings, and little more than opposition to the Obama administra­tion. They party offers the same outdated ideas that Americans rejected in the last election. When Howard Dean was DNC Chair, the job was made easier by Bush's unpopulari­ty, the Iraq war, the failing economy, and the overwhelmi­ng signs that the Republican party was clueless about what average Americans were experienci­ng. I don't think anybody will be able to r3vive the Re3publica­n party at this point.

[IsaacKuo]

10:07 AM on 03/19/2009

Dubya needs to come out say Steele is "doing a heck of a job".

[eva belle]

09:10 AM on 03/19/2009

But the way they write about it on POLITICO, you can think that the $5.1 million is such a massive haul. Naaat!