Pure Horserace: Still Fundraiser-In-Chief

President Bush Helps Depleted GOP Coffers

(CBS)  CBS News White House correspondent Mark Knoller reports President Bush helped House Republicans to raise an estimated $6.2 million at a fund-raising dinner last night. And, boy, how it was needed. After losing control of Congress, the National Republican Congressional Committee began the 2008 campaign cycle $15 million in debt.

Last night's event put the arm on business supporters by coinciding with the NRCC's annual Republican Business Summit. Those attending the daylong gathering heard a speech on the economic outlook from administration Budget Director Rob Portman and then got to mix-and-mingle with Republicans on the tax-writing House Ways & Means Committee.

A ticket to the business summit and the dinner cost each supporter $1,250.

It was the third political fund-raiser of the year for the president. He helped Republican governors raise more than $10 million in February, and raised $2.1 million for Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell earlier this month.

During the 2006 campaign cycle, President Bush did 89 political fund-raisers that generated $189,565,000.

It’s a good bet he'll top that number before the '08 vote.


But There's Plenty Of Competition: Brace yourselves for a flood of figures over the next month as presidential campaigns begin to flaunt their first-quarter fund-raising prowess — or try to spin away the lack of it. March 31 marks the end of the quarter, but those who have established federal campaign committees have a couple more weeks before their filings are due at the Federal Election Commission.

Still, look for those with something to crow about to release their figures earlier. Former FEC Commissioner Michael Toner has been among those who've said that several candidates could well raise more than $100 million by the time the primary season begins — nearly a $25 million-a-quarter pace.

Every campaign downplays expectations in hopes of a better-than-expected splash come filing time. But even so, look for some surprises over the next few weeks. Someone's going to win the "money primary" in terms of expectations. Any guesses who?


Looks Aren't Everything But They Count For Something: Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden got into trouble after describing Barack Obama as "clean," but now its Obama's own awkward praise that is raising a few eyebrows. At a campaign stop in Iowa last weekend, Obama described intraparty rival John Edwards as "cute," according to inside-the-Beltway newspaper The Hill.

But the context of the remark is also curious: Obama said he envisioned Iowa caucus-goers thinking to themselves "I want to wait and hear what John Edwards has to say; he's kind of good-looking." Perhaps Obama was making a subtle dig at Edwards' reputation as a slick Southern trial lawyer. Or maybe he just wanted Iowa voters to remember that picture of himself in a bathing suit.


Not All The Action Is In 2008: OK, so most of it is — but there are a couple of interesting campaigns shaping up for 2007. Incumbent governors in Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi are up for re-election this year. Haley Barbour in Mississippi is considered a safe bet for a second term, but both Gov. Ernie Fletcher and Gov. Kathleen Blanco are facing fierce battles within their own parties even to be re-nominated.

Most of the action of late has been in Louisiana, where former Sen. John Breaux has made some noises about running, putting fellow Democrat Blanco on the spot. The result has been a intricate dance in which Breaux seems to be trying to force the embattled governor to give up her own campaign. Many Democrats fear Blanco would be defeated by Republican Rep. Bobby Jindal and view Breaux as their best chance to hold the seat.

Republicans, it seems, feel much the same way. Louisiana's Republican Party has released a new TV ad attacking Breaux. Among other charges, the ad states, "John Breaux says he might run for governor, but you won't find him in Louisiana. Breaux legally changed his citizenship to Maryland. Breaux gave up his Louisiana citizenship, signed this document giving it up — under penalty of perjury."

Leave it to Louisiana to add some spice to this off-year election.

[randalds]

I never seen a baby come from someones BUTT before, have you?

Posted by demkicker at 10:06 AM : Mar 18, 2007


Yes actually and several of them post here like Agnim, siningrick, liberman, processor and of course you. They'll be just like family to you since you have the same birth experience. Sort of like a family reunion! You know, where you go to meet women.

[randalds]

Posted by demkicker at 09:58 AM : Mar 18, 2007

Thank you for proving my point that Bush's support is down to his base, the very rich who make money off from him and the very very very stupid who just don't know any better. Are you rich? No? Well I guess that just leaves one other option. Get into your pick-up truck and drive to your cabin or house trailer and go back to sucking down too many beers, beating your wife, thumping the bible and molesting your daughters. Leave the rest of this to the thinking adults. Thank you.

[forthepeaple]

HAVE BEEN TELLING ALL OF YOU TO GO AND READ THE FACTS TRUE FACTS ABOUT IRAQ AND IRAN..HOW MUCH LONGER TO I HAVE TO KEEP POSTING THE SAME THING UNTIL YOU ALL READ IT..go to www.scoop.co.nz go to search tab and put in PENTAGON WHISTLE-BLOWER IRAQ and read it..it is sad but true and until you americans wake up and smell the s/h/i/t/ that your government has been telling you for CENTURIES.....
I was once proud to be american and proud to say i i'm a vet,now i just want out.You all in congress and capital hill and white house should be working for america and the americans that elected you to protect us,that isn't the case and i know why. I have been looking and found something that all america has forgotton.Who said this statement: If the personal freedoms of all americans by the Constitution and bill of right are Inhibiting the Government ability to (Govern)that meant control, the people of united states of america..Than we Should look to Limit those GUARANTEES #2.The united states Government CAN'T BE so fixed on our desires to preserve the RIGHTS of ORDINARY AMERICANS #3.I can do any ********* thing i want,I'm president of the united states and you dont forget that.....who am I..... so you all have been following your orders well i want you all to know that i hold all of you accountable for the murders of thousends of americans that have died and wounded in a war we have no buisness being in,

[demkicker]

This is for all of you dems that think you know everything. First of all, dems are the real criminals, they over tax the movers of america (Reps) and channel it to people who do nothing for this country, like 90 percent of the welfair line, or pour it on the special intrest groups who only pander to the "do nothing class". And we can't forget about the "queer" factor. How can we take that serious? They keep forgetting that marriage is for family and pro creation. I never seen a baby come from someones BUTT before, have you? Dems are truly the scum of the earth and need to be deported to Iran. And for the concept of a Clinton surpluss of tax revenue. We were over taxed by a not for profit government. Interesting.
So I say to ALL members of the left: BITE ME AND ROT IN HELL!!!!

[demkicker]

This is for all of you dems that think you know everything. First of all, dems are the real criminals, they over tax the movers of america (Reps) and channel it to people who do nothing for this country, like 90 percent of the welfair line, or pour it on the special intrest groups who only pander to the "do nothing class". And we can't forget about the "queer" factor. How can we take that serious? They keep forgetting that marriage is for family and pro creation. I never seen a baby come from someones BUTT before, have you? Dems are truly the scum of the earth and need to be deported to Iran. And for the concept of a Clinton surpluss of tax revenue. We were over taxed by a not for profit government. Interesting.
So I say to ALL members of the left: BITE ME AND ROT IN HELL!!!!

[randalds]

If you are a demoncrats,traitor liberal or enemie of your Country. America will send you
a bill.
Posted by j02281 at 07:24 PM : Mar 17, 2007

Bush already did. It's a multi-trillion dollar national debt he ran up by funnelling our money (a surplus when he took power), our children's money, our grand-children's money and our great grand-children's money into the back accounts of his ruling upper-class, elite friends in the pharmaceutical, defense and big oil industries.

How can you be so stupid? He waved a bible and a flag at you and screwed you in the as*s at the same time and you still thank him? The only people in America who should pay this massive bill are the morons who still support this charlatan. Pay your own bill idiot and don't send one to me or anyone else who saw this con game coming.

[randalds]

Posted by omded at 02:41 AM : Mar 18, 2007

LOL! They thought they voted for Christ the last time when they voted for their new messiah George W. Bush. I mean that's how he was sold to them, as the God's representative here on earth who was going to make all of their sick dreams come true. Stop abortion, load the Supreme Court with bible-thumpers, teach only creationism in school and require all Americans to be Christians (and only "their" kind of Christian at that). Funny how none of it happened? Could it be that their false idol has feet of clay after all? Or perhaps that he's one of the "false Prophets" they've always heard about? Or maybe they just ran, at flat out speed, into the wall between church and state? Maybe they'll just have to accept that American is NOT a Christian nation, but rather a nation for all people? Naw, they'll never be able to get that concept into their pea sized brains.

[randalds]

Anyone else noticing how much older the as*shole Bush looks lately? Lots more grey hair, drawn face, etc. Maybe what little conscience he has is finally getting to him? Maybe he's finally realizing that Uncles Dicky Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld lied to him and they made millions of dollars off his stupidity and are leaving him holding the sh*it, with blood covered hands. I would never threaten to kill the president (because it is a crime after all), but there's nothing in the law that stops me from hoping there realization that maybe he's been ****ked too leads to a really bad stroke in the bas*****.

Hey Georgie! You're going to go down in history as the worst American president ever and one of the worst leaders of a major power ever. All because you believed your daddy's friends and followed their advice. What a ****king idiot you are!

[omded]

gfox67,

I've always wondered why Christian Republicans don't just vote for Jesus as a write-in candidate? I'll bet he'd come down from Heaven to take the job! Do you people have a lack of faith or something? General Pace is nothing more than G.W. is--a false god, and the scriptures all say you'd better not put false gods and Idles in front of the Real Thing! Now tell the Big JC you're sorry, do some pennance, and don't forget to take a sharp pencil or pen with you to the polls in 2008!

[omded]

Hey J02281,
I know who you really are. You're Karl Rove, and you shouldn't be posting on public websites when you're drunk. It could hurt your Boss, The Traitor-In-Chief.