Pure Horserace: Still Fundraiser-In-Chief
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.
By Vaughn Ververs