(Fundraing numbers ... all numbers are from Federal Elections Commission Database. Just plug in the candidate's name to search for their filings. - promoted by ryan)
This is the first of many fundraising diaries focusing on the 2008 cycle. Since this blog is concerned about Louisiana, we will only be commenting on the Louisiana Congressional delegation's fundraising. Let's take a look at each Member one by one, starting with LA-01.
LA-01
Rep. "Bobby" Jindal (R) Raised: $40 (although his FEC report says $4,259, of which $4,219 was a tax refund) Spent: $10,876 CoH*: $18,764
Since he's running for Governor, it's natural that he has not focused on fundraising for his Congressional seat. However, an interesting expenditure shows up here - $3,960 to the Bellwether Consulting Group on 4/27/07. Everyone and their mama knew that "Bobby" was running for Governor this year right after he lost to Blanco in '03. So I wonder what he was paying for - advice on his Congressional race in '08, or advice on his Governor's race this year? Obviously, using federal election funds for a state election is illegal. Will the Jindal campaign release a statement on what that $3,960 was for?
Gilda Werner Reed, Candidate for LA-01, (D) Raised: $23,239 Spent: $20,128 CoH*: $3,111
This is, I think, the most successful fundraising quarter in LA-01 by a Democrat running for that seat in recent memory. Gilda's got a great story to tell, and it would surprise me if she didn't take off in terms of fundraising soon. She reminds me of another grassroots candidate - Eric Massa of NY-29. After his first fundraising quarter in '06, he had only raised roughly $25k, and spent $20k. After that, his fundraising took off, thanks to the netroots, and John Kerry's Iraq War Veteran fundraising push.
LA-02
Rep. William Jefferson (D) Raised: $25,740 Spent: $7,910 CoH*: $30,300
I am actually surprised here. Not by the lack of fundraising by Rep. Jefferson, due to his pending legal troubles with the federal government, but by the fact that he has not used his campaign funds to pay his legal fees, like so many Republicans have done - Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, Rep. Tom DeLay, to name but two.
LA-03
Rep. Charlie Melancon (D) Raised: $273,789 Spent: $50,914 CoH*: $516,652
This is a good quarter for the Congressman, and he is well on his way to raising the $2 million necessary to defend this seat if a credible Republican challenger pops up.
LA-04
Rep. Jim McCrery (R) Raised: $424,354 Spent: $106,351 CoH*: $947,488
No wonder that McCrery is raising boatloads of dough despite not having faced serious opposition in his recent re-election challenges. He blew through $2.2 million on his re-election campaign in '06, when his closest challenger spent $11k! And that challenger received 17% of the vote after spending only $11k! To be fair, there were two other challengers, one of whom spent $87k, but that person was a Republican, who received 12% of the vote. The other candidate, a Democrat, received 13% of the vote. If McCrery ever gets a serious challenger, one who can raise about $1 million, he'll have a fight on his hands.
LA-05
Rep. Rodney Alexander (R) Raised: $155,385 Spent: $68,975 CoH*: $106,580
Rep. Alexander is easily the most hated Republican amongst the Democrats in Louisiana, after he pulled the ole switcheroo in the waning hours of filing in 2004. If he wants to win next year, he better start raising more money, as he has some serious fence-mending to do, especially with the sexual harassment lawsuit pending against him, which is sure to become an issue in the campaign next year.
LA-06
Rep. Richard Baker (R) Raised: $156,825 Spent: $89,805 CoH*: $133,479
Rep. Baker cruised to re-election last year, after dropping $1.4 million on the race, while facing insignificant opposition - a libertarian party candidate, and no Democrat stepped forward to oppose him. Hopefully, that will change, especially since these fundraising numbers are not scary. They show a weakened Republican Member, being forced to spend half of what he raised in the cycle.
LA-07
Rep. Charles Boustany (R) Raised: $246,233 Spent: $46,229 CoH*: $314,392
Rep. Boustany is easily the second most vulnerable Republican in Louisiana's delegation, which is why he raises so much. He spent $1.7 million to fend off a spirited challenge from Mike Stagg, who posts here on a near weekly basis. If a well-funded Democratic candidate can step forward to challenge Boustany, he can be defeated. Will one step forward?
