Muggy afternoon news digest: neigh-saying edition
A. How do we know when Brian Davis is lobbing horse apples at the world?
B. Because his lips are moving--or his campaign manager is sending out a press release. A friend in the Sixth sent us the latest which begins:
"Today, the Brian Davis for Congress campaign announces that their second quarter net fundraising was the strongest of all candidates seeking election to Minnesota's First District in 2008.
During the second quarter - April 1 to June 30 - Brian Davis for Congress had $391,601 in total receipts and a net gain in cash-on-hand of $326,273, compared to $186,584 for Congressman Walz.
Total contributions from individuals to the Davis campaign were over $268,000 with a net of $376,718 cash-on-hand. This difference in net fundraising is due to campaign expenses with the Davis campaign reporting $65,330 in disbursements compared to $251,502 for the Walz campaign. [emphasis added]"
Perhaps Davis will elect to continue that lack of spending in order to get the media and voters to ignore Walz's actual cash on hand: $1.2 million. Or the fact that Walz has hired a field staff and created the infrastructure for a contemporary campaign. The Walz campaign is doing just that: running for office, putting that money to work.
Davis? The strategy leaves us recalling the parable of the talents. We must confess that the press release does show an improvement from Davis's abbreviated term as 2007 treasurer for the Olmsted County RPM. At least he's saving his paperwork.
Sadly for Davis, the press continues to report real figures. Now that all the FEC reports are in, more stories are coming out about the First's money race that look like this item in the Twin Cities Daily Planet:
In the First Congressional District, DFL incumbent Tim Walz raised $430,000 in the second quarter, ending up with $1.2 million cash in hand. Challenger Brian Davis raised $291,000 during the quarter, and loaned his campaign $100,000.
It's the loan that won't die.
Did we mention that Tim Walz's $97,617.24 from small itemized individual contributions nearly equals Davis's loan to his own ambition?
Even if everyone in that unitemized pool gave $199, that's still 490 individuals. We're guessing there were a lot more $25, $50, or $100 dollar contributors. Davis only had $29,709.55 in small unitemized individual contributions. As a percentage of their total fundraising (including loans) for the quarter, Walz's small contributions equal 22 percent of the swag, while Davis's small donors add up to a mere 7.6 percent of his haul. Subtract Davis's loan, and it's still only 10.2 percent of his new cash for the quarter.
Walz raised $306,720.59 in individual contributions versus $268,380.55 for Davis for this quarter. For the entire cycle, Davis has raised only $395,929.05 from both large and small contributions from individuals; for Walz, it's $1,197,449.58.
What's each candidate's ratio for the cycle? We'll be looking into that. For this quarter, at least, Walz looks to win the grassroots money race as well as PAC support. Davis? Big donors and party support.
Update: The Hill notes Davis's improved fundraising, but omits cash in hand figures.
The Mankato Free Press reports in State primary races shaping up:
The primary election also will decide whether Dr. Brian Davis of Rochester, the GOP endorsed candidate, or state Sen. Dick Day of Owatonna will be the Republican facing Democratic Congressman Tim Walz of Mankato in November. . . .
. . . For every area legislative and congressional race but one, the Nov. 4 ballot will show one Republican and one Democrat with no appearances by the Independence Party, the Green Party or other third parties. Changes could still occur only if a candidate withdraws (that can happen until 5 p.m. Thursday).
The exception is the 1st Congressional District where Lake Crystal farmer and grain dealer Greg Mikkelson filed as an Independence Party challenger.
Mikkelson is a frequent candidate who has previously run as a Green Party candidate (2002), a member of the Independence Party (2004), and as a Republican (2006), never with much success at the ballot box. He didn’t top 5 percent of the vote in either general election and picked up just less than 13 percent in his primary challenge of then-Congressman Gil Gutknecht two years ago.
The Rochester Post-Bulletin notes in Day raises only $10000 for race in 2nd quarter. Notable quotables for $10,000:
Day said he decided not to compete with Davis on cash and instead will run a grassroots campaign based on meeting voters in person and using volunteers to distribute literature and make phone calls. "I decided, let's turn this thing around and let's go talk to voters," he said.
Vowing to stay in the race to win, Day said he has enough money to get through the primary election, and will bank on his name recognition and ties to southern Minnesota communities. He said he will personally campaign in every community of 800 people or more.
"This will be a good old-fashioned race to see if money carries the day," Day said, adding later, "I just changed the entire game plan and we'll see how this all works out."
Good luck with that.
Business Week says in Oil's Free Marketeers Rise Up:
Representative Timothy Walz (D-Minn.) greeted the speculators' arguments with skepticism. At one point, he noted that U.S. airlines are among those industries under serious threat from soaring energy prices, and they are calling for more oversight of oil trades. He asked Zerzan, the swaps and derivatives chief, what explanation he could offer Walz's constituents and large companies based in Minnesota, such as Northwest Airlines (NWA).
"Northwest should have gotten a swaps agreement," said Zerzan, referring to the successful use of hedging in the oil markets (BusinessWeek.com, 5/7/08) by Southwest Airlines (LUV). Because of extensive hedging contracts on its fuel purchases, Southwest is the only major U.S. carrier that has remained profitable. The airline also has much of its expected fuel use covered for 2009 at prices far below the current market rate. Walz pressed him further, pointing to the growing chorus of voices targeting speculation: "So ExxonMobil (XOM), consumers, Northwest Airlines…everybody's wrong but the commodities traders?" asked Walz. "We haven't found a better method [than trading] to determine prices," Zerzan replied.
Winona Radio reports about Walz's St. Charles Saturday grocery store stop in Walz-Mike's Grocery.
The NCAL asked Congressman Walz to present to Joe Warner Patient Advocacy Award to Howie Graff, we learn in NCAL Chair Recognized For Outstanding Federal Advocacy [pdf file].The organization represents long-term care providers. My Wonderful World notes Congressman Walz's own award from the NAtional Geographic Education Foundation in No Geography Left Behind?
The ever thoughtful Minnesota Central writes that MN-02 : Kline Protest results in 8% Cut in Federal Dollars for Minnesota.
We'll be back with an update after we read the rest of the local papers.
Will MN taxpayers have to pick up the slack for Kline's politics? What do the dem state reps from Kline's area have to say? Are constituents coming to them to get money for projects now?
Posted by: thelogicfreegop | July 17, 2008 at 07:50 AM