Texas Insider Report: Washington D.C. Congressional end-of-the-year campaign finance reports were due this week and are already providing clues about the shape of the 2012 election landscape. Several initial Federal Election Commission filings reveal more than a few House members begin the year surprisingly short on cash even for the 1rst quarter of the 2-year election cycle.
Others are cash-flush stockpiling money in anticipation of possible opportunities for higher office.
The Senate picture is a little hazier largely because reports are just trickling in. But one thing is clear: Several of the senators most frequently cited as potential retirees will continue to be the subject of speculation because of their light fundraising.
New maps no money
Some House members who are widely assumed to be at risk in the upcoming round of redistricting begin the cycle with empty pockets. Their paltry cash on hand sums mean they will need to ramp up their fundraising if they hope to remain competitive in the newly drawn districts.
For instance Michigan Democratic Rep. Gary Peters could find his Oakland County-area district merged with the neighboring seat held by Rep. Sander Levin top Democrat on the powerful and fundraising-friendly Ways and Means Committee. The only problem: Peters has just $88000 remaining in his war chest after a competitive 2010 reelection race.
In Iowa another Democrat Rep. Leonard Boswell is also short on cash with just $65000 on hand. Thats a problem because theres a chance he will be drawn into the same district as GOP Rep. Tom Latham who has stockpiled more than $590000 and is almost certain to benefit from his close
relationship with House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). Boswell who also faces the threat of a potential primary from former Iowa first lady Christie Vilsack has sought to ramp up his fundraising since the start of the new year and in early January held a Des Moines fundraiser headlined by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa).
A few other notable line items from the end-of-the-year reports: Rep. Mark Critz (D-Pa.) who is widely seen as a potential target of a GOP-led remap has less than $9000 in the bank and is more than $45000 in debt. Louisiana Rep. Jeff Landry who could be drawn into the same district as fellow GOP Rep. Charles Boustany has just $58000 in his campaign account and is $82000 in debt.
Retirement Alert
Some senior lawmakers barely lifted a finger to fundraise during the year-end period fanning speculation that theyre considering stepping down at the end of their term.
Their weak numbers are likely to catch the attention of party leaders who typically ask long-serving members to declare their intentions early in the cycle to allow the party lead time to recruit candidates to run in those seats.
Among New York Democrats Rep. Gary Ackerman who has held his Queens-area seat for 14 terms took in $924 while Rep. Louise Slaughter the 13-term former Rules Committee chairwoman raised just $320. Rep. Dale Kildee (D-Mich.) who is entering his 18th term was even less aggressive: He raised $1.42 according to his FEC report.
A handful of House Republicans posted equally sluggish totals. Jerry Lewis of California the third-longest-serving House GOP-er took in less than $1700. Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland entering his 18th year in the House outdid Lewis: He didnt raise a penny.
On the Senate side Democrats nerves must be calmed by the healthy campaign finance reports of New Mexicos Jeff Bingaman and Wisconsins Herb Kohl. A retirement by either would immediately upgrade Republican chances in those states. While both have been tight-lipped on their 2012
plans the self-sufficient Kohl loaned himself $1 million last quarter and Bingaman hauled in more than $215000 during the final three months a sign even the low-key senior senator is ramping up his preparations earlier than usual.
Democratic hand-wringing will undoubtedly continue over Virginia Sen. Jim Webbs slow start but the first-term senator still has more in the bank than Hawaiis 86-year-old Democratic Sen. Daniel Akaka who among all 2012 Senate candidates posted the lowest cash-on-hand total: just over $66000.
The Money-Bombers
The most prolific fundraisers proved that they can rake in cash even during the post-election holiday lull a notoriously difficult time to raise cash from tapped-out donors.
Florida Rep. Allen West the controversial and highly visible conservative who became a favorite of tea party activists nationwide raised more than $66000 after his victory over Democrat Ron Klein.
Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann a monster fundraiser who might be considering a run for the Republican nomination for president raised more than $73000.
Even Alan Grayson the outspoken liberal Florida Democrat who raked in nearly $6 million over the course of the 2010 cycle raised more than $30000 after he lost his Orlando-area seat. Grayson has remained visible in the weeks since his loss to Republican Daniel Webster appearing on MSNBC conducting an exit interview with The New York Times and taking to his Facebook page to hammer former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin a frequent target of Graysons derision.
The Cash Hoarders
House members who have spent years waiting in the wings to run for Senate continued to pad their campaign bank accounts. Democratic Reps. Frank Pallone of New Jersey and Ed Markey of Massachusetts both of whom have or had Senate ambitions reported the largest cash reserves in the House. The two veterans posted about $3.1 million available to spend.
Other New Jersey Democrats who might be interested in 86-year-old Sen. Frank Lautenbergs seat are flush with cash. Rep. Steven Rothman reported $1.6 million on hand a number that tops more than a half-dozen incumbent senators war chests. Rep. Rob Andrews who waged a primary campaign against Lautenberg in 2008 has more than $431000.
In Hawaii home to Akaka and another octogenarian Democratic senator Daniel Inouye several pols are keeping funds on hand for whenever the inevitable changing of the guard occurs. Former GOP Rep. Charles Djou left
$246000 in his account despite losing his seat in a competitive race against
Democrat Colleen Hanabusa. Democratic Rep. Mazie Hirono who lost a 2002 race for governor still has $216000 in the bank.
A few challengers are also building bank accounts as they plot campaigns.
Democrat Andrea Nuciforo a former state senator who has already announced he will run for a western Massachusetts congressional district in territory currently occupied by nine-term Democratic Rep. John Olver has more than $100000 in his account. Republican Joe Miller who lost the three-way Alaska Senate race to Lisa Murkowskis historic write-in campaign has $825000 in the bank and is already ramping up criticism of GOP Rep. Don Young who is entering his 38th year in the House.
The Team Players
In the weeks after their losses a number of defeated House Democrats contributed thousands of dollars to their state Democratic parties a move sure to strengthen their relationships with party leaders and one that will come in handy if they decide to run in the future.
The list of donors includes two House Democrats who have not ruled out 2012 House campaigns:
- Ron Klein who in December sent $25000 to the Florida Democratic Party and
- Steve Driehaus of Ohio who cut a $9000 check to the Ohio Democratic Party.
Former New Jersey Rep. John Adler a freshman who lost his seat to Republican Jon Runyan funneled more than $59000 to the New Jersey Democratic State Committee.
