Thursday, April 12, 2012
Mountain Climbing
State Rep. Joe Miklosi raised “over $235,000” and has $350,000 in cash on hand. He is running for the Democratic nod to take on Rep. Mike Coffman (R) in the fall.
Could I Bother You For a Donation, Mi Ami?
Physician Ami Bera (D), who outspent Rep. Dan Lungren (R) by $900,000 in 2010 but lost by 7 points, is back with strong fundraising again this cycle in the redrawn district. Bera raised $366,000 in the first quarter and had more than $1.1 million in cash on hand.
Been There, Done That
Former Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D) continues her march to reclaim her former seat. She brought in $307,000 in the first quarter and has $655,000 in cash on hand. Currently, her race is rated as a Tossup.
Mack's First TV Ad Slams Nelson Over Spending
Mack's First TV Ad Slams Nelson Over Spending:
Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fla., is going bananas over Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson's stimulus vote.
Mack released the first TV ad of his Senate campaign Wednesday. The spot, which will air statewide on broadcast and cable, starts with a clip of Nelson touting President Obama's stimulus package. The ad's narrator then highlights one particular aspect of the stimulus that has drawn scorn from Republicans in the past.
"He voted for millions in wasteful spending, including spending our tax dollars to see how monkeys react under the influence of cocaine," the narrator says. "Hey Bill Nelson, stop monkeying around with our tax dollars."
Mack is the first GOP candidate to go up on TV. He faces former Sen. George LeMieux and retired Army Col. Mike McCalister in the primary.
Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fla., is going bananas over Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson's stimulus vote.
Mack released the first TV ad of his Senate campaign Wednesday. The spot, which will air statewide on broadcast and cable, starts with a clip of Nelson touting President Obama's stimulus package. The ad's narrator then highlights one particular aspect of the stimulus that has drawn scorn from Republicans in the past.
"He voted for millions in wasteful spending, including spending our tax dollars to see how monkeys react under the influence of cocaine," the narrator says. "Hey Bill Nelson, stop monkeying around with our tax dollars."
Mack is the first GOP candidate to go up on TV. He faces former Sen. George LeMieux and retired Army Col. Mike McCalister in the primary.
Stenberg Makes Small Ad Buy in Nebraska
Stenberg Makes Small Ad Buy in Nebraska:
Nebraska Treasurer Don Stenberg released his first television ad of the Senate race on Wednesday, but is only spending approximately $7,000 to run the ad on cable for a week, according to a source tracking the buy -- significantly less than state Sen. Deb Fischer (a long-shot candidate) is spending to air her first ad, released on Monday.
The ad is a minute-long spot that touts Stenberg's conservative credentials and -- without naming him -- goes after those of the GOP frontrunner, Attorney General Jon Bruning.
Stenberg notes that as treasurer, he cut his budget by 13 percent, and "I ran the Attorney General's office on the third smallest budget in the country."
"Unlike some other folks, I didn't suddenly become a conservative just to run for office," he says in the ad. Stenberg has attacked Bruning before for his liberal views as a student.
"You can trust me to fight for Nebraska values, because I always have," he says, doubling down.
While this is Stenberg's first ad, the Club for Growth, who has endorsed him, is also on television attacking Bruning.
Nebraska Treasurer Don Stenberg released his first television ad of the Senate race on Wednesday, but is only spending approximately $7,000 to run the ad on cable for a week, according to a source tracking the buy -- significantly less than state Sen. Deb Fischer (a long-shot candidate) is spending to air her first ad, released on Monday.
The ad is a minute-long spot that touts Stenberg's conservative credentials and -- without naming him -- goes after those of the GOP frontrunner, Attorney General Jon Bruning.
Stenberg notes that as treasurer, he cut his budget by 13 percent, and "I ran the Attorney General's office on the third smallest budget in the country."
"Unlike some other folks, I didn't suddenly become a conservative just to run for office," he says in the ad. Stenberg has attacked Bruning before for his liberal views as a student.
"You can trust me to fight for Nebraska values, because I always have," he says, doubling down.
While this is Stenberg's first ad, the Club for Growth, who has endorsed him, is also on television attacking Bruning.
In Wisconsin, Dem Establishment Getting Behind Barrett
In Wisconsin, Dem Establishment Getting Behind Barrett:
Retiring Sen. Herb Kohl is picking sides in Wisconsin's divisive Democratic gubernatorial recall primary. The senior senator announced his support for Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett on Wednesday.
"While I wouldn't ordinarily endorse in a primary, this is no ordinary race or time. Tom's decision to run speaks volumes about who Tom is -- a strong leader known around the state as someone who will work with everyone to help bring Wisconsinites together and move our state forward again. Tom and I have worked together for years, and his commitment to the people he represents is as strong as his many accomplishments," Kohl said in a statement.
Endorsements are often over-hyped, but this one's worth noting. Kohl is a household name in the state (he owns the Milwaukee Bucks and is the namesake of the Kohl's chain) and as a sitting senator, remains an influential voice. Voters in Wisconsin know who he is and if he's out there stumping with Barrett, it'll matter. In the lead-up to the recall campaign, many strategists and observers believed that if Kohl entered the race, he'd clear the field and be favored to defeat Walker.
Since entering the race, Barrett has been building a coalition of current and former members of Congress -- most notably former Rep. David Obey and has also been reaching out to the left. His biggest obstacle is organized labor, which is backing his opponent, former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk.
Retiring Sen. Herb Kohl is picking sides in Wisconsin's divisive Democratic gubernatorial recall primary. The senior senator announced his support for Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett on Wednesday.
"While I wouldn't ordinarily endorse in a primary, this is no ordinary race or time. Tom's decision to run speaks volumes about who Tom is -- a strong leader known around the state as someone who will work with everyone to help bring Wisconsinites together and move our state forward again. Tom and I have worked together for years, and his commitment to the people he represents is as strong as his many accomplishments," Kohl said in a statement.
Endorsements are often over-hyped, but this one's worth noting. Kohl is a household name in the state (he owns the Milwaukee Bucks and is the namesake of the Kohl's chain) and as a sitting senator, remains an influential voice. Voters in Wisconsin know who he is and if he's out there stumping with Barrett, it'll matter. In the lead-up to the recall campaign, many strategists and observers believed that if Kohl entered the race, he'd clear the field and be favored to defeat Walker.
Since entering the race, Barrett has been building a coalition of current and former members of Congress -- most notably former Rep. David Obey and has also been reaching out to the left. His biggest obstacle is organized labor, which is backing his opponent, former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk.
NRSC Places $25 Million Ad Reservation for Fall Campaign
NRSC Places $25 Million Ad Reservation for Fall Campaign:
The Senate GOP’s campaign arm reserved approximately $25 million in airtime today in six targeted Senate races — an early and aggressive move for a party looking to regain the majority.
The broadcast, cable and radio buy comes several months before the campaign committees’ independent expenditure arms typically start to reserve air time for the post-Labor Day campaign advertisement blitz.
“This is our first buy, not our last. But this foundation does ensure we will be heard through various channels as the electorate decides who they are going to vote for,” a National Republican Senatorial Committee official told Roll Call.
To be clear, the NRSC’s buy is just a reservation, and operatives can change the amount and move funds to different states before the ads hit the airwaves this fall. But the GOP committee’s purchase gives an early indication of where and how it will spend to net the four Senate seats the party needs to control the chamber in 2013. Mike DuHaime, who ran the NRSC’s IE operation last cycle, is again charged with overseeing the IE and, therefore, the bulk of the committee’s budget.
Senate Republicans are buying airtime early to lock in competitive rates and placement. Campaign insiders expect an avalanche of advertisements this fall from the presidential campaigns, Congressional committees and the growing ranks of new super PACs that will make it harder to purchase prime airtime in competitive states.
“Everyone knows that cost and inventory are going to be an issue in many states, rather than sit around and worry about it, we proactively dealt with the situation,” the NRSC official said. “This is helpful to our campaigns and gives NRSC donors confidence that we are maximizing their investment.”
A breakdown of the NRSC’s airtime reservation:
Notably absent from the large buy are a couple of states with potentially competitive races, such as Ohio, North Dakota and Nebraska. But this is only the first of many advertisement purchases the committee’s IE arm will make over the course of the year, the source cautioned. What’s more, the presidential campaigns are not expected to compete in North Dakota and Nebraska, so there’s less of an incentive for the NRSC to buy airtime early.
Also not included in the buy is airtime in the contested Massachusetts Senate race. But earlier this year, Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) and the likely Democratic nominee, Harvard professor Elizabeth Warren, signed a pledge to pay penalties if outside groups spend on their behalf in the Bay State Senate race. As a result, any money spent by outside groups, including the NRSC, would be counterproductive.
The NRSC reported $16.2 million in the bank at the end of the February. The committee’s counterpart, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, reported more than that sum, $19 million in cash on hand, at the same time.
Check out Roll Call’s race ratings for all of the 2012 Senate contests here.
The Senate GOP’s campaign arm reserved approximately $25 million in airtime today in six targeted Senate races — an early and aggressive move for a party looking to regain the majority.
The broadcast, cable and radio buy comes several months before the campaign committees’ independent expenditure arms typically start to reserve air time for the post-Labor Day campaign advertisement blitz.
“This is our first buy, not our last. But this foundation does ensure we will be heard through various channels as the electorate decides who they are going to vote for,” a National Republican Senatorial Committee official told Roll Call.
To be clear, the NRSC’s buy is just a reservation, and operatives can change the amount and move funds to different states before the ads hit the airwaves this fall. But the GOP committee’s purchase gives an early indication of where and how it will spend to net the four Senate seats the party needs to control the chamber in 2013. Mike DuHaime, who ran the NRSC’s IE operation last cycle, is again charged with overseeing the IE and, therefore, the bulk of the committee’s budget.
Senate Republicans are buying airtime early to lock in competitive rates and placement. Campaign insiders expect an avalanche of advertisements this fall from the presidential campaigns, Congressional committees and the growing ranks of new super PACs that will make it harder to purchase prime airtime in competitive states.
“Everyone knows that cost and inventory are going to be an issue in many states, rather than sit around and worry about it, we proactively dealt with the situation,” the NRSC official said. “This is helpful to our campaigns and gives NRSC donors confidence that we are maximizing their investment.”
A breakdown of the NRSC’s airtime reservation:
- $5 million in Wisconsin for the open-seat race to succeed retiring Sen. Herb Kohl (D).
- $5 million in Missouri to defeat first-term Sen. Claire McCaskill (D), who faces an extremely tough re-election race.
- $3.5 million in Montana to defeat Sen. Jon Tester (D), another first-term Senator with a hard re-election ahead of him.
- $5.5 million in Virginia for the open-seat race, where former Sen. George Allen (R) and former Gov. Tim Kaine (D) are locked in a highly competitive contest.
- $3 million in Nevada, where appointed Sen. Dean Heller (R) is seeking a full term against the presumptive Democratic nominee Rep. Shelley Berkley.
- $3 million for the open-seat race in New Mexico, where former Rep. Heather Wilson (R) and Rep. Martin Heinrich (D) are on track to face each other in November.
Notably absent from the large buy are a couple of states with potentially competitive races, such as Ohio, North Dakota and Nebraska. But this is only the first of many advertisement purchases the committee’s IE arm will make over the course of the year, the source cautioned. What’s more, the presidential campaigns are not expected to compete in North Dakota and Nebraska, so there’s less of an incentive for the NRSC to buy airtime early.
Also not included in the buy is airtime in the contested Massachusetts Senate race. But earlier this year, Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) and the likely Democratic nominee, Harvard professor Elizabeth Warren, signed a pledge to pay penalties if outside groups spend on their behalf in the Bay State Senate race. As a result, any money spent by outside groups, including the NRSC, would be counterproductive.
The NRSC reported $16.2 million in the bank at the end of the February. The committee’s counterpart, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, reported more than that sum, $19 million in cash on hand, at the same time.
Check out Roll Call’s race ratings for all of the 2012 Senate contests here.
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