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Democratic Challengers Are Raking in Cash

July 22, 2008 — Democratic challengers aiming to unseat Republican incumbents in the South are, for the most part, well-financed, according to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) reports for the 2^nd Quarter. In 12 congressional races in Southern states where a Democratic challenger stands a reasonable chance of winning, the challengers are raising enough cash to wage significant campaigns, even though the GOP incumbents almost all have more money, as incumbents generally do. In a year when national trends may favor Democrats, the strong financial underpinning for the challenger campaigns is especially important. For complete figures for a number of competitive districts, click on Resources, then FEC Reports. Tomorrow, SPR will look at the money chase for Republican challengers. Details:

Florida: Democrats Poised to Make Gains

Democrats are preparing to mount substantial, well-financed campaigns to Republican incumbents in seven Sunshine State congressional districts. Not all of them are investments that appear likely to pay off, but they are all in a position to wage a visible campaign that can get its message out.

Florida 8 (Orlando). The fall campaign will not be set until the August 26 primary, but three of the six contenders for the Democratic nomination to challenge four-term Ric Keller (R) are raising serious money. The Democrats may be encouraged because Keller has two -- albeit minor -- primary foes on his right. At the end of the 2^nd Quarter, businessman Charles Stuart had $415,000 on hand, attorney Alan Grayson had $345,000 and attorney Mike Smith had $269,000. The three Democrats’ cash totals $1,029,000 more than Keller’s $935,000. Although Keller won’t have to spend all of his war chest to beat two minor primary foes, the early numbers suggest there will be a battle here this November.

Florida 10 (St. Petersburg). 20-term US Rep. Bill Young (R) gets a lot of opposition in this competitive district (Bush 51%, Kerry 49%), but always wins (66% in 2006). This year may be no different, but one of the three Democrats vying to oppose him -- former Reform Party gubernatorial candidate Max Linn -- has raised $369,000. While Linn is spending it down for the primary, his name may be out there by November.

Florida 13 (Sarasota, etc.). Freshman Vern Buchanan (R) is heavily out-raising third-time contender Christine Jennings (D), but again, she’s bringing in enough to get some attention. Jennings has $595,000 on hand, Buchanan $1,573,000.

Florida 18 (Miami-Dade). Nine-term Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R) is considered the safest of the three Cuban-American US Representatives facing serious competition this fall. She’s got $1,893,000 on hand, more than enough to overcome banker Annette Taddeo’s (D) still significant $457,000.

Florida 21 (Miami-Dade). Eight-term Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R) has $1,755,000 on hand. That’s not that far ahead of feisty challenger Raul Martinez’s (D) $1,179,000.

Florida 24 (Orlando, etc.). Third-term Tom Feeney, under fire for his alleged relationship with convicted former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, actually has less cash-on-hand than his Democratic challenger, former state Rep. Suzanne Kosmas (D. Feeney has $795,000, Kosmas $936,000 (though she faces minor primary opposition).

Florida 25 (Ft. Lauderdale) Third-term Mario Diaz-Balart (R) has $1,045,000 on hand, former Dade County Democratic chair Joe Garcia has $701,000.

Louisiana: Boustany Foe Not yet in the Money

Louisiana 7 (Lafayette, etc.), two-term US Rep. Charles Boustany (R) has $670,000 on hand, far more than his well-regarded Democratic challenger, attorney Don Cravins, Jr., who has $105,000 and his work cut out for him.

North Carolina: Democratic Money Lagging

North Carolina 3 (Greenville, etc.). Seven-term Walter Jones, Jr. (R) has angered some GOPers in his district with his falling out with President Bush over the war in Iraq. But so far, the Democrats’ former weather-caster Craig Weber has not gotten serious money. Jones has an unimpressive $46,000 on hand (after a contested primary), while Weber (who was also in a primary) has an even less impressive $3,000.

North Carolina 8 (Concord, etc.) Five-term Robin Hayes (R), who is always vulnerable and always wins, is way ahead of the Democrat who almost beat him last time. It’s $1,174,000 on hand for Hayes, $232,000 for Larry Kissell (D).

Virginia: Democrats Raising Big Money

Virginia 2 (Norfolk, etc.) Two-termer Thelma Drake (R) is doing a good job of raising money -- she has $682,000 on hand. But her challenger is doing well, too -- $409,000 on hand.

Virginia 5 (Charlottesville, etc.) Maverick six-termer Virgil Goode (R) is facing a well-financed foe in human rights lawyer Tom Perriello (D). Perriello has actually out-raised Goode, $921,000 to $834,000, though Goode has more on hand, $834,000 to Perriello’s $520,000.