Rove Brings Hate Speech Tour out West by mcjoan Fri Sep 15, 2006 at 04:27:55 PM PDT
The GOP is worried when they send out Rove to do the fundraising. Two races that have them really worried: Washington's 8th District and Montana's Senate race.
Rove is in Seattle today to raise money for incumbent Dave Reichert, a lackluster representative still best known in the district for catching the Green River person three years ago.
Rep. Dave Reichert is a Republican running for re-election in an 8th Congressional District that twice voted not to elect President Bush, and, publicly at least, the congressman frequently keeps the White House at arm's length.
But not its fundraising help.
Reichert needs that help, and he definitely has cause to worry. Netroots candidate Darcy Burner is running strong.
According to federal disclosure reports filed Friday by the two 8th Congressional District candidates, Burner out-raised Reichert by a wide margin -- $311,981 to his $198,044 -- during July and August.
Reichert has raised more campaign money overall -- $2.2 million to her $1.4 million -- and has more cash on hand than his challenger.
But it was the third consecutive federal reporting period in which contributions to Burner, mounting her first campaign for public office, have exceeded those to the first-term congressman. She has taken in more money than he has ever since the first of the year.
Reichert's people have downplayed expectations for the event, perhaps because they don't want to trumpet too loudly Rove's presence in the district. Burner's reaction?
"When Bush came, it definitely helped my fundraising," she said. "I have a sneaking suspicion that Karl Rove coming into the district might make the choice (of candidates) even more stark in the minds of people."
Kicking a few bucks into the Burner coffer is as good a way as any that I can think of to protest Rove's visit. And while you're at it, kick in a few for Tester, too, because Rove's next stop is Montana:
Rove will speak at a luncheon Saturday at the White Oak Grand Hotel south of Kalispell and at a reception for Bitterroot Valley Republicans in Lolo later in the day. . . .
"He is going to talk to the troops about the importance of that Senate seat for Republicans," Burns spokesman Jason Klindt said. "He is one of the pre-eminent political strategists in the country and he's out here talking about what we need to do to win this election in the next 56 days."
...
Those with invitations to Saturday's luncheon will be charged $50 per person or $1,000 if they want to have their photograph taken with Rove.
Rove's raised a ton of money for Republicans this year. Let's do our small part to counter some of that fundraising.