A lot of us like to point to the President as delusional, but California GOP Congressman John Doolittle maybe has him beat. The "big Doo" recycles BushCo talking points - perhaps the only recycling he believes in. But he goes beyond that! For example, when the FBI raided his home earlier this year on Abramoff-related matters, the Congressman whined that it was just to make Gonzalez look better by going after a Republican instead of just Democrats. Yeah, right! Like the Doolittles hadn't earned the investigation, fair and square.
Quarterly fundraising reports have just been released and things aren't looking good for the beseiged Republican. Especially when compared to returning challenger, retired Air Force Major Charlie Brown. (Yes, Brown is a good man!) Please follow over the flip for the details, reported by David Whitney in the Sacramento Bee today.
Cross-posted at ePluribusMedia
First, there's a clear contrast in cash-on-hand, with Brown sitting on a cool quarter million, and Doolittle reporting over $30,000 in debt. But keep in mind: One in every six dollars in donations to Doolittle goes to his wife Julie, as a "commission" for her fundraising efforts. The campaign carried forward a big debt owed to her after the November election. So, a big chunk of the monies received since then - $50,000 in this latest quarter - have gone directly into the Congressman's family bank account. (And then right back out the door to Mrs. Doolittle's lawyers.) Beyond that, the Congressman has retained a criminal attorney for his own defense, which took up another $30k of campaign contributions. Really, it's a wonder anyone would want to write him a check anymore.
Tom Delay had to resign in disgrace, and Henry Bonilla lost his seat in TX-23 last year to Ciro Rodriguez. Now it's time for John Doolittle to go, too.
Anyhow, according to Whitney in the Bee:
It is possible Doolittle's legal expenses were higher. Late last month, he formed a legal defense fund to raise money separately for those expenses, and costs for the two law firms representing him no longer will be reported as campaign expenses. The fund also has been authorized by the House ethics committee to pay the legal expenses of his wife.
OK, so we've looked at the outflow, and the cash on hand. But how about the income?
The second quarter of an off-year in the two-year congressional campaign cycle generally shows increasing income, as Brown's did -- jumping from about $89,000 in the first three months to $193,000 in April, May and June.
But for Doolittle, the trend was the other direction. His campaign took in $128,000 in the first quarter and barely topped $100,000 in the second.
It's a wonder anyone would want to write Doolittle a check anymore. And, as it turns out, people who've supported him in the past are holding back. Here's some comparisons between this quarter and the same place in the election cycle two years ago:
- Total contributions: $128k in 2007, $179k in 2005
- PAC contributions: $27,925 in Q1 2007 to $14,850 in Q2 2007
- Q2 raised: Brown - $193,238.84, Doolittle - $100,183.00 - almost 2-to-1!!!
- Q2 COH less debt: Brown - $251,247.33, Doolittle - ($32.250.58)
Charlie Brown, considered the longest of long shots last year, came within three points of unseating Doolittle in November. One pretty much hopes that Doolittle has the chutzpah to stay in the race. A fresh, relatively clean Republican might be harder to beat.
Jerry McNerney (CA-11) and Charlie Brown (CA-04)
You're a good man, Charlie Brown! I'm assuming Brown will be at Yearly Kos in Chicago, since he's attended fundraisers for the event already. Looks like I'm going to be able to go, too. Brown and Jerry McNerney (who unseated the despicable Richard Pombo last year with our help), are two of the people I'm looking foward to meeting there.