Our own David Freddoso has been closely monitoring this trend for some time, but now Politico has a story about Democrats getting badly outspent by third-party groups in the midterms. The Democratic party leadership is sweating:
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Twice in the past week, House Democrats used closed-door meetings with Speaker Nancy Pelosi to deliver an urgent message: They’re being crushed on the airwaves by outside groups, and they need her to do something about it.
In the meetings, according to people present, Democrats cited the nearly unmatched advantage Republicans are enjoying from conservative, third-party organizations. A sympathetic Pelosi vowed to pressure liberal groups to do more — and quickly.
“I’m saying get out there,” she told a group of Democratic freshmen, according to a source familiar with the meeting. “We need more.”
In the meetings, according to people present, Democrats cited the nearly unmatched advantage Republicans are enjoying from conservative, third-party organizations. A sympathetic Pelosi vowed to pressure liberal groups to do more — and quickly.
“I’m saying get out there,” she told a group of Democratic freshmen, according to a source familiar with the meeting. “We need more.”
Politico also looks at the numbers:
And, according to an internal Democratic spreadsheet obtained by POLITICO, there is a canyon-size gap between the two parties right now when it comes to spending by outside groups.
As of Monday, pro-Republican third-party organizations had paid for a total of $23.6 million worth of ads, while Democratic-aligned groups had spent just $4.8 million on TV.
For the next month — the crucial period during which many voters begin to consider their choices and make up their minds — the disparity is even more daunting for Democrats: Between now and Oct. 20, groups backing Republicans have $9.4 million worth of TV ads reserved across 40 districts, while outfits supporting Democrats have put down only $1.3 million in five districts.
As of Monday, pro-Republican third-party organizations had paid for a total of $23.6 million worth of ads, while Democratic-aligned groups had spent just $4.8 million on TV.
For the next month — the crucial period during which many voters begin to consider their choices and make up their minds — the disparity is even more daunting for Democrats: Between now and Oct. 20, groups backing Republicans have $9.4 million worth of TV ads reserved across 40 districts, while outfits supporting Democrats have put down only $1.3 million in five districts.
Politico does note that many Democratic incumbents still have more cash to spend than their GOP challengers. Prediction: The President and Democrats will continuing ratcheting up the campaign finance rhetoric in a futile attempt to delegitimize the messages against them, without talking about the powerful special interests that spend hundreds of millions electing them.
