Apart from claiming that he Chinese might now be drilling off the coast of Cuba (even though they weren't a few weeks ago) looks like her opponent Congressman Jason Altmire is getting some campaign cash.
From RealClearPolitics:
Guess who's getting a chunk of that money?The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is taking advantage of its huge financial advantage already, making major media buys in 31 Congressional districts around the country, according to an internal document obtained by Politics Nation. The DCCC has reserved $34.5 million worth of television time, including $22.5 million in districts currently held by Republicans.
But after picking up thirty seats in 2006 and another three in special elections this year, Democrats realize they have to play defense as well. The party will defend Reps. Jason Altmire, a Pennsylvanian who faces a rematch with his 2006 opponent Melissa Hart, Texan Nick Lampson, who will face former Congressional aide Pete Olson, and Harry Mitchell, a freshman from Arizona who will face the winner of a competitive primary.To the tune of about $554,000.
Why should this bother Hart?
According to Opensecrets.org, at last check (April 2, 2008) she's only got about $400,000 on hand.
Obviously the numbers will change over time, but in one swoop the DCCC has promised Altmire a little more than what his opponent already has.
And take a look at the opensecrets site. As of April he had $1.3 million of his own.
14 comments:
The new campaign cash reports come out next week. It will be interesting to see how much they each have in cash on hand.
Things appear to be looking up for Jason. He has a big lead in cash on hand, had a big lead in the first round of polls and now is getting an "insurance policy" from the DCCC. This is a huge mountain for Hart to climb. I think that it may discourage GOP donors. I'm sure we will know more at the end of the month......
What am I getting here out of a Jason Altmire win? He voted for the war, for FISA...I guess I get Nancy Pelosi, who wil take impeachment off of the table...advantages I get with Altmire? Major vote differences...? Thoughts?
Well, if you live in the district (and I do not, by the way) you get a middle of the road democrat who apparently, statistically speaking, reflects your values. By the way, since Altmire has been in the House for two years, how did he vote for the six year old war? If you mean he voted to continue funding for the war, that would seem to be a safe move for a freshman Representative in a somewhat conservative district. Just my impression.
I think what you get with Jason is someone who, first and foremost, thinks like a Democrat, not like a GOP sycophant, which is what you got with Hart. While it's easy to cherry-pick a vote here on which you disagree with Altmire, Hart ALWAYS voted wrong!
Altmire is not the most liberal guy on the block, but the alternative is far worse, and that, my friend is often the choice we have to make in politics.
Pilt
I live in the 4th District and I'm elated Jason is my Rep. Hart was a political hack of the first order and Bush lackey.
She'll lose in a romp.
Melissa Hart was/is a Bush girl, pure and simple.
Her little 'Catholic' conscience should have on it the 100s of 1000s of deaths that resulted from the unjust invasion of Iraq, an invasion that the supposedly God-fearing, but war-cheerleading,Melissa was told by her Catholic bishops and pope was unnecessary and an assault on "the culture of life."
The fact the DCCC promised so much money must mean they sense trouble. I wouldn't doubt it. I've heard there have been later polls that show the gap closing. I've also heard that Altmire has some personal issues that will come to light before the campaign. Finally, if the reaction during the Zelienople parade is any indication of voters in the district, Altmire is in trouble. Hart walked in the parade right in front of Altmire. There was lots of cheering for Hart, booing for Altmire, and someone loudly called him a doofus. He's going to need that money.
Ok, some people here leaving comments either do not live in the district or have their head in the sand when it comes to local politics.
Since coming to office, Altmire has got needed money from DC to assist with enhancements in the South Side of Pittsburgh and other areas of the district.
Hart in all her years in office got us nothing. Oh wait, she did get a portion of route 22 renamed to 376. Hart acts like this was some huge act. All that happened was that they changed the signs on the route. No improvements to the road. Hell, they did not even connect route 70 to the road.
Basically with Altmire, you get a moderate independent democrat in office. Someone who has demonstrated that he will put the district he serves ahead of party politics.
In the case of Hart, you get a Santorum republican who has put the Republican party ahead of the district. Someone that after all her years in office, can not point to a single achievement to now run on.
As for the comments on the War, Altmire was not in office when the war was approved. Hart was and she voted for it.
As for FISA, the new bill is not bad. It actually re-establishes the FISA court which needs to be in place. I realize some only see evil in FISA, but please remember that the issue with GW arose because the FISA court was bypassed.
As for impeachment, do you really think a Republican majority in house will vote for impeachment? Also, Bush is gone in six months. Our nation is in a recession, we have two wars, every government agency is falling apart due to mismanagement and you want to assign blame. Lets fix the problems that have gone on unresolved for the past eight years and then assign blame if needed.
Clearly you don't live in the district because you would know the South Side of Pittsburgh is not Altmire's district. And if Altmire did get money for the South Side, doesn't that call to question what Democrat machine politician Mike Doyle is doing (because that is his district for you out of towners)?
Cheering for former Rep. Hart, and booing for Rep. Altmire? Sounds to me like that parade was more likely down the Kronks' driveway.
After a lackluster period in office, she lost to an unknown. She was known to be a hard worker early in her legislative career, but she foolishly slacked against Rep. Altmire. She is not the kind of candidate who could win based on inspirational leadership or brilliant insight. She needed to knock-n-talk and deliver constituent services. She let up against Rep. Altmire and he defeated her. I doubt she'll outwork Rep. Altmire, and she doesn't have the chops to beat him any other way.
Democrats were concerned that the Republicans would take a serious swing at Rep. Altmire because of the district's makeup and his freshman status, but the Republican powers took a different tack, forcing Ron Francis to the sidelines and allowing Melissa Hart to stagger back into the ring for a final swing as a sacrificial candidate in a miserable year for Republicans.
The Republicans recognize that they need to knock Rep. Altmire out soon, lest he occupy that seat for 40 years (or move to higher office), but have calculated that the better chance will occur in two years. Probably a good decision.
Regarding the argument that the DCCC infusion signals Democratic fear, the far more likely explanations are (1) the Democrats hope (probably in vain) that this will incline the Republicans to devote more national money to this race and/or (2) the Democrats have the money to spend and don't mind directing it to strengthening candidate who could hold a swing seat for four decades. Plus, Democratic turnout in that district seems likely to help Sen. Obama.
In short, Hart and Santorum were attached at the hip for years. Both are very pleasing to the GOP base but have a politics that has long worn thin for independents.
I believe that Altmire will win because he will capture the independent vote. There is nothing centrist about Hart.
The DCCC is also devoting a big pile of money in NY-13 where the GOP doesn't even have a candidate! I think they are doing this more to ward off a challenge than out of fear of losing. (People pony up money when they think a candidate can win.) It think they are doing the same here.
Anon 11:29,
I knew some half baked response for me highlighting the south side works project would come from someone not vested in the facts.
Getting development in an around your district is a benefit to your district. Altmire's push to assist with developing the south side further and get businesses to stay and others such as American Eagle to enter is beneficial to the district.
clearly you do not understand the district. For if you did, you would realize that many of the district do not work in the district, they instead work in the district adjacent to us.
Now back to the point, what did missy do in office? She had two additional years to comb her record and she still can't provide us anythign of value.
Simply put, if the Republicans were serious about this contest, they would have put up a better candidate. The likelihood of an incumbent who lost two years ago returning to office against running against the same opponent is very low. Add in the love that voters have for GW Bush and co.'s policies which Hart carried the water for at her time at the hill. Yes, she voted in line with GW's requests 99.7% of the time, there really is a low low low chance of her winning.
With a money advantage, a record advantage, and just being a better candidate because he is a moderate independent in his party, Altmire should win hands down. I imagine it will be a 60-40 split if not wider.
With that said, it is still Altmire's seat to lose.
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