Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Moaning Democrats Actually Outspending Republicans

Outside groups can't make up for party advantages

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 27, 2010 7:53 AM CDT

(Newser) – Democrats have been playing the financial victim lately, bemoaning the cash outside groups are throwing at Republicans. Which is kind of ironic, because the truth is that Democrats are outspending Republicans—even if you take those outside groups into account. Democratic campaign committees and left-leaning outside groups have spent a total of $856 million, compared to $677 million from Republican committees and right-leaning outside groups, Politico reports.

The New York Times adds that in the 109 most competitive House races, Democrats have out-raised their opponents by more than 30%. “When you look at the national party committees … the Democrats are whopping the Republicans,” said a Center for Responsive Politics spokesman. But right-leaning outside groups are “effectively obliterating left-leaning groups.” A Democratic National Committee spokesman says the point isn’t how much is spent, but who’s spending it. “Who will these candidates be beholden to in the end?” he asks.

House Speaker Nanci Pelosi holds up a purse given to her as a gift at a fundraiser for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in San Francisco, Monday, Oct. 25, 2010. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

CLICK BELOW TO VOTE

57%

13%

18%

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Getty Images

Man Goes to Hospital For Kidney Stone...Leaves a Woman (Huff Post)

Is Chase Crawford Dating a Cougar? (Bleacher Report)

My Boss Walked in on Me Touching Myself, Now He Won't Stop Flirting (Slate)

7 Gross Celebrity Items Sold at Auction (The Week)

The Lowest-Rated Show on TV Is Actually Awesome (Slate)

Partner Links

Sponsor Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 31 comments

Naked_Emperor

Oct 27, 2010 11:50 AM CDT

..."A Democratic National Committee spokesman says the point isn’t how much is spent, but who’s spending it. “Who will these candidates be beholden to in the end?” he asks"... Hey dumb ass, you are suppose to be beholden to the american people.

whatebahw

Oct 27, 2010 8:58 AM CDT

That makes sense to me

CHRiSTFELD

Oct 27, 2010 8:51 AM CDT

"[Karl] Rove’s [American Crossroads or Crossroads GPS] groups are expected to spend between $50m and $75m by election day, "educating" the public about candidates and issues, in much the same way you become educated by watching Jackass 3D or Christine O’Donnell talk about stuff. And this has all been made possible thanks to a Supreme Court majority made up of far-right mutants who decided that 100 years of established law trying to limit the flow of corporate money into our system just had it all wrong." http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2010/10/20101025143212130287.html

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Japanese Artist Serves Up Own Cooked Genitals

Rape Conviction Cleared, Thanks to Facebook

Politico (Source Grid »)
New York Times (Source Grid »)

Politics

campaign finance • Democratic National Committee • campaign fundraising • political donors • Election 2010 • Republican National Committee • political fundraising • campaign spending

More Newser Stories

Democrats Winning 2012 Money Race (Sort of)

But numbers don't include independent groups

(NEWSER) - Republicans appear to be on the ropes in the race to raise money for the 2012 election—depending on how you look at it. The Republican National Committee, Congressional Committee, and Senatorial Committee raised a combined $105 million through July—compared to $129 for their Democratic counterparts, Politico reports. The major reason? The DNC is trouncing the RNC, thanks to copious fundraising from President Obama . Republicans argue that even being close is impressive, given the president’s inherent advantage. More»

Rick Perry's Texas Donors Living Large

'Los Angeles Times' analysis finds dozens of examples

(NEWSER) - Rick Perry has raised $102 million as Texas governor over the last 10 years, and $37 million of that comes from just 150 individuals and couples—nearly half of whom have enjoyed business contracts, appointments, or tax breaks under Perry. A Los Angeles Times analysis found dozens of examples, from the billionaire who has donated $1.12 million and got permission to build a low-level radioactive waste disposal site despite safety concerns, to the engineering firm owner who donated more than $320,000 and whose firm received several contracts as he himself won a spot on the University of Texas board of regents. More»

Romney Rakes In $18M—and That Worries the GOP

Obama is clobbering Republican candidates in money race

(NEWSER) - Fundraising reports are starting to trickle in from the GOP presidential field, and the results look great—for Barack Obama. Even Mitt Romney’s vaunted money machine collected only $18 million in the first true quarter of fundraising, a big step back from his 2008 showing, Politico reports. The results only get uglier from there, with Tim Pawlenty and Jon Huntsman not even cracking $5 million, and the Republican National Committee $18.5 million in debt. More»

Obama's Big Donors Slow to Write Checks

His fundraising is down compared to 2008

(NEWSER) - Whether because of the economy, fighting with Wall Street, or the lack of an exciting primary battle of his own, President Obama's fundraising this election cycle is behind where it was in 2008—$196 million as of the end of the March, down from $235 million in March 2008, reports the New York Times . It blames the falloff on big donors, from major industries to Hollywood stars, failing to keep up with their pace of 2008, meaning the campaign is pushing harder among small, grass-roots supporters. More»

Major Obama Donor Accused of Fraud

Abake Assongba has a troubled past, 'Washington Post' discovers

(NEWSER) - Another donor-related headache for President Obama: Abake Assongba, a " bundler " who has contributed more than $50,000 to his re-election campaign, has troubles in her past including accusations of fraud to the tune of $657,000. The Obama campaign says it is reviewing the accusations against Assongba, which she disputes, but the Washington Post notes that the situation underscores the difficulty of recruiting and vetting volunteer fundraisers. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Moaning Democrats Actually Outspending Republicans

Outside groups can't make up for party advantages

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

campaign finance • Democratic National Committee • campaign fundraising • political donors • Election 2010 • Republican National Committee • political fundraising • campaign spending

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Democrats Winning 2012 Money Race (Sort of)

But numbers don't include independent groups

Rick Perry's Texas Donors Living Large

'Los Angeles Times' analysis finds dozens of examples

Romney Rakes In $18M—and That Worries the GOP

Obama is clobbering Republican candidates in money race

Obama's Big Donors Slow to Write Checks

His fundraising is down compared to 2008

Major Obama Donor Accused of Fraud

Abake Assongba has a troubled past, 'Washington Post' discovers

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?