Political Contributions Rise for Some House Dems After Health Care Vote
Some House Dems who switched their votes saw increased contributions this year.
April 22, 2010 -- House Democrats who switched their votes to help pass the new health care law saw their political contributions rise this year, a USA TODAY analysis of new campaign-finance reports show.
They also outraised their Republican challengers during the first three months of the year — as they picked up financial support from fellow Democrats, health care interests, labor groups and others.
Several of the House Democrats who initially opposed the bill represent conservative or swing districts — where the health care bill is less popular — making them GOP targets, said Stuart Rothenberg, of the non-partisan Rothenberg Political Report. "From Day One, it was clear they were going to need a war chest to either dissuade strong opponents or to engage in combat with potentially strong opponents," he said.
Their fundraising advantage comes as the Democrats' campaign committees this week reported a $21 million edge over Republicans in the amount of cash available. Ryan Rudominer, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said passage of the health care bill "energized" donors.
Paul Lindsay, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said GOP candidates will have enough money to compete in an election climate that favors Republicans.
The House Republican campaign committee raised $8 million in March to the Democrats' $9.8 million, the best monthly haul for Republicans since losing control of the House in November 2006, Lindsay said.
Colorado Rep. Betsy Markey— one of six Democrats up for re-election in November who went from "no" to "yes" on health care — raised the most of the group in the first quarter of 2010: more than $500,000. That's twice as much as in the previous quarter.
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