House Dems go on fundraising offense for 2008
WASHINGTON -- Joe Sestak is a man in a hurry.
After raising $3.3 million to win a seat in Congress from Pennsylvania last fall, Sestak predicted that the 2008 presidential race would soak up most of the political money. So he's raised nearly $1 million for a race that's 15 months away.
Sestak is one of 42 freshman Democrats intent on raising money for their 2008 races in large — and early — quantities. One goal, he readily admits, is to scare away the opposition, of which he has none so far.
"You'd like to think that it would dissuade somebody from getting in" to the race, says Sestak, whose district is in suburban Philadelphia.
"I think it makes people think about it," he says.
Faced with re-electing the largest freshman class since the Republican revolution of 1995, House Democratic leaders urged those with the toughest districts to raise between $600,000 and $1 million in the first six months of the year.
Political experts say the Democrats' fundraising prowess will make it difficult for Republicans to retake the House next year. They need a net gain of 16 seats.
"Based on the current environment and the map, Republicans are long to retake the House," says Nathan Gonzales of the Rothenberg Political Report. "The Democratic fundraising advantage makes it even tougher."
Heading the list is Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, whose $1.4 million in contributions is more than half what she raised during the 2005-06 campaign. She's among the top fundraisers in the House — sandwiched between leaders such as Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
In Gillibrand's case, it hasn't stopped Republicans from entering the race in a district that backed President Bush in 2004.
"I am not at all intimidated by her fundraising," says Sandy Treadwell, a former state Republican chairman and one of several announced challengers. He raised $340,000 through June 30. "We will have the resources to run a very good campaign. I'm focused on raising dollars every day."
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