Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
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Chris Mulick has worked for the Herald since 1998 and has served as the statehouse correspondent covering state government and politics since 2000. He works year-round out of the Herald's Olympia bureau on the state Capitol campus. Have a question? Send Chris an e-mail and he'll answer the best questions regularly. |
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closeIn our story yesterday that surveyed the landscape for this year’s legislative campaigns we reported how House Democrats have built a dominating fundraising advantage over their Republican counterparts.
But to understand how strong it is you have to look beyond the big cash on hand advantages the House Democratic Campaign Committee (roughly six-to-one) and the Harry Truman Fund (roughly four-to-one) have over the two House Republican committees.
For starters, both Democratic committees already have far outspent the two Republican committees. They’ve paid for polls for at least 16 of their candidates, put more money into targeted legislative districts than Republicans and recently produced a get out the vote mailer urging voters to “Vote Democratic in 2008.” That appears to have cost at least $120,000.
But you also have to look ahead to the money these committees will get in the days following the primary and House Democrats, in large part because of their sheer number, have collectively raised far more than Republicans have and will have more they can surplus to their caucus campaign committee.
As we reported, 55 House Democratic incumbents on the ballot carried a collective campaign balance of $2.3 million while 31 House Republican incumbents had just $1 million. What’s more, once you get below the top tier races it appears as though Democrats may have a somewhat deeper fleet of candidates and that more Republicans may have to hang on to their cash to help them stave off challengers.
And since Democrats can afford to put money into Republican districts they’ve not won in for some time House Republicans’ two caucus committees may have to shift resources to defending seats, too.
Money isn’t the only factor that determines who wins elections and, since there are so many safe districts, isn’t likely to make a difference in the vast majority of legislative races on the ballot. But in the key House races that will determine who gains and who loses seats Republicans figure to be heavily outspent.
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