
	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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Thursday, Sep. 11, 2008

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SATURDAY UPDATE: Fundraising advantage massive for House Democrats

Before the August primary I wrote about how it appeared the rich were about to get richer in Olympia. Well, they just did.

All four legislative campaign committees have filed their post-primary summary reports, tallying up how much their members could afford to surplus to them, and — surprise, surprise — House Democrats enjoy a dominating fundraising advantage over House Republicans.

The House Democratic Campaign Committee got a little over $1 million in the recent three-week reporting period and as of Aug. 31 was carrying a balance of $1.2 million. The House Republican Organizational Committee got just shy of $80,000 and was carrying a balance of almost $74,000.

It’s a different picture in the Senate, where minority Republicans have outraised majority Democrats. The Senate Republican Campaign Committee reported getting almost $323,000 and was carrying a balance of almost $342,000. The Senate Democratic Campaign Committee got $221,000 and was carrying a balance of almost $264,000.

The committees’ affiliated soft money committees also have reported their totals. These committees can’t make large contributions to individual campaigns but they can spend, if they choose, on independent campaigns for their caucus candidates.

House Democrats’ Harry Truman Fund was carrying a balance of almost $324,000. House Republicans’ Reagan Fund was carrying a balance of $83,000.

In the Senate, the Democrats’ Roosevelt Fund was carrying a balance of almost $274,000. The Republicans’ Leadership Council was carrying a balance of $171,000.

UPDATE: The disparity in the House isn't quite as large now as it was on Aug. 31 and, therefore, reported above. For whatever reason, the biggest checks written by House Republicans weren't written until after the filing period had ended. So that adds about $228,000 to the House Republican Organizational Committee's total. I'm also seeing a few checks from House Democrats that trickled in late, adding another $66,000 to their total.

This doesn't change the big picture. It's just not quite as bleak for House Republicans as a comparison of the summary reports would indicate.

In the Senate I'm seeing about $80,000 in late arriving contributions that didn't show up in the report for the Senate Democrats. I'm not seeing any late arriving contributions for the Republicans, so this means the GOP edge is reduced to being relatively marginal.

UPDATE: In the House, 35 of 63 Democrats (55.6 percent) contributed to their campaign committee. House Republicans had 12 of their 35 members contribute (34.3 percent).

UPDATE: Olympia Rep. Sam Hunt, chairman of the House Democratic Campaign Committee, said its haul was better than expected and was noteworthy considering the departure of two of House Democrats' best fundraisers — Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Helen Sommers and Rep. Jim McIntire of Seattle.

“Helen used to be worth a bundle of money, obviously,” Hunt said.

UPDATE: In a phone conversation Hewitt brushed off his fundraising prowess, saying “I’m the leader. I’m expected to do that.”

But he marveled at the fundraising machine House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, has running and how his sizable majority makes it difficult for donors to spread the dollars.

"Frank's on a tear," Hewitt said. "When you rule with a fear factor people are afraid to do something else."

UPDATE: You think you've got a nice little scoop and then someone steals a duck.

Huh?

I filed a story today about the caucus fundraising totals you've been reading about here. But it is getting bumped to one of the weekend papers by a story about the theft of an inflatable duck in the Tri-Cities.

That’s a true story.

So look for our story Saturday or Sunday. Unless that stupid duck turns up.

SATURDAY UPDATE: For anyone who cares, the duck has been found. But my story ran today anyway.

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