Politico...
Senate Democrats bank
on incumbency
By David Catanese
4/16/11
Democratic senators confronting stiff electoral headwinds next year are
emerging from the first fundraising quarter with an uplifting takeaway:
They’re outraising their opponents out of the gate.
Despite the daunting prospect of defending 23 seats and the residue of
the hypercharged 2010 environment, most Democratic incumbents in
battleground states stockpiled at least $1 million to begin the year as
they hunker down to protect their four-seat majority. Comparatively,
just two Republican challengers hit the million-dollar marker.
Montana’s Jon Tester, Missouri’s Claire McCaskill, Nebraska’s Ben
Nelson, Michigan’s Debbie Stabenow and Pennsylvania’s Bob Casey all
topped their likely GOP opponents in receipts between January and the
end of March. Ohio’s Sherrod Brown, West Virginia’s Joe Manchin and
Wisconsin’s Herb Kohl each won the quarter by default, not having drawn
formal challengers.
And Florida’s Bill Nelson — the only incumbent outraised during the
period — still managed a formidable haul that positions him with a $2
million cash-on-hand advantage.
The totals reinforce the well-known notion that in the scrum for cash,
incumbency remains a potent force.
“We have 23 seats to work hard on. You can’t wait a year and a half, or
even a year, or even six months,” Democratic Senatorial Campaign
Committee chairwoman Patty Murray said in a briefing with reporters.
Overall, Democratic senators amassed around $20 million during the
first quarter, while benefiting from a 350 percent increase in online
donations over 2009 levels.
Murray indicated the new GOP House majority’s agenda has already proven
to be an effective foil for Senate Democrats’ fundraising.
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