Rusted Sky

Democrats Losing Race For Funds Under Dean

Now, the latest financial numbers are prompting new doubts. From January through September, the Republican National Committee raised $81.5 million, with $34 million remaining in the bank. The Democratic National Committee, by contrast, showed $42 million raised and $6.8 million in the bank.

"The degree to which the fundraising has not been competitive is obviously troublesome," said former congressman Vic Fazio (D-Calif.), who is now a lobbyist here. He expressed confidence in Tom McMahon, Dean's executive director at the DNC.

I imagine it would be. They placed their hopes on his firebrand style - and now it's not paying off.

One House Democratic leadership aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preserve relations with Dean's operation, put it more bluntly: "There is plenty of time, but the red flashing sirens should be going off there."

Yeah, plenty of time. Loads of time. Just because he was the darling of the ABB crowd, and was willing to scream on cue, doesn't necessarily mean he was the best choice for the job. It's a common problem, persuading yourself that what you want in someone is what's actually there.

As critics see it, Dean has disappointed on two fronts. The DNC has not replicated the success of Dean's presidential campaign two years ago in tapping vast numbers of new and smaller contributors over the Internet. And skeptics say he has not yet established rapport with and won the confidence of high-dollar donors.

DNC officials acknowledge that elements of their fundraising operation have started more slowly than expected. But they and other Dean defenders say his record should be viewed in context.

Isn't the music industry phrase for this a "one hit wonder'? Did Dean come out with the "Pina Colada" song, and now he'll never be able to match it again?

The explanation most offered by Dean allies for the sluggish start is that donors are tired of giving after watching Sen. John F. Kerry (Mass.) fail to deliver the White House. Kerry's fundraising success last year raised expectations among Democrats that the days of competing at a financial disadvantage with the GOP were over. For now, they are not.

"We will have the resources to do what we need to do," said Karen Finney, a DNC spokeswoman. "We are committed to investing in state parties and rebuilding the grass roots from the bottom up."

Oh, great. And what framework are you looking at for the grass roots? More people like Cynthia McKinney? (Who's roots may be grass, but most likely not the tall fescue or bermuda variety...) Or perhaps the DailyKos base? Sorry, but I don't find that sort of rhetoric from a national party to be at all supportable, no matter how much you'd like to attract the uncommitted center.

Dean's first eight months at the committee have also been marked by the departure of several members of the fundraising staff, including finance director -- and longtime Dean loyalist -- Lindsay Lewis, who resigned in late September and has yet to be replaced.

DNC sources said the post will be filled by the end of the month and point out that Joseph "Jody" Trapasso, a longtime party fundraiser, has stepped in.

Several Washington Democrats not favorably inclined toward Dean said the party was willing to gamble on his "potential for hoof in mouth disease" -- in the words of one lobbyist -- because of the unexpected fundraising prowess he showed in the 2004 race.

They may have been willing, but it looks like the donors aren't exactly lining up to throw money...

I'm thinking he might have been a bad choice. But then, the Democratic Party's facing some choices right now - it'll be instructive to see how they go.

J.