Lemme say a few more words about John Kerry and this issue of giving to the party committees in the final weeks.
First, John Kerry has done a lot of fundraising and contributing for candidates around the country in the last two years. Here’s a page they’ve just put up on their site making that case.
Second, for all the officeholders now getting dunned for extra money, this is a unique situation. In many cases, these are folks who’ve played by the established rules of the road, ponied up this or that amount. So at least from me, the issue isn’t that these folks are party giving scofflaws or deadbeats.
Yet it is, as I said, a unique situation. We don’t know what will happen on the 7th. But it looks like the Democrats may have an opportunity for a historic tidal wave type election, like 1974 and 1994. But they won’t be able to take maximum advantage of the opportunity without a lot more money right now to fund late-campaign pushes for second and third tier candidates around the country.
So, with Kerry, it’s not that he hasn’t already done a lot. It’s that he’s sitting on a lot of money. And he can do even more. And with these stakes, he should.
But Kerry’s only one guy. And this applies to lots of members of the House and Senate. While I think he should pony up even more, nothing I’m saying here should be construed to mean that he’s uniquely the source of the problem.
Finally, there appears to be a dispute about how much Kerry has given to the DSCC (the senate campaign committee) this cycle. The DSCC records I referenced earlier say he’s given $15,000. He says he’s given $1 million. It’s late and I haven’t been able to speak with all the parties involved. But I’ve looked in this and I believe the issue is this: Kerry gave $1 million to the DSCC just after the 2004 election to help the retire its debt. They, I think, don’t see that as money for this cycle. He does.
Presumably the parties in question can address that particular question tomorrow.
But here’s the bottom line. Candidates sitting on a lot of money should be sending more to the party committees. That’s the only efficient and quick way right now to move the money where it’s needed. Kerry’s folks say he’s already done a ton. I don’t know all the particulars. But I think it’s true. (See the Kerry page to make up your own mind.)
To me at least this isn’t about what’s come before. It’s about right now. More money is needed. Now. And those who are sitting on a lot of it should give more, regardless of what they’ve done to this point.
To those whom much is given, much is expected in return.
