Congress Watch: Dems look to raise big bucks
This the last week before Congress gets out of Washington for the month of August, but no one really thinks it's going to be quiet around the capital. There is simply too much to do when Congress returns, and while many will be watching to see if Democrats and left-leaning groups can develop a real campaign against John Roberts' nomination to the Supreme Court, the real action will be in the ongoing and sometimes desperate Democratic effort to pick up a few Senate seats in 2006.
Facing a 10-vote disadvantage, 55-45, after losing four seats in 2004, Democrats have seen many formerly stymied GOP initiatives become law during the last session of Congress. The energy bill that seems set to gain approval this week is one example of legislation that had died on the shoals of Democratic objection during the last Congress that will likely now survive those objections to become law. So Democrats are focused on improving their numbers, and they are putting up big dollars to better their chances.
Recent campaign-funding reports show a surge in Democratic fundraising for the Senate when compared with the GOP, a decided departure from the usual story line. In the first six months of this year, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee raised $22.6 million, while the National Republican Senatorial Committee, raised $20.9 million. Even more tellingly, Democrats ended the reporting cycle with $15.2 million in the bank, almost twice as much as the $8 million reported by the NRSC. And the difference, interestingly, is the $2.6 million contributed by Democratic senators to the DSCC. Meanwhile, contributions from GOP senators to their campaign committee have been lagging. Democratic staffers say the generosity of Democratic lawmakers is an indication of their deepening frustration with the majority, but it may also reflect the quiet sense among Democrats that they have a chance of turning the President Bush's recent public opinion troubles against Republicans in 2006. Or it might simply be a matter of wanting to be called Mr. Chairman, instead of just plain Senator.
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