IL-GOP: The Gang That Cannot Shoot Straight
New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann, whose campaign was dogged by fundraising woes, didn’t gain much momentum in his campaign to succeed Weller in the GOP-leaning exurban Chicago district.
Leading Republicans in House leadership gave money to Baldermann’s campaign, but he never was able to garner much financial support from individual contributors.
Baldermann told his local newspaper last month that he had “done very little fundraising,” raising concerns among the party establishment.
“I have done very little fundraising. It makes me sick to my stomach. My campaign people gave me a list of people who gave money to [Weller]. I told them, ‘If you think I’m going to call somebody who’s never heard of me and ask for $2,300, that’s insane.’ I fight with them every single day over it,” Baldermann told the Southtown Star newspaper in January.
‘If you think I’m going to call somebody who’s never heard of me and ask for $2,300, that’s insane’
I think it’s insane to run for Congress and not think you are going to do that. Apparently the turnip truck dumped him at Jerry Weller’s door?
You could see this coming:
* This is not good news for Republicans hoping to hold onto retiring Congressman Jerry Weller’s seat…
“I have done very little fundraising,” [GOP candidate Tim Baldermann] said. “It makes me sick to my stomach. My campaign people gave me a list of people who gave money to (Weller). I told them, ‘If you think I’m going to call somebody who’s never heard of me and ask for $2,300, that’s insane.’ I fight with them every single day over it.
“They wanted my Christmas card list. I’m not doing that stuff. I refuse to do it. The Republican Party wanted me to run; the Republican Party should help fund my campaign.”
So, he’s only gonna raise money from people he knows, except he won’t even do that? Yeah, that’ll work out well.
Campaigning is not a pretty business, but there are things that just have to be done unless you’re wealthy. Cold calls, putting the arm on friends and family are all necessary if you want to compete in a game where contributions are capped and the competition is stiff.
Debbie Halvorson and the Democrats must’ve smiled broadly when they read that passage. [See update below.]
=======
*** UPDATE *** A representative from Tim Baldermann’s campaign just called. I was assured that while Baldermann doesn’t love fundraising he is diligently making calls and doing what it takes.
Just thought I’d let you know.
No one enjoys fundraising, but most people kind of understand it goes with the process.
To add to the fun, The Hill has this:
One source said Baldermann was disappointed with the amount of fundraising support he was getting from the party.
The Party? You mean the Party that has a broke House Campaign Committee?
Currently the net Cash on Hand minus Debts for the NRCC is around $4 million and the DCCC has about $30 million. Let’s make this clear to the GOP candidates for the House–you are on your own. Just suck it up and deal. On top of this the number of Republican retirements is huge leaving a ton of Districts with open seats such as Illinois 11.