Martin, Mo Congress challengers pulling in campaign dough
Ed Martin
WASHINGTON — Predictions of a big anti-incumbent election in 2010 might or might not be valid given the many advantages sitting members of Congress hold at re-election time.
But the anti-government sentiments afoot in recent months are providing a bounty for several potential Missouri challengers, among them Ed Martin in St. Louis’s 3rd congressional district, disclosure statements being filed at the Federal Election Commission show.
Martin, a Republican, took in $201,500 in the third quarter of the year, besting the $164,000 reported by Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-St. Louis.
The totals may not reflect some of Carnahan’s recent fundraising efforts, notably an event in St. Louis Oct. 3 feauring House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Carnahan reported $254,000 on hand as of Sept. 30.
Among the surprises in the reports was the success of Tommy Sowers, a Democrat and Army veteran from Rolla who recently announced his intent to take on Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, a seven-term Republican from Cape Girardeau.
Sowers also topped the $200,000 threshold with $204,000 reported, ahead of Emerson’s $120,000 in receipts. Emerson reported $186,000 on hand.
Rep. Ike Skelton, of Lexington, a powerful Democrat and chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, hasn’t had much competition recently during his 32 years in Congress.
GOP State Sen. Bill Stouffer seems intent on proving himself a worthy adversary judging by the $203,000 he raised from July through September in his bid for the Republican nomination. But Skelton looks to be getting ready: He took in $332,000, about two-thirds of it from politcal action committees and had a healthy campaign fund of $600,650 at the reporing period’s end.
Another congressional hopeful, Liz Lauber, of Kirkwood, seemingly has a ways to go to assemble the wherewithal to become the GOP alternative to five-term incumbent Rep. Todd Akin, R-Town & Country. Lauber reported raising $2,600 in her fledgling campaign, about one-third of it her own money.
Akin’s totals were unavailable.
Bill - If it was “anti-incumbent” then wouldn’t Liz Lauber be raising hundreds of thousands of dollars too?
The Democrats will be unseated the next election that is a fact.! Since the Democrats flat out refuse to listen to the American people they have to go, vote each and every one out of office when the times come, we are going to vote staright Republican next time, no more Democratic vote from the this family.
KY3 television in Springfield reports Bill Stouffer’s own brother donated $200 to Ike Skelton. Those who know them best …
What is unquestionably true is that Republicans *believe* there’s going to be a huge anti-incumbent election, and are willing to invest big money in one. The only problem for them is that, as bad as Democrat approval numbers are, approval numbers for the Republican party is much lower than the Democrats: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20091008180643AAJBMmD .
Great job Ed! Look like Russ isn’t the only Carnahsn not having a good day.
http://mopns.com/2009/10/16/media-sleeps-again-while-bloggers-do-their-jobs-for-them/
Nick: Polls show there’s definitely an anti-incumbent sentiment in the land — but you have to figure out how to tap it. Congressional approval ratings are as low as they’ve been in a long time. Fox News poll a few days ago had the rating at 24 percent approval and Gallup and CBS had it even lower at 21 and 22 if I recall. Democrats will point to some generic ballot questions on polls (like CBS last week) showing that GOP ratings are low, too. But Democrats have the most to lose since they run the show in Congress.
Anybody wanna bet that the vast majority of incumbents are returned to their seats in 10? Naw of course you don’t. I wouldn’t either.
The fact is that the American voters are an uneducated bunch and despite the dismal record of Congress, most seats are safe.
Gerrymandering anyone?
Republicans are doing their best to generate anti-incumbancy.
It just won’t work…The stench from Bush will last decades.
Sarah Palin and Rush Limbaugh are their biggest draws…say’s alot.
I know what the polls say, Bill … but history tells us that when people say they want to “throw the bums out” they mean the bums from every congressional district but their own. Will next year be historically different? I know a lot of people who hope so. But I sure wouldn’t bet on it.
Garrison, “a lot” is two words. Notice Nick got this one right, of course.