The 2008 presidential campaign is off to an unusually early start, with hungry candidates soaking up as much cash as they possibly can. And underneath that, the politician's own campaign committees, including the RNC, the DNC and both party's Senate and House committees, also are digging into the campaign contribution pie. According to CQ Politics.com, the Republican National Committee (RNC) has opened an advantage over its opposite number, but the two Democratic congressional committees are outdrawing their respective opposite numbers. What's also interesting is that they all seem to be spending money already. The RNC is sitting on 12.8M and is debt free, a sizable lead over the Democratic National Committee which has only 6.8M and owes 3M. Over in the House of Representatives, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has opened a big lead, with 9.9M on hand and 5M owed; the National Republican Congressional Committee, by contrast, is in the red, with 2.6M on hand against 7.9M in debt. On the Senate side, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) is well bringing money in much faster than the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), but after pulling out all the stops toward the end of the midterms, 9.5M on hand against 6M in debt. The NRSC stands almost even, with 3.5M on hand against 262K in debt. And here's what they spent in March alone: DCCC (6.5M); RNC (5.8M); NRCC (5.7M); DNC (5.6M); DSCC (1.7M); and RNSC (1.5M).
RBR observation:
Although much of the early spending may be going to organization building, it's a given that a great deal of this cash will wind up in the hands of broadcasters before all is said and done. There is every indication that the 2008 cycle will blow all others out of the water.
More color on financials
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March
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cycle
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March
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cycle
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cash on
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|
|
|
income
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income
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outgo
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outgo
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hand
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debt
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|
RNC
|
7.9M
|
25.6M
|
5.8M
|
15.9M
|
12.8M
|
0
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|
DNC
|
5.4M
|
15.7M
|
5.6M
|
12.6M
|
6.8M
|
3M
|
|
DCCC
|
12.1M
|
19.1M
|
6.5M
|
10M
|
9.9M
|
5M
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|
NRCC
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6.6M
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16M
|
5.7M
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14.8M
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2.6M
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7.9M
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|
DSCC
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8.7M
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13.7M
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1.7M
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4.3M
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9.5M
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6M
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|
NRSC
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3.6M
|
7M
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1.5M
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3.6M
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3.5M
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262K
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Source: CQ Politics.com
