They're Not Leaving It On The Road

As the election nears, it's clear that we are looking at the potential for not just a victory but a realignment. The House and Senate gains made in this election could sustain a majority for a generation. We can reach upwards of 260 House seats and 60 Senate seats and maybe even more. The candidates hoping to ride this wave need only the funds to get their name out.

The DNC is taking out a $10 million dollar line of credit to fund these close House and Senate races. But the incumbent Democratic lawmakers themselves are not doing their part. Far too many politicians want to hang on to their own campaign money, either as a hedge for a potential higher office or plain old incumbency protection. At this moment, when we are this close to a lasting majority, it's wrong. And progressive Reps. helping members get elected would increase their power. The Blue Dogs seem to understand this. Steny Hoyer understands it. The Progressive Caucus doesn't, at least not to my satisfaction.

Nancy Pelosi is trying to use peer pressure.

Earlier this week, Pelosi sent an e-mail to her Democratic caucus identifying some 30 members who have been tardy in paying their dues to the party's House camapaign arm this cycle.

The message was loud and clear: Badger away.

"Enclosed, please find a list of our colleagues who have only fulfilled 50 percent or less of their dues obligations," Pelosi and her fellow Democratic House leaders wrote in the e-mail. "Please encourage them to be a part of the team. The number of seats we gain will depend on the resources we have to compete in these closing days."

The letter explained that, while House Democrats found themselves in a strong position just two weeks to Election Day, "we cannot take anything for granted."

But at week's end just a few of those tardy members had paid up, according to a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee dues sheet obtained by PolitickerCA.com.

The problem is much the same in the Senate.

On the cusp of winning a filibuster-proof 60 vote majority, Democratic Senators are hoarding their personal campaign chests, demonstrating more self interest than a willingness to share their money in order to gain firm control of the Senate.

While sitting on more than $100 million in donations and most facing no contest this year, the Senate's 51 Democrats have given the party's key Senatorial Campaign Committee, the DSCC -- headed by Chuck Schumer (D-NY) this year -- $11.3 million, or just over $220,000 apiece on average. Some 21 members have contributed less than $100 [...]

New York Senator Hillary Clinton, who is not up for election until 2012 and who has $6.68 million cash on hand, gave a total of $115,000 to the DSCC. Indiana's Evan Bayh, who has $11.3 million on hand and is up in 2010, gave $15,000. Barbara Boxer who has an even $4 million in the bank in preparation for her re-election bid in 2010, donated $30,000.

In fact, if every Democratic Senator who is not up for re-election this year, or who is sure to win on November 4, gave just 10 percent of their cash-on-hand to the DSCC, it would total $10 million for the closing week -- a substantial sum for of television time in key target states.

This is really awful. Even Sen. Obama, who to his credit has sent emails out to his very large list highlighting Democratic candidates, could probably do more, although I get that he's got a race of his own to take care of.

But the Senate and House Dems who have virtually no competition of their own have no excuse. They are protecting themselves instead of fulfilling their obligations. They are sabotaging the agenda they claim to support by not reaching the maximum number of Democratic colleagues that could help them. It's disgraceful.