The skinny on second quarter cash
FROM THE POLITICO
July 17, 2009
The Federal Election Commission’s second-quarter fundraising period is often the most important one for House challengers, since it’s their first chance to be taken seriously by national party officials and the Washington political establishment — constituencies that will play a role in their ability to raise even more money for their races.
For targeted members of Congress, the second quarter is equally consequential, since it’s often their last opportunity to build up cash reserves before their opponents get their campaigns and fundraising operations in gear.
With that in mind, POLITICO pored over the hundreds of House candidate filings and found 10 intriguing story lines that emerged from the most recent fundraising reports.
Hastert, the sequel
Attorney Ethan Hastert, the son of former House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), seems to lack the old man’s fundraising touch. And the family name didn’t do him much good, either: He raised just $87,000 — less than a quarter of what his opponent, Rep. Bill Foster (D-Ill.), raised. (Hastert also filed his report one day late.)
Foster, for his part, is taking no chances against the son of his predecessor. He collected $384,000, the fourth-highest total among targeted Democrats.