January 27, 2004
HEY, WAFFING BOY, NO MOWE BUWWETS:
Employees union pours $1.3 million into pro-Dean campaign (SHARON THEIMER, January 26, 2004, Associated Press)
Rather than hoarding its money to spend against President Bush, a public employees union has spent at least $1.6 million on get-out-the-vote efforts for Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean.The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees political action committee is spending the money independently of Dean's campaign, which allows it to devote as much as it wants to the efforts.
It has spent at least $1.3 million over the last two weeks on mailings, polling, phone banks, ads and other primary spending in several early-voting states. Those include Iowa, which held its presidential caucuses last week; South Carolina, New Mexico and Arizona, which vote Feb. 3; Michigan, which has its primary Feb. 7; and Wisconsin, which votes Feb. 17. [...]
The AFSCME PAC raised at least $4.5 million last year and spent at least $3.9 million. Its latest campaign finance report, covering November, showed it started December with about $1.4 million on hand to spend.
This is the kind of massive strategic error that the more experienced industrial labor movement would never have made. Posted by Orrin Judd at January 27, 2004 08:38 AM
Thats the kind of thing that happens when public employees are allowed near money.
True. But with Soros and other billionaires ready to spend whatever it takes to defeat Bush the regular Dems can spend their money now.
Posted by: AWW at January 27, 2004 08:49 AMThe teachers' union in Florida is still massively in debt from spending they did during the last 2 election cycles. What fun watching such a group cut their own throats.
Posted by: M. Murcek at January 27, 2004 09:27 AMIf the numbers in the run-up to the general election look bad for the dems, Soros' wallet will flap shut very quickly.
Posted by: M. Murcek at January 27, 2004 09:29 AMYes, but imagine the kind of impact that a Soros bankroll could have on four or five senate seats. Thank God he appears to be driven by mostly plain hatred of the President, as opposed to a strategic desire to keep him from actually doing something.
Posted by: MG at January 27, 2004 10:17 AM