In Politics, $700,000 Can't Be Wrong

For better or worse, if many politicians care about anything, it's the bottom-line. Given that Romney is known for raising money and likely drew a lot of larger corporate donations - at the same time Palin was enduring attack after attack from the Democrats and the media, these numbers are not bad at all. They will force other Republicans to pay attention, especially as they move into 2010 and need any dollars they can get to campaign. It'll be interesting to watch the trend going forward, particularly if Palin starts spending more time in the lower forty-eight.

Sarah PAC, the political action committee formed by Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin earlier this year to maintain her national profile, raised $733,000 in the first six months of the year, according to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission today.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney leads the way in terms of fundraising by potential 2012 Republican candidates. Romney showed nearly $1.4 million raised through his Free and Strong America PAC at the end of May.

Palin's showing is, however, a sign that she can raise cash at the national level and that she will be a player in the 2010 midterm elections if she, as expected, chooses to involve herself in downballot races.

It is all the more impressive given the chaos that surrounded her operation -- and herself -- over the first half of 2009. If Palin can spend her time out of office organizing a serious national effort, these numbers suggest the financial support is out there to help her.

Comments

[AWW]

Agree that this is a pretty good sign for Sarah. I really believe her note the other day that she will support candidates based on their policy positions, not the R or D next to their name. You would hope the national GOP would get this concept. Look at PA where Toomey is raising money just fine and inching up in the polls as the PA voters get to know him.

As for Romney I would like to see him say some good things about Palin or at least do something to dispel the notion that he or his camp is behind the Palin attacks. If they are behind the attacks he isn't going anywhere in 2012.

[IslamoLlama]

Hahaha! Sarah Palin raises less money than Mitt Romney, in part because she's the center of attacks from within her own party, and this is a Good Thing For Sarah! because it shows she's at least raising something. Mittens doesn't have a chance against Sarah if he's got both bigger fund raising AND party backing on his side, while Palin relies on the chaos surrounding her operation and her own political inexperience. You betcha!

[Scott]

Palin and Tea Party movement, maybe? I'm not the first to suggest it, I know, but it looks possible. According to Rick Perry, Palin has committed to campaigning for him in the 2010 governor's race. Perry, for those who may not know, was a decent size sensation at some Texas Tea Party gatherings where he mentioned secession from a socialist America. A Tea Party connection? Possibly.

As AWW notes, she has also put space between her and the Republican Party, making the issue philosophical and not party loyalty. I think it was a smart move. She can separate herself from the disaster of the McCain race. The more the McCain camp smears her, the better she looks.

I Voted For the Chick!

[Jack Okie]

IslamoLlama:

No one in the GOP is attacking Sarah except the Washington elites. They are as afraid of her as the Democrats. The Vichy Republicans are going for a fall; they won't know what hit them. Once people see that Sarah is committed to raising money for, and campaigning for, conservatives regardless of party, candidates will emerge who would never have run otherwise.

Sarah attracted over 20,000 people to Auburn,NY's Founders' Day. Biden can't seem to break 200 people at his appearances. Sarah resonates with many more people than just the insiders. Many, many people, not just the Tea Partiers, are getting active in politics for the first time. They will take over the GOP at the grass roots, and make it a true conservative party. And think you'll find that all your assumptions about the political complexion of the country are wrong.

BTW, do you have any mode besides sneer/snark?

[narciso]

She raised almost a million dollars with no fundraisers, actually she refused one when she went to Auburn, small donors, no corporate officials, average people. Romney probably raised it from all his banking pals that received TARP funds, just like Obama received the lionshare from Lehman, BofA, Countrywide, Goldman, et al

[Alan H (Buanadha)]

Romney is a good soldier with a lot of contacts and is actually underrated because he comes off as almost too polished, but his charisma isn't anything near what Palin brings to the table.

Outside of Obama in this past election, Palin is the only Republican who can go out and really routinely fill 30K and even 60K venues. Because of that, her fundraising is almost unlimited. While most people were following the lead of the media (who thought they'd gotten rid of her with their unprecedented attacks), I thought that this was a very shrewd, if risky move by her.

1. she is free of the attacks and free to travel (not to mention cementing her handpicked successor into place as governor.. could you imagine the endless "show trials" had a democrat won the next alaskan governor's election?

2. she has the time and money to become necessarily "wonkish". She can get a team, and can be on TV every weekend if she wants in favorable situations, travelling to DC or to whatver state she wants to support whoever she wants (piling up many, many IOU's)

which brings me to...
3. The Cap&Trade issue is being decided now, not next year. It is an issue with which she is intimately knowledgeable. The Tea party protests are also happening NOW. Time really is of the essence her. If she waited a year, her opportunity here would be lost. Killing Cap&Trade and even becoming a focal point for the tea party protests are thigns that she could potentially do.

think of this - if Cap&Trade dies (and national healthcare also suffers a subsequent death), AND the campaigns for a roster of 2010 candidates that do well, she is truly in the driver's seat for 2012. It may not come off exactly like this, but I don't doubt that she has something like this in mind.

JMHO

[seekeronos]

Sarah is a lot smarter than she has let on... and the more the Red Press and the Vichy GOP smear and snub her, the bigger the shock will be when her actions and wisdom are vindicated.

[Nathan C.]

Also It has been reported that since her resignation her Pac raised 200k. And that does not include the Money she has raised in the Alaska Trust Fund. Though that is probably has a high number of people giving to both.