Regular readers of this blog know that I have been pushing safe Democratic incumbents to “use it or lose it” by giving 10 percent of their cash on hand to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee or the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
A source close to Tom Harkin’s campaign tells me that the senator gave $250,000 from his campaign committee to the DSCC this week, after giving $250,000 to the DSCC at the end of September.
Although I have no official confirmation, Harkin could certainly afford to do that in light of these figures from the latest FEC reports:
Tom Harkin (D) *
Raised: $8,775,771
Spent: $5,150,979
Cash on Hand: $3,956,998
Last Report: September 30, 2008Christopher Reed (R)
Raised: $46,720
Spent: $24,628
Cash on Hand: $22,092
Last Report: September 30, 2008
Democrats are poised to win between five and nine Senate seats currently held by Republicans. They will be more successful if the DSCC can put resources behind the emerging challengers such as Jim Martin in Georgia, Bruce Lunsford in Kentucky and Ronnie Musgrove in Mississippi.
If you see Senator Harkin campaigning around the state, thank him for doing the right thing.