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Dem challengers strong in third quarter House reports |
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By Aaron Blake
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Posted: 10/16/08 05:44 PM [ET] |
The final quarterly reports before the 2008 election show many challengers besting their incumbent opponents and Republicans in trouble.
Democratic challengers outraised GOP incumbents in about two dozen competitive districts in more than 10 states.
Republican Reps. Don Young (Alaska), Bill Sali (Idaho), Jon Porter (Nev.) and Dave Reichert (Wash.) were all outraised by hundreds of thousands of dollars. All are running in races considered toss-ups by political observers.
Young was again soundly outraised by former state Rep. Ethan Berkowitz (D), who raised nearly three times as much as Young’s $220,000. Berkowitz pulled in $600,000 and also leads in cash on hand.
Sali, whose starkly conservative Idaho district is imperiled by a well-funded Democratic challenger, was outraised by a similar margin. Former Senate candidate Walt Minnick (D) raised $440,000 to Sali’s $230,000.
Minnick also self-funded $550,000 and outspent Sali, $1.2 million to $270,000, for the quarter.
Porter was topped $720,000 to $480,000 by former gubernatorial candidate Dina Titus (D), who got a late start this cycle but is a top Democratic hope.
Reichert also fell victim to a huge quarter by his repeat challenger, Democrat Darcy Burner. Burner raised an unparalleled $1.2 million for the quarter, more than doubling Reichert’s $550,000.
Other vulnerable or potentially vulnerable GOP incumbents who were outraised included: David Dreier (Calif.), Brian Bilbray (Calif.), Marilyn Musgrave (Colo.), Christopher Shays (Conn.), Vern Buchanan (Fla.), brothers Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart (Fla.), Tom Latham (Iowa), Tim Walberg (Mich.), Joe Knollenberg (Mich.), Sam Graves (Mo.), Patrick McHenry (N.C.), Dean Heller (Nev.), Randy Kuhl (N.Y.), Jean Schmidt (Ohio), Henry Brown (S.C.), John Culberson (Texas) and Frank Wolf (Va.).
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