red states rule
08-06-2007, 05:37 AM
More on why Rudy is still the front runner
Giuliani masters the fundamentals
By: Jeanne Cummings
Jul 16, 2007 06:38 PM EST
While Republicans John McCain and Fred Thompson grab headlines for the foundering of one 2008 presidential campaign and the promise of another, Rudy Giuliani's campaign fundamentals are growing stronger.
Giuliani captured the Republican fundraising winner's title in the second quarter, reporting more than $17 million in campaign donations. Only Mitt Romney got close to him, raising more than $14 million from contributors.
But underneath those broad sums there is even greater evidence of strength in the former New York mayor's camp than in other Republican operations. Giuliani has raised more than a million dollars in five states: California, Florida, New Jersey, New York and Texas. Romney has just two million-dollar states: California and Utah.
A review of Giuliani's fundraising pace also shows a steady operation that is bringing in a consistent flow of cash, unlike the sporadic big-dollar days that pop up throughout the other candidates' reports.
Giuliani raised more than $100,000 on 51 of the second quarter's 91 days, often raising upward of $300,000. In contrast, Romney had just 33 days when he raised more than $100,000. At the end of that quarter, Romney reported $12.1 million in cash in the bank -- more than half of it from loans he has made to his campaign. Giuliani had $18 million in the bank, and all of it came from other people.
To be sure, money doesn't solve all problems in politics. Giuliani still must resolve a disconnect between his moderate position on abortion rights and past support for gun control with the right-leaning Republican Party activist base. But the efficiency shown by his early campaign records suggests he will have the resources to get his message out and defend it when attacked by others.
"They are amassing significant amounts of cash," said Anthony Corrado, a campaign finance expert at Colby College. "He will be in a position to do a significant amount of advertising and campaigning later this year."
Still, Corrado wonders if the failure of any well-known conservative candidate to match Giuliani is paving the way for a late entry by former Tennessee Sen. Thompson. Unlike in previous cycles, Democrats are outraising Republicans this year, adding credence to anecdotal reports that some Republicans are sitting on their checkbooks for now. "There seems to be a large space there for another candidate," he said.
In these early months, Giuliani also appears to be the lone Republican front-runner who is organizing his campaign machinery with an eye on expenses. McCain's campaign has burned through about $24 million since January, taking into account the candidate's $1.8 million in debt.
Romney has spent even more, issuing checks for more than $30 million. His payroll is nearly $2 million, and he has already spent about $5 million on television ads. Another $1.8 million of Romney cash went to "finance consulting," which usually means fundraising help. Overall, the former governor of Massachusetts is spending about $4 million per month on his campaign.
After the late start to his campaign, Giuliani has begun aggressively building his operation, but he's spending at a slower rate so far. His monthly "burn rate" in the second quarter was about $3.6 million. His payroll is $1.6 million, the only expenditure area that exceeded a million dollars in the third quarter. Overall, he has spent just $17 million since January.
Of course, things can change quickly, as McCain's dramatic fall from front-runner status has shown. Giuliani's internal numbers show he is building one of the biggest campaign networks among the notable Republican candidates, which could send his costs soaring and test his ability to maintain his fundraising pace.
Like his competitors, he has opened offices in New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina, the three traditional early-primary states. But Giuliani also is basing his campaign in New York, which carries big leasing costs, and he's now renting spaces in some of the big states that have moved their primaries. According to his reports, he has opened offices in New Jersey, Florida, Illinois and California. Even the free-spending Romney camp has not extended his campaign operations -- and financial obligations -- that far across the primary map.
Giuliani supporters have made it clear that he plans to compete hard in California, where the delegates are doled out according to congressional districts. That means Giuliani could win the Republican primary in Democratic-leaning districts and still wind up with as many delegates as a candidate who wins such Republican-rich districts as Orange County.
Florida also looms on the primary campaign's radar screen, since it's aiming to hold its primary on Jan. 29. Giuliani doubled his fundraising in the Sunshine State in the second quarter and has made frequent campaign stops there.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0707/4969.html
Giuliani masters the fundamentals
By: Jeanne Cummings
Jul 16, 2007 06:38 PM EST
While Republicans John McCain and Fred Thompson grab headlines for the foundering of one 2008 presidential campaign and the promise of another, Rudy Giuliani's campaign fundamentals are growing stronger.
Giuliani captured the Republican fundraising winner's title in the second quarter, reporting more than $17 million in campaign donations. Only Mitt Romney got close to him, raising more than $14 million from contributors.
But underneath those broad sums there is even greater evidence of strength in the former New York mayor's camp than in other Republican operations. Giuliani has raised more than a million dollars in five states: California, Florida, New Jersey, New York and Texas. Romney has just two million-dollar states: California and Utah.
A review of Giuliani's fundraising pace also shows a steady operation that is bringing in a consistent flow of cash, unlike the sporadic big-dollar days that pop up throughout the other candidates' reports.
Giuliani raised more than $100,000 on 51 of the second quarter's 91 days, often raising upward of $300,000. In contrast, Romney had just 33 days when he raised more than $100,000. At the end of that quarter, Romney reported $12.1 million in cash in the bank -- more than half of it from loans he has made to his campaign. Giuliani had $18 million in the bank, and all of it came from other people.
To be sure, money doesn't solve all problems in politics. Giuliani still must resolve a disconnect between his moderate position on abortion rights and past support for gun control with the right-leaning Republican Party activist base. But the efficiency shown by his early campaign records suggests he will have the resources to get his message out and defend it when attacked by others.
"They are amassing significant amounts of cash," said Anthony Corrado, a campaign finance expert at Colby College. "He will be in a position to do a significant amount of advertising and campaigning later this year."
Still, Corrado wonders if the failure of any well-known conservative candidate to match Giuliani is paving the way for a late entry by former Tennessee Sen. Thompson. Unlike in previous cycles, Democrats are outraising Republicans this year, adding credence to anecdotal reports that some Republicans are sitting on their checkbooks for now. "There seems to be a large space there for another candidate," he said.
In these early months, Giuliani also appears to be the lone Republican front-runner who is organizing his campaign machinery with an eye on expenses. McCain's campaign has burned through about $24 million since January, taking into account the candidate's $1.8 million in debt.
Romney has spent even more, issuing checks for more than $30 million. His payroll is nearly $2 million, and he has already spent about $5 million on television ads. Another $1.8 million of Romney cash went to "finance consulting," which usually means fundraising help. Overall, the former governor of Massachusetts is spending about $4 million per month on his campaign.
After the late start to his campaign, Giuliani has begun aggressively building his operation, but he's spending at a slower rate so far. His monthly "burn rate" in the second quarter was about $3.6 million. His payroll is $1.6 million, the only expenditure area that exceeded a million dollars in the third quarter. Overall, he has spent just $17 million since January.
Of course, things can change quickly, as McCain's dramatic fall from front-runner status has shown. Giuliani's internal numbers show he is building one of the biggest campaign networks among the notable Republican candidates, which could send his costs soaring and test his ability to maintain his fundraising pace.
Like his competitors, he has opened offices in New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina, the three traditional early-primary states. But Giuliani also is basing his campaign in New York, which carries big leasing costs, and he's now renting spaces in some of the big states that have moved their primaries. According to his reports, he has opened offices in New Jersey, Florida, Illinois and California. Even the free-spending Romney camp has not extended his campaign operations -- and financial obligations -- that far across the primary map.
Giuliani supporters have made it clear that he plans to compete hard in California, where the delegates are doled out according to congressional districts. That means Giuliani could win the Republican primary in Democratic-leaning districts and still wind up with as many delegates as a candidate who wins such Republican-rich districts as Orange County.
Florida also looms on the primary campaign's radar screen, since it's aiming to hold its primary on Jan. 29. Giuliani doubled his fundraising in the Sunshine State in the second quarter and has made frequent campaign stops there.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0707/4969.html