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Democrats have money advantage in key Senate races.  So what? 

Democrats have money advantage in key Senate races.  So what? 

Among political pundits and the public, there is an assumption that the amount of money in a campaign fund is a major factor in the outcome.  Yes, it is good to have more money than an opponent, but it is not the most important factor by a long shot.

Analyses that make that connection fail to consider THE most important factor in determining the outcome of political races – incumbency.  More than 80 percent of all incumbents win re-election – even facing opponents with more money.  However, incumbents almost always have the most money.  When an incumbent is beaten it is more often than not that the winner had less money than the incumbent.

There is also the reality that a campaign can have too much money.  There comes a point of diminishing returns on the money invested. Hypothetically, if a candidate can effectively flood the market with $18 million, an opponent with $30 million does not have as great a benefit as the cash advantage suggests.

I raise this issue because the Cook Report said that the Democrat incumbents in several key battleground states have campaign funds much larger than their Republican opponents.  The three states rated as the best prospects for a Republican victory are Nevada, Georgia, and Arizona.

In the end-of-June filing, Nevada Democrat Senator Catherine Cortez Masto had almost $10 million in the bank – compared to barely over $2 million for Republican challenger Adam Laxalt. On the other hand, Laxalt has one of the most famous political names in Nevada.

Money also makes less difference when the issues are highly controversial and heated.  In such cases, the public Is more attuned and more motivated.  The number of ads or brochures becomes relatively unimportant.

The greatest money advantage goes to Democrat incumbent Mark Kelly in Arizona.  He has a $25-million-dollar fund.  Much larger than any of the Republicans running in the GOP primary.   The top two contenders are Trump-backed Blake Masters and businessman Jim Lamon, a self-funded candidate.  There Is no knowing how much he will invest in his own campaign.  Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is the only candidate who has won a statewide race, but only has $500,000 in the bank.

In the critical Pennsylvania race, where Dr. Oz is defending the seat held by Republican Senator Toomey Oz is very competitive moneywise.  Oz has loaned his campaign about $3 million compared to Democrat John Fetterman’s $5 million.  But that is after both spent more than $10 million on their primary campaigns.  

The Cook Report may make Democrats giddy for a day, but it has virtually no meaning in terms of the races themselves.  There is a lot of time to raise money with the big PACs dumping dollars nearer the election – and I do not believe that money – or lack thereof – is going to decide any of these races.

So, there “tis.

About The Author

Larry Horist

So, there ‘tis… The opinions, perspectives and analyses of businessman, conservative writer and political strategist Larry Horist. Larry has an extensive background in economics and public policy. For more than 40 years, he ran his own Chicago based consulting firm. His clients included such conservative icons as Steve Forbes and Milton Friedman. He has served as a consultant to the Nixon White House and travelled the country as a spokesman for President Reagan’s economic reforms. Larry professional emphasis has been on civil rights and education. He was consultant to both the Chicago and the Detroit boards of education, the Educational Choice Foundation, the Chicago Teachers Academy and the Chicago Academy for the Performing Arts. Larry has testified as an expert witness before numerous legislative bodies, including the U. S. Congress, and has lectured at colleges and universities, including Harvard, Northwestern and DePaul. He served as Executive Director of the City Club of Chicago, where he led a successful two-year campaign to save the historic Chicago Theatre from the wrecking ball. Larry has been a guest on hundreds of public affairs talk shows, and hosted his own program, “Chicago In Sight,” on WIND radio. An award-winning debater, his insightful and sometimes controversial commentaries have appeared on the editorial pages of newspapers across the nation. He is praised by audiences for his style, substance and sense of humor. Larry retired from his consulting business to devote his time to writing. His books include a humorous look at collecting, “The Acrapulators’ Guide”, and a more serious history of the Democratic Party’s role in de facto institutional racism, “Who Put Blacks in That PLACE? -- The Long Sad History of the Democratic Party’s Oppression of Black Americans ... to This Day”. Larry currently lives in Boca Raton, Florida.

24 Comments

  1. Paul

    There should be a law. These people spend more money than is necessary and are constantly campaining , 24/7 ,365 days a year. Meanwhile we must work 24/7 ,365 just to survive their largesse.

    • tom

      You would be surprised how hard candidates and their staff work during a campaign, and Larry knows this well. I would suggest that if you are working 24/7 365 to overcome the mess these candidates make for you, then become an independent/unaffiliated voter, and switch your vote to a candidate that has policies that will work for you and get you off of that heavy work cycle. Right now that would be the Democratic Party because they do not care if you work and will give you money and cheap health care!!!

  2. carolinadog

    Those who have the greatest advantage are those who control the vote count. Democrats control the voting rigging, the drop boxes, the dead and illegal vote, the scanners and who gets to watch the ballot count. Once a legitimate government has been overthrown from within it is nearly impossible to peaceably restore order. 2020 was a coup.

  3. Frank stetson

    There ought to be a law.

    The only good news here is that, until Trump, most of his money was spent in the US on US services and not foreign imports. Trump changed all that with a few expenditures to court the Russians, and then later the Ukrainians, although that was mostly tax dollars by that time

    And yes, I’ve even impress myself by being able to work Trump into this one 🙂

    • Ben

      You would work trump in if we were discussing ice cream. So let’s talk about about the huuuuge spending bill that dementia joe is trying to ram through. You’re just another two faced hypocrite with your nose up Biden’s ass. And I don’t base my vote on how much campaign money someone has. That’s stupid. I’m an issue voter. A candidate has to be completely conservative and I don’t care if they have all the money in the world. Money is wasted on issues that should be placed on state ballots. Like the abortion debate. But that would require smart thinking. And that’s not a trait of democrats

      • Frank stetson

        You wanted to talk about the new bill in congress, and then you just listed other crap, and didn’t talk about anything except how you’re right and the other side is wrong. Bravo. We did not know you thought that. Bravo

        Let us know when you actually want to discuss issues and you actually can bring some facts to the table to support your views.

        I’ve already addressed Biden’s bill on another thread. I like it, and I haven’t even read it.

        • Kyle

          It’s hard to discuss issues with idiots

          • Ben

            Well, I think that says it all. No discussion possible with Kyle. At least if you’re a Democrat or a liberal or most independent. I guess I leave him around 30% of the country.

  4. Mike

    China mentioned getting Nancy Pelosi on her trip to Taiwan. A little of subject. I’m not saying that I would want that to happen. Or not. I’m keeping my thoughts to myself and my fingers crossed. The point is that we are so damned weak as a nation that we all are in danger from 3rd world shit hole countries. And you morons are worried about campaign money. People need to vote straight republicans all the way. We can see how things work out with democrats. That chink wouldn’t have said those things if trump was still in office. We are being destroyed by the leftist as we speak and Biden’s handlers are leading. It’s clear that the old fool doesn’t have a clue. What if we have an international incident late in the day when he’s sundowning ? We are screwed

  5. Ben

    Mike says he’s not saying he would want to have Pelosi killed, but he’s going to Keep his thoughts to himself while he crosses his fingers.

    Nice site Joe.

    And then he goes on a racist rant while saying that everyone should only vote for straight Republicans. Guess that leaves out a significant portion of the republican party that is gay. What a homophobe and a racist who wants to see Pelosi dead, and Joe supports that hate speak on his site under his deluded freedom of speech definition

    • Mike

      Hey dumbass. I didn’t say that I want Pelosi dead. So since you’re a moron I’ll spell it out for you. I don’t really care just like your crowd doesn’t care about the lives of police, conservative people and babies. And please explain what I said that’s racist. You lost me there too. I guess that you woke assholes are really dead from the neck up. I hope Nancy makes it home safe but if not I won’t cry for her. I just think it’s shameful that you idiots support someone who stands by with his thumb in his ass while a communist party leader threatened the so called speaker of the house. Spewer of the house is more like it. Your kind needs to be in China with him. You remind me of Jane Fonda hanging out with the north Vietnamese and pretending to shoot at our American planes. To sum it up, you’re a fool

  6. BEn

    I said what you said and you said it again.

    Many times other people in the world say things that we do not react to. It happened to trump. North Korea pummeled him in words. What do you wanna do, go to War with China over a verbal threat? Fucking North Korea suggested they would fire nookies and Trump made love to him instead.

    It’s always easy for you guys to send other people’s kids to die for you.

    However, in my case, I would cry for you. Or any other human.

    You used racist language. You figure it out.

    • Burt

      Poor stupid Ben. You seem to forget about Trump letting North Korea know that they would lose their country if they screwed with America. But you still haven’t given a example of racism in Mike’s post. No? I didn’t think so. You’re just another race baiting asshole that’s only good for spreading bullshit. Give up. You lost the argument.

      • BEn

        So Bert what are your real feelings on Democrats having so much money?

        Does it make you feel like a real man to call someone so many names on an anonymous website. So how do you get your rocks off? Because you can’t do it in real life.

        North Korea told Trump a lot of stuff and then went ahead and did what they have been doing all along, they continue the nuclear program, they continue their missile program, they treated Trump as if he didn’t exist.

        If you can’t find the races word in Mike’s peace, what can I say. It’s right there. But no I will not take the bait. Figure it out yourself. Considered a teachable moment.

        What argument? You guys haven’t even launched an idea yet, much less than an argument.

        • Mike

          Hell yes I called him a chink. But that’s short for Chinese. So go suck his commie ass. The democrats are probably turning tricks and pimping kids And I’ll say what I damned well please on line or in person

  7. Ben

    What a brave anonymous man. A closet racist who lies about his real life. And everyone knew you know how you are a racist.

    Usually it’s the guys who can’t compete in life so they look for someone to blame for their inadequacy. .

    • Perry

      Stfu boy MAWA

      • Ben

        There’s another one. Just like the other one.

        • Gary

          Uhoh. There’s another one. Get him!!!!

          • Nathan

            OMG!!!!!! There’s racist everywhere!! Help!!!!! Don’t say chink. Say gook.

  8. Ben

    You can’t fix stupid.

    Boys got balls when anonymous.

    White trash all. . .

    Of course, Joe the whore makes money off it.

    • Nathan

      Who said that I’m white? Are you? You’ll be pleased to know that I’m a colored boy I just learned to get over myself. I’m not special or thin skinned. I even like honkies.

    • Judd

      How about slopes?

  9. Ben

    We know all the names racists use.

    Like I said, brave men on anonymous web sites and behind closed doors. Even pretend to be black to get a racist rise.

    Whatever.

    Just can’t get it up to discuss issues; this is the hest you got. Sigh.

    Joe should step up and do the right thing. Supporting this frap is not right or conservative.

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