In G.O.P. Fund-Raising, Dole’s Star Power Dims

[Rose Siding]

The tables were loaded with untouched platters of food as Senator Elizabeth Dole rose this week to introduce her party’s Senate candidate from Nebraska. Sixty people were supposed to be at the fund-raiser, but Mrs. Dole, the host and leader of the Republican effort to hold the Senate this fall, found just 18 people scattered across an expanse of empty carpet......

“I’m going to say it’s going well, because at this point in time, that’s what you need to say,” said Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi, who earlier this year publicly criticized Mrs. Dole’s recruiting efforts.

Senator John Thune of South Dakota, who has already made known that he wants to succeed Mrs. Dole when she finishes her term at the end of the year, said senators pressed Mrs. Dole about the committee’s financial situation at a lunch she held for them on Tuesday......

Other Republicans had harsher views. “Look, we have a lot of Republicans who are on the ropes, this has not been a spectacular year of recruiting, we are way behind in fund-raising,” said Pat Toomey, the president of the Club for Growth, a conservative political action committee. “I don’t see a lot to brag about.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/23/washington/23dole.html?hp&ex=1153713600&en=6f34c109e25d4af0&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[KingFlorez]

1. I didn't know she ever had any star power

She's been a poor leader for the NRSC, not that I care she's been a gift to Democrats since her recruiting was horrible leaving us with less seats to defend.

[Rose Siding]

2. Someone's gotta be tossed under the bus -She's just the first

[cliss]

11. LOL

I love that analogy! I've read it before, but I never get tired of that metaphor for the Repubs!!!:smoke:

[yellowcanine]

26. Ever since she "ran" the Red Cross (into the ground) I have thought

she was a political lightweight. Her forays into presidential politics - whether plugging hubby in 1996 at the RNC with her a la Phil Dohanue audience participation moment or her pathetic effort in 2000-were completely underwhelming. There is no "there" there, imo. All of the hype about here is GOP gender politics, imo.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

3. Glad to know that she's doing just as well at that task-

As she is at representing the people of NC.

[WCGreen]

4. Or at the Red Cross....

[rodeodance]

5. drats --would hope she would keep her job (since she is doing so great) te

he.

[skiddlybop]

6. Wow...a lot of women-hating SEXISTS

in the G.O.P....

She should keep that spot, which she has performed well in, in previous years.

Removing her will prove that Republicans hate women.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

7. Oh goody.

They've started eviscerating each other. Endlessly entertaining, that.

Remember, though: It'sjust horrifying that Ned Lamont is challenging Joe Lieberman. It means the Democratic Party is being torn apart.

:sarcasm:

[Arugula Latte]

22. Yes, and as Democrats we should support Lieberman with no

questions asked for the sake of party loyalty unless, that is, Lieberman loses the primary and goes Independent in which case we should support him because, really, screw party loyalty and who would want to support a radical Greenwich millionaire far-leftist who is too much like a Republican?

:sarcasm:

[JNelson6563]

8. haha Takes more than to be a perfectly

dressed and mannered to play in this league Liddy. :rofl:

Julie

[Hand]

9. I love these feel-good stories! nt

[grilled onions]

10. Way Behind In Fund Raising???

Is that the reason they think they are being elected--to fund raise??? As much as raising cash is needed it seems that it has become an obsession and many times the tax payers--the ones who are supposed to be represented--are the ones who pay for transportation as well as the rallies. BAH

[norml]

12. NYT: In G.O.P. Fund-Raising, Dole's Star Power Dims "She has been lapped"

In G.O.P. Fund-Raising, Dole's Star Power Dims


Stephanie Kuykendal for The New York Times
Senator Elizabeth Dole at a fund-raiser in Washington with Senators Norm Coleman of Minnesota, left, and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska.

By ADAM NAGOURNEY and KATE ZERNIKE
Published: July 23, 2006

WASHINGTON, July 22 — The tables were loaded with untouched platters of food as Senator Elizabeth Dole rose this week to introduce her party’s Senate candidate from Nebraska. Sixty people were supposed to be at the fund-raiser, but Mrs. Dole, the host and leader of the Republican effort to hold the Senate this fall, found just 18 people scattered across an expanse of empty carpet.

Mrs. Dole has been a nearly unstoppable star for 25 years: the secretary of both transportation and labor, the head of the Red Cross and a popular senator from North Carolina, never mind the wife of Bob Dole, the former Senate majority leader and Republican presidential candidate.

But going into the most fiercely competitive Congressional election in 12 years, some Republicans say Mrs. Dole is faltering in her latest job, as head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which raises money, recruits candidates, plots strategy and shapes the party’s message.

She has been lapped in fund-raising by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The latest filing, on Thursday, showed Democrats with $37.7 million on hand, compared with $19.9 million for Republicans. If Senate Republicans are unable to close the gap, it will force the Republican National Committee to step in with financial support in tight Senate races — it had $45 million on hand as of Thursday — creating tensions with House Republicans who want that money used to help them.

snip


Stephanie Kuykendal for The New York Times
Some Republicans have faulted Senator Elizabeth Dole’s efforts to help maintain control of the Senate.

snip

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/23/washington/23dole.html?ex=1153800000&en=035798998b7e3164&ei=5087%0A

[Jo March]

13. Dole is the worst at rubber-stamping

Perhaps even the faithful are getting sick of that???

[Tellurian]

18. The Base has deserted the Republican PaRTY..

Just ask Billy Buckley.

He bought a new set of brakeless roller blades..

[goclark]

14. She is a no good lap dog for the RepubliCONS

and I hope someone is finally seeing the light on these Crooks.

[Kenergy]

15. "popular senator from North Carolina"

She's not popular with me. I think she's one of the worst senators NC has ever had.

[saltpoint]

16. That chair looks damned uncomfortable, doesn't it?

That's part of the problem, right there.

Does this woman own a pair of jeans? She looks stiff and half-frozen. No Viagra Bob jokes intended there.

She just looks sluggish and a bit ashen.

I think she needs to get a bottle of Wild Turkey, rent a convertible, and go for a long drive through the Carolina fields. Do a little thinking.

Her side is losing ground and not as competitive in cash as they need to be to hold the U.S. Senate.

[norml]

17. I like the "Jesus, get me out of here!" expression on Chuck Hagel's face.

[saltpoint]

19. LOL! norml, you floored me with that one. That's EXACTLY what Hagel

looks like.

LOL. Thank you for that one.

[rodeodance]

20. darn, I could have used a good meal.

[CAG]

21. Methinks her free health care policy includes botox... (nt)

[Arugula Latte]

23. ... and face lifts ... n/t

[Javaman]

24. "The tables were loaded with untouched platters of food"

Which I'm sure was thrown away instead of giving it to the homeless.

They are doing the slow death spiral. mrs. dole needs to be revealed to be the hack she is.

We are all edgy due to the stealing of the last few elections, however, I truly hope these repukes get their collective asses handed to them come november.

It would be a sweet moment to watch the assholes* response to that. :)

[Bandit]

25. Maybe she can get Coulter to help her...Ha Haw in Nelson's voice

Coulter held a fundraiser and not a soul showed up, at least dole got eighteen people dumb enough to stop by.