Can someone PLEASE tell me why the party won't help in WA State?

[Capn Sunshine]

We are receiving plaintive emails from the only folks who are involved really, such as DFA and Grassroots Dems.

But the 15 million Kerry "held back" ostensibly for these fights:
WHAT IS IT FOR IF NOT FOR THIS?

Why do they have to depend on the grassroots to bail them out again?

An ongoing demonstration of the Kerry people's mastery of bad strategy if you ask me.

[tavalon]

1. It saddens and confuses me as well.

[medeak]

2. he just wired $

Seattle Post-Intelligencer ^ | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- John Kerry has wired $250,000 in unspent campaign funds to help Democrats pay for a second recount in the election for Washington state governor, party officials say. The donation Wednesday about doubled the available funds but the party still has no more than half the $1 million or more required to pay for a hand recount of all 2.9 million ballots, chairman Paul Berendt said. "John Kerry really came to our rescue," Berendt said, "but our ability to pay for a statewide recount is still subject to money which is not in... "We are working to move...

[LisaM]

3. They are helping - I heard it on the radio today

I heard they were supplying at least half a million dollars. It's coming from the Kerry recount fund (from what I heard.) I'm sure that they were just figuring out the best place from which to get the funds. Actually, if they are worried about spending too much out of the Kerry recount fund, I find that encouraging - they must have some other plans for that money too. In the meantime, they are trying to raise more money, and I think that's okay. Frankly, I have been in Washington for years and never got around to contributing to the state Democratic party until yesterday - which I should have done far earlier.

[Capn Sunshine]

4. these stories are around , but note no one can verify

My point is THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE FROM DAY ONE WITH A CHECK FOR A MILLION DOLLARS.

[LisaM]

5. First of all, they don't need to pay for a full state recount

they only NEED to pay for selected counties; if that turns the results, the state will pay for the rest. I, for one, don't see any use in paying for more than we need to. The state Republicans are blathering on about doing the whole state or it won't be fair. The reality is that the whole state WILL probably be recounted by hand. With a difference as low as 42 votes, I don't really see why either party should pay for all of it. This is a statistical tie. The Republicans are trying to force us to spend more than we ought. I don't blame the Kerry campaign for being fiscally sound. This is what we wanted of him as President, no? And by the way, when Republicans are in this same situation, they turn to private donors in a heartbeat. They are trying to drain our available resources, and Gregoire is being smart enough not to do that.

[KerryDownUnder]

6. It's all well and good that Kerry wrote a check for $250K, but...

they needed a check for $1 million. He's supposedly got $15 million in the bank. The difference is 42 votes. Do you want to risk another $1 million after spending millions to get where we are in this race? Do you want to risk letting the Republicans get their foot in the Pacific-NW?

I don't understand why there is any hesitancy here. Write the damn check.

I'm hoping they're simply trying to get as many new contributions as possible before they make up the shortfall, but is it really necessary to let the clock tick down to 00:01 on this deadline before putting our minds at ease?

[LisaM]

7. They don't need 1 million for a PARTIAL recount

which is all they are required under law to ask for.

[Capn Sunshine]

9. The mandatory state fee could EXCEED 1 million dollars

250 k is nice, but less than 25% of the budget needed. You think the repubs are quibbling about this in like fashion?

[Robbien]

8. I gave money directly to WA Democratic Party, the DNC will never

get another dime from me. The only time the DNC ever contacts us is when they have their hand out begging. They never tell us what they are doing or what is going on. They never listen to Progressives. They cater to the Center and the Center-Right. They should go to that base of GOP-like people and beg for money.

[Born_A_Truman]

10. DNC emailed

Got an email from DNC yesterday:

I need your immediate help. You've probably heard about the extremely close race for governor here in Washington. Only 42 votes separate my opponent and me, and thousands of ballots across the state haven't been counted.

This is by far the closest race in the history of our state, and one of the closest the nation has ever seen. That means we must make sure that every single legitimate ballot has been counted -- and that means a statewide manual recount of every vote.

Washington state law requires the party requesting the recount to pay for it, and it will cost at least $750,000. The Democratic Party is committed to this recount, but they need your immediate donation today to make it happen. Please give today.