Top Coleman Fundraiser Concedes Growing Hardship, But Presses On
A key question hovering over the Minnesota recount fight: How much longer can Norm Coleman get big money GOP donors to keep funding a legal effort that looks less hopeful by the second?
It’s getting tougher, one of Coleman’s top fundraisers just conceded to me. But Dirk Van Dongen — who heads a group called “Team Coleman,” which is made up of some of the biggest players in D.C.’s permanent establishment of business lobbyists — vowed that Coleman would be fully-funded to the end.
“There are legal limits to what you can give to Norm,” Van Dongen, the president of National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, told me. “Once you get people to max out they can’t do more for him directly. Which means the circle of people you have to reach out to is getting further away from him. That makes it somewhat more difficult to raise money.”
Van Dongen, however, said Coleman fundraisers would press on because of the danger of letting Al Franken put Dems within a filibuster-proof 60 Senate votes. “There’s a strategic dimension to this — the importance of keeping the seat in Republican hands,” he said. “There are people who are providing support to Norm who have never met the man for that reason alone.”
“Coleman will raise the resources that he needs,” added Van Dongen (who’s the father of WhoRunsGov.com editor Rachel Van Dongen). I’m sure Franken is having the same difficulty.”
The NRSC has just plowed another $750,000 into Coleman’s recount effort, raising questions about whether GOP donors are funding an effort they know is doomed merely to keep the seat empty as long as possible.
Asked about this, Van Dongen said the goal was to put Coleman in the seat, but added: “Is it better empty than in Franken’s hands? Hell, yeah.”
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One silver lining perhaps? The more the NRSC gives to that futile fight, the less they will have for the 2010 races.
I hope that last quote gets sent around to all the major outlets Greg. I think you might have gotten this guy to say something that is about to bite Coleman squarely in the arse.
Enlighten me – they can’t just keep on doing this forever, can they? Cause they’re acting like they can.
Good. I say let them waste all of their money on Coleman so they don’t have any come next year.
Another somewhat less key question: How much longer can Spiny Norman get GOOPers to contribute to his fund to reimburse Al Franken’s legal bills after NoCol finally loses?
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Here’s an ad I’d love to see Landslide Al run:
Poor Harry Reid can’t see an opportunity lying within his responsibility. It is his obligation to seat the winning senator. I wonder why the man won’t do the job? Is it an indication he is about to change parties? Is it because he won’t be re elected unless he does?
He gives plum jobs to GOP senators from CT and PA, not to mention holding back votes on matters that the senate could force and win to create a new, law abiding country.
Sad, pathetic, and perhaps, another blackmailed stooge for the shooter. Do you think they talk daily?
I’ve read the comments indicating that the repubs are throwing their money at this mess and will have less to spend. Unfortunately, the dems are doing the same thing and have no choice in the matter. I’ll be glad when it’s over and Franken finally gets seated.
they will wait it out until the SCOTUS nom is confirmed/filibusteres/or whatever ends up happening with that. These last ditch efforts are just more evidence that the GOP needs a change, more here: http://www.newsy.com/videos/gop_soul_search
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