With just months to go ahead of the 2020 elections, the national GOP is struggling to mount a credible campaign to take back control of the House, no matter the pompous proclamations otherwise from Republican leaders like President Donald Trump himself. Behind the scenes, some of them, like House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), are freaking out. Stunningly, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) raised a full $40 million more than the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) in 2019, which is not exactly a good sign for Republican chances! On the one hand, supporters of Democrats — and more specifically, Trump opponents — are obviously energized, and additionally, Dems are clearly ready to build a bigger campaign machine than their Republican counterparts in Congress.
On Tuesday, POLITICO’s Jake Sherman reported:
‘HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP used a closed party meeting this morning to concede they are in the midst of a full-blown fundraising crisis… House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy put the fundraising problems bluntly: “They are kicking our ass,” he said, in a meeting at the Capitol Hill Club, the private GOP haunt around the corner from the Capitol.’
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy put the fundraising problems bluntly: "They are kicking our ass," he said, in a meeting at the Capitol Hill Club, the private GOP haunt around the corner from the Capitol, referring to Democrats.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 28, 2020
That’s definitely pretty blunt! How long are public Republican claims of a red wave or whatever going to go on while they’re continuing this desperate struggle to come up with the same level of funds as their Democratic challengers? Considering the GOP penchant for detaching from reality that runs all the way up to the president himself — they might keep their public about-face going for awhile, no matter the glaring reality of the situation.
But behind the scenes, at that same Republican leaders’ meeting, NRCC Chairman Rep. Tom Emmer (Minn.) added:
‘My intention today is to sound a loud alarm. We can’t ignore the campaigns that need to get better with their individual fundraising… They’re crushing us.’
According to Sherman, Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte — who attracted scrutiny for physically assaulting a reporter during his initial campaign run — responded right then and there by writing a check to the NRCC for $250,000, but that’s not exactly about the make up for the massive gaps between Democratic and Republican fundraising across the country.
At least one person was roused to action. Rep. @GregForMontana (R-Mont.) — who is leaving Congress to run for his state's governorship — wrote a $250,000 check to the party committee during an altar call.
— Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) January 28, 2020
The NRCC has resorted to desperate antics before. After the House voted to approve rules for the impeachment proceedings, they sent suspicious packages to House Dems, which attracted the attention of Capitol Police.
As a reporter explained at the time:
‘Apparently the NRCC sent some frontline Democrats “moving boxes” after the impeachment vote, but because the boxes looked like suspicious packages, Capitol Police were called to investigate. So that’s neat.’
Apparently the NRCC sent some frontline Democrats “moving boxes” after the impeachment vote, but because the boxes looked like suspicious packages, Capitol Police were called to investigate. So that’s neat.
Pic from a source: pic.twitter.com/SJqFFKnaEm
— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) October 31, 2019
The NRCC has also mocked various individual Democrats over their height, utilization of marriage counseling, and loss of a family member to gun violence, well exemplifying their desperation.
On the presidential race level, slightly more money went to the Trump campaign than Democratic candidates. Trump and the Republican Party collected $154 million in the fourth quarter of 2019, while Democratic presidential candidates collectively raised just $142 million in that same time frame. No matter the numbers, polls are pretty clear — a majority of Americans disapprove of the president.
