Money Matters
The special at-large election is a week away and candidates had to file campaign finance reports last night. The most notable disclosure: how much money Vincent Orange can recklessly spend over the next seven days.
The cash-on-hand totals:
Orange: $135,000
Sekou Biddle: $25,000
Josh Lopez: $19,000
Pat Mara: $15,000
Bryan Weaver: $31,000
You can see that Orange is dominating the money race, with more than four times as much as Weaver, more than five times as much as Biddle, more than seven times as much as Lopez and nine times as much as Mara.
As former Mayor Adrian Fenty can tell you: money don't vote. But everyone and their moms keeps telling LL that these low turnout special elections are all about who can best get their voters to the polls. Orange has enough money to drive each of his voters to the polls in an orange-painted limousine (fully loaded, of course) if he so chose.
10:15 am
Why do you thing $135,000 to spend in the last week of a citywide campaign is making it available to "recklessly spend"?
Have you every really been involved in a campaign, Alan? Or do you simply like to type such things for amusement and affect?
10:17 am
The real question should be: Why don't any of the other candidates attact any visible support?
10:19 am
The other question: Why can't I spell 'think' and 'attract" ;^)
10:20 am
Oh, and Alan (since you're paid to do this) - I think the last line above should end with 'choses'. ;^)
10:48 am
Wow, does this mean Vincent stands accused of garnering his resources until they could be used to best effect? Clearly that kind of reckless behavior won't serve him well with the One-City gang led by Pussy Whipped and Fully Loaded.
I can just see him if let loose on the Council again. Before PW and FL know what is happening ol' Vincent will be showing up ready to work hard, thinking things through, thinking before acting, keeping his powder dry, cooperating with his colleagues. No wonder PW and FL consider him dangerous. Fully Loaded is supposedly really upset having heard that Vincent had read and understood the DC budget. That can only make Fully look bad!
10:50 am
I want to know who the Morgan Le Fay is behind the scenes pulling the strings, wielding the whip!
10:50 am
Constantly Surprised,
I guess you've been blinded by the OBSCENE amounts of money that have been raised and spent in recent citywide campaigns. How else should we interpret your impression that $135,000 to spend in one week of a D.C. campaign is NOT a lot of money??
10:53 am
Constantly Surprised -- Are you fucking retarded?
11:17 am
@Constantly Surprised. These amateurs have no idea how campaigns work. Really? is ready to hold campaigning 101 class. Al your required to sit right in the front so I can make sure you pay close attention.
LOL at NU78 "Recently" check out Jack (inside man) Evans raising around $800k for one Ward. And it's not just recently either.
11:36 am
Who in the hell would give Josh Lopez money?
11:49 am
Well, we can tell that kind of money pays for WCP commenters.
12:27 pm
Southeast Ken.....was thinking the same thing. But, you will be surprised.
12:28 pm
@DC, your post may be on point. We do not have to be clairvoyant to know that there is no way "Fully Loaded" wants VO on the council. And it is not just because VO was his opponent in the last election. Fully Loaded has already demonstrated his immense sense of insecurity. (Why else would he ask for the same vehicle as the mayor?)
Now, if it is true that Fully Loaded is supposedly really upset having heard that Vincent had read and understood the DC budget, I will look forward to some fireworks during future council meetings, if VO is successful. To be honest, my motives are not pure, it will be sheer delight to see someone put Fully Loaded through his paces.
@Southeast Ken -- you read my mind!!
1:04 pm
Agreed with all of you re: Josh Lopez. I'd rather give a dollar to the Street Sense sales people than a dime to Josh.
Anyone else surprised at how little Mara's been able to raise? You'd think a guy with the full faith and support of the local GOP would be able to raise a few more dollars.
2:37 pm
@EP Sato: Mara has the support of the Washington Post to boot.
VO is the balance the council needs.
The only thing Fully Loaded cares about in a budget is the best way to get his cut out of it.
9:24 pm
LOL @ John
The various comment sections have been THICK with sock-puppets.
6:11 pm
Interesting, but finances are only listed for 5 of the 9 candidates. Where can we see how much the others have raised?