GOP launches $16 million fund-raising bid to hold House
June 14, 2000
Web posted at: 3:38 PM EDT (1938 GMT)
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Determined to retain their slim majority in the House of Representatives, Republican leaders told House members Wednesday they need to raise $16 million for tight congressional races in the coming weeks.
In return for the fund-raising help, GOP leaders promised to spend that money more wisely than they did in 1998, when the GOP lost five seats after spending large sums on national advertising.
But House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Illinois) denied reports that committee chair assignments would be based on fund-raising prowess, or that members were under threat to either sign pledge cards agreeing to raise the money.
"One of the things we did in 1998, we tried to do a national air war," Hastert said. "I think we've learned that these races are ground battles. It's expensive to run a race. It's expensive to be in politics."
The money will go into individual races rather than a generic national campaign this time, with ad campaigns personalized in 35 districts.
"The goal is to have 35 mini New-Hampshires," said Jim Wilkinson, communications director for the National Republican Campaign Committee.
The committee's chairman, Virginia Rep. Tom Davis, will lead the "Battleground 2000" effort. Davis said he thought the message was well-received, but "it's never unanimous when you do these kinds of things."
Wilkinson said no member is exempt from the effort -- including those
facing tough re-election battles who might benefit from the money raised. He
said leaders have agreed to raise $700,000 each.
Wilkinson said the money will be used to boost voter turnout, operate phone banks, send out direct mail and run television commercials tailored to the individual circumstances in a district. He declined to identify the 35 or so contested seats where the money will be used.
Democrats have been surprisingly competitive in fundraising over the past 18 months and have far fewer open seats to defend than Republicans do.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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