Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Schmitt’s Monster Quarter

Word is that on tomorrow’s deadline day, Sen. Eric Schmitt will report a quarter of more than $700K raised.  That’s a huge amount.

It was powered by Schmitt’s announcement at the beginning of the quarter that he would seek the Treasurer position in 2016.  That brought in a $250,000 check from Rex Sinquefield.  Other large contributions (over $5K reported by the Missouri Ethics Commission) accounted for an additional $225,000.  That means Schmitt raised over $200,000 in smaller donations.

To give some context for the strength of a $700K+ number, one only need look at his fellow Republican, Sen. Will Kraus, running for Secretary of State in 2016 who sent out a press release crowing about a $130K quarter.

Schmitt finished the previous quarter with $1.3 million on-hand.  So depending on how greatly he exceeds the $700K whisper number, and how tightly he was able to control his expenditures, he is probably closing in on $2 million in the bank, two year ahead of the election.

Democrats may shrug, thinking that their candidate Rep. John Wright, can match that warchest through self-funding. We’ll see….

Fitzwater Vulnerable?

In the large contributions below, the House Republican Campaign Committee is throwing money into House 49.  The HRCC is up on the air running radio ads to support the Republican candidate Travis Fitzwater.

I had assumed that the district was safe for Republicans, but perhaps the Democrat, former representative Gracia Backer, is running strong enough to make them nervous.

One to watch…

Different Landscape

Republicans generally are optimistic on this cycle due to three dynamics… first, the normal off-presidential year helps their turn-out model; second, they think the Barack Obama “fatigue factor” continues to increase – especially in Missouri; and finally, the lack of Todd Akin which they blame for dragging them down last cycle.

The Never-Ending Story

Thanks to the peerless John Combest for the link to the Southeast Missourian.  The Office of the Public Counsel filed the Noranda compromise proposal with the Public Service Commission.  “The proposal filed Sunday carries into the existing Ameren rate case. The proposal originally was submitted in August but was not considered by the commission, which had recently rejected Noranda's request for lower power rates… This latest filing follows the commission's recommendation that both sides in the case continue to negotiate a compromise that can be reconsidered. The Ameren case, first filed in July, requests a $264 million increase in Missouri electricity rates, meaning rates would rise for utility consumers statewide but decrease for the smelter plant. This is the sixth such Ameren request in the past eight years. John A. Parker, Noranda's vice president of communication and investor relations, said the company is encouraged by the new proposal…”

Duwe To Sign Book

Lobbyist Daryl Duwe will have a book signing at his office this Thursday from 4pm to 6pm.  Duwe writes, “I recently made a decision to donate all of my profits & royalties for my two books – Borrowed Time and Half Past Evil to the Wounded Warrior Project. So when one of my books is purchased on Amazon, for example, the royalties I earn are donated to this wonderful charity… In exchange for a cash donation, I will sign and give away copies of both books.  All profits (donations exceeded printing costs) will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.  This is a great opportunity to pick up some books for yourself or others AND donate to a good cause!”

I read Half Past Evil over the summer, and without giving any spoilers away, readers of his first book, Borrowed Time, will be delighted near the end of the book when that book’s protagonist, Rip Snyder makes an appearance.

Bits

Post-Dispatch’s Jim Gallagher asks if the Boeing deal is a good deal.  The answer: we don’t know since we don’t know what we’re giving.  Read it here.

Sen. Jamilah Nasheed blasts out an email to supporters assuring them that the Cardinals game will on at her birthday fundraiser tomorrow night…

Dedicated “Ebola hospitals” coming?  It was one of the questions asked of the Department of Health by Rep. Jay Barnes.  And now it seems that the CDC wants one in each state.  Read it here.

Fundraising Calendar

Powered by Mary Scruggs’ indispensable events calendar:

Sen. Rob Schaaf Reception – Zahnd’s home, Kansas City – 5:30-7 p.m.

$5K+ Contributions

Friends of Lisa Ballenger - $7,000 from Joe Ballenger.

MO Democratic State Committee - $18,000 from Committee to Elect Dearing.

MO Democratic State Committee - $50,000 from Schupp for Senate.

House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $45,000 from Grow Missouri.

House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $18,000 from Citizens for McCaherty.

House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $15,000 from Friends of Cloria Brown.

House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $15,000 from Friends of Todd Richardson.

House Republican Campaign Committee Inc - $15,000 from Friends of Rob Vescovo.

Friends of Cloria Brown - $15,624 from HRCC Inc.

Friends of Nick King - $30,003 from House Republican Campaign Committee.

Friends for Travis Fitzwater - $18,872 from House Republican Campaign Committee Inc.

Committee to Elect Dean Dohrman State Representative - $26,804 from House Republican Campaign Committee.

Citizens for Gary Cross - $38,991 from HRCC.

Citizens for Shane Roden - $11,688 from House Republican House Committee Inc.

Happy Birthday

Happy birthdays to Reps. Casey Guernsey (34) and Jeremy LaFaver (35).