It looks like Senator Claire McCaskill (D) had a good fundraising quarter. From the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC):

Impressive numbers from Senate Democrats

Tue Jul 12 2011 13:58:00 GMT-0400 (EDT)  |  by Matt Canter

Today Jon Tester is announcing that he raised $1.2 million in the second quarter and has $2.3 million on hand. Tester outraised his opponent Dennis Rehberg by 2 to 1 in the first quarter.

And Shelley Berkley is announcing that she has also raised $1.2 million in the second quarter and already has $2.5 million on hand. Berkley outraised Dean Heller in the first quarter of the year as well.

Yesterday, Claire McCaskill announced that she raised an impressive $1.4 million and has $3 million on hand.

And last week, a number of Democratic Senators and candidates released imposing fundraising totals…

· Tim Kaine raised $2.25 million

· Sherrod Brown raised $1.5 million and has $3.5 million on hand

· Robert Menendez raised $2 million and has $5.5 million on hand

· Bob Casey raised $1.3 million and has $3.1 million on hand

· Bill Nelson rakes in $1.85 million and has over $6 million on hand…enough for dinner at Ruth’s Chris

· Joe Manchin ends quarter with over $1.3 million in the bank

· And in Michigan, Debbie Stabenow raised $1.5 million in the second quarter and has $4.1 million on hand. This marks her strongest fundraising quarter ever. So far, Stabenow has scared away the competition and no Republican has stepped forward to take her on.

[emphasis added]

It probably helps that the republicans in the Senate are psychotic.

{First, a cheap plug for my blog Senate Guru.}

40 days from today – on May 18 – we will see two HUGE primaries for U.S. Senate.  Even though these races aren’t in Missouri, they impact Democrats across the country and, well, the entire country as a whole.

In Pennsylvania, Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak will try to upset Republican-for-decades Arlen Specter.

In Arkansas, Democratic Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter will try to upset corporate lackey Blanche Lincoln.

Polling shows that both Specter and Lincoln are at risk of – if not likely to – hand these Senate seats over to far-right-wing Republicans. (And, even if these two retain the seats, that’s not much better on many key issues.)

Congressman Sestak and Lieutenant Governor Halter winning these primaries are critical to keeping these seats in truly Democratic hands. Your support can help make that happen!  Please hop over to the Expand the Map! ActBlue page right away to make a contribution – an investment in the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party to pull out an old expression – and show your support.

Thanks SO much for any support you can provide. 40 Days.

{First, a cheap plug for my blog Senate Guru.}

I just wanted to remind everyone that today (Wednesday) is the final day of the first fundraising quarter of 2010.  The fundraising totals reported by federal candidates will help determine their relative strength as we head toward Election Day 2010.

Please contribute as generously as you can today.

For instance, you can contribute to Robin Carnahan’s campaign for U.S. Senate via my Expand the Map! ActBlue page.  On it, Robin has 49 contributions.  Can you be contribution number 50?

(Remember: every contribution you make to Robin via the Expand the Map! ActBlue page is not only a show of support for Robin but an investment toward Roy Blunt’s long overdue retirement!)

Consider this an open thread.

{First, a quick plug for my blog Senate Guru.}

As we await the historic vote on health care reform, it’s important to remember that we’re just ten days away from the end of the first fundraising quarter of 2010.  The fundraising totals reported in this quarter will be pivotal to determining the tenor of many races for the rest of the year.  If there is any time to contribute, now is the time!

Please head over to the Expand the Map! ActBlue page and contribute whatever you are able to these terrific Democratic candidates for Senate.

Remember, the contribution you can make isn’t just a donation to a single candidate or political campaign.  It’s an investment against Republican obstruction (and conservaDem enabling) and an investment toward achieving that more perfect union.

Even in on “off year” the local party works to establish the funding and infrastructure for the next election cycle. It’s an opportunity to sustain connections and hear from candidates already working hard toward that next cycle. And it’s a chance to enjoy an afternoon of good company, good food, and fundraising for the cause.

Courtney Cole, Democratic Party candidate in the 121st Legislative District, speaking with Johnson County office holders.

A reminder e-mail sent out to local Democrats:

Festival of Soups — this Sunday, 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm, Warrensburg Community Center at Gay & Mitchell Streets.

Funds raised will be used for Democratic headquarters in 2010, and to support local candidates.

You won’t want to miss the delicious variety of soups (a dozen in all, from Italian wedding soup to Chinese hot & sour), the assortment of breads and muffins, the yummy desserts (15), or the opportunity to vote for your favorite soup and dessert (or the cook :-). We’ll have background music, good company, and comments by local candidates about 4 pm.

The silent auction features many household decorative items, from framed prints to quilts and political mugs that change from red to blue when heated. Bidding will close about 4 pm, and we’ll announce the buyers after brief political comments.

Doors open at 2:30 (please don’t come early unless you’re helping set up), and close at 5 pm. You are welcome to come late–there’s plenty of food, and the soups will be kept warm….

I had the good fortune to taste a variety of great cuisine and visit with old and new Democratic Party friends. I also spent some money on a couple of items at the silent auction.

A few college Democrats joined the quest for good food and politics.

Other good Democrats from Pettis and Lafayette Counties joined local folks at the event.  

{First, a cheap plug for my blog Senate Guru.}

The last day of the third fundraising quarter of 2009 (whoa, time really flies!) is tomorrow.  Our Democratic candidates for Senate – including Missouri’s own Robin Carnahan – need to make as big a fundraising splash as possible in the third quarter to help refute the growing conventional wisdom among the traditional media pundits that 2010 could be a Republican year.  And Missouri will be a high-profile bellwether.

Please, please, please consider making a contribution today to Robin Carnahan and our other Democratic candidates for Senate via the Expand the Map! ActBlue page.  Robin is more than three-quarters of the way to $1,000 on the page.

Can you help us raise just $238 for Robin Carnahan in the next 48 hours?

Please click on over to the Expand the Map! ActBlue page and make a contribution to help stop ongoing Republican obstruction in the Senate.  Need some motivation?  Imagine having to say Senator Roy Blunt!  Scary, right?  Every contribution makes a real impact whether it’s $100 or $25 or $10 or, well, any amount.  Want to rebel against multiples of five and contribute $63 or $39 or $27, knock yourself out!

Remember, the fundraising quarter ends tomorrow, so please contribute today if you can.  Thank you SO much!

{First, a cheap plug for my blog Senate Guru.}

Senate Guru set up the Expand the Map! ActBlue page to raise funds for Democratic candidates for the U.S. Senate.  Missouri’s Robin Carnahan was an inaugural member of the 2010 edition of the page.

Right at this moment, Robin Carnahan is right on the brink of passing the $500 mark on the Expand the Map! ActBlue page.

Your $50 or $25 or $10 contribution right now can help nudge her past the $500 mark.  That would be awesome.  Thanks SO much in advance if you’re able to chip in.

Interesting that Bush is back in town for a big fundraiser on behalf of Hulshof’s flailing gubernatorial campaign. I say interesting because it was unclear that Bush would come at all due to the problems with the bailout bill. And now Hulshof voted against the bailout bill again. I guess Bush is just the forgiving type.

Jay Nixon’s statement on Bush’s visit:

“”The failed economic policies of President Bush, supported by Congressman Hulshof, have created what looks to be the worst economic crisis in more than a generation.  While Washington is focused on bailing out Wall Street, the people of Missouri continue to feel the real pain of this broken economy.  Families are struggling to pay the bills, jobs are leaving our state and everyone is worried about what the future will bring.

We have an election around the corner and everyone is campaigning aggressively, but by embracing President Bush in the midst of this

economic meltdown, Congressman Hulshof is reminding the people of

Missouri why it’s so important that we take our state in a new direction. After voting lockstep with President Bush to create this economic crisis, Congressman Hulshof is not the change we need here in Missouri. We simply can’t afford it.”

For some reason the job of Lieutenant Governor of Missouri is a popular one. There’s a certain attraction to it for a number of people.

Lieutenant Governor (in ballot order)

Republican

Peter Kinder  Cape Girardeau MO 2/26/2008

Paul Douglas Sims Lecoma MO 2/26/2008

Arthur Hodge Sr. Springfield MO 3/18/2008

Democratic

Sam Page  Creve Coeur MO 2/26/2008

Michael E. Carter  St. Charles MO 2/26/2008

Richard Charles Tolbert Kansas City MO 3/19/2008

Becky L. Plattner  Grand Pass MO 3/21/2008

Mary Williams  Jefferson City MO 3/24/2008

C. Lillian Metzger  Troy MO 3/25/2008

Libertarian

Teddy Fleck  Springfield MO 2/26/2008

That’s some list. Let’s slog through those campaign finance reports.

Teddy Fleck (L) filed a Limited Activity Statement (pdf) with the Missouri Ethics Commission on April 3rd.

Arthur Hodge, Sr. (r) filed a Statement of Exemption (pdf) (he will not spend more than $500.00 nor accept more than $500.00 in contributions) on March 30th (received April 8th) with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Paul Sims (r) has yet to file anything with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Pete Kinder (r) filed his first quarter 2008 campaign finance report with the Missouri Ethics Commission on April 15th.

Detailed Summary of Committee Disclosure Report

Committee [e]: FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER

1. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED  $858,278.52

2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD  $468,405.00

3. ALL LOANS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD  $0.00

9. TOTAL ALL RECEIPTS THIS ELECTION(SUM 1B + 7A – 8A) $1,326,843.52

15. TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS ELECTION (SUM 10B + 14A) $680,465.90

25. MONEY ON HAND AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (INCLUDING FUNDS IN DEPOSITORY, CASH, SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND ALL OTHER INVESTMENTS) $274,589.74

28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 – 27) $640,589.73

[emphasis added]

Let’s see where he spent some money:

Detailed Summary of Expenditures And Contributions Made

Committee[e]: FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER

Report[ ]Date: 04/13/2008

Horizon Promotional Products Cape Girardeau, MO 02/28/2008 shirts $1,087.46

Horizon Screen Printing Cape Girardeau, MO 02/28/2008 stickers and shirts $1,020.84

T-shirts!

Capitol Consulting  Jefferson City, MO  02/28/2008 fundraising $14,210.60

Capitol Consulting Jefferson City, MO 02/28/2008 fundraising $7,000.00

Capitol Consulting Jefferson City, MO 02/28/2008 printing, supplies and po $2,650.64

Show me the money!

Jared Brown Jackson, MO 03/06/2008 data entry $4,000.00

Jared Brown Jackson, MO 02/11/2008 data entry $8,000.00

Jared Brown Jackson, MO 01/18/2008 data entry $4,000.00

Data entry? Do you think that’s a lot of data?

Okay, where did the money come from?:

Detailed Summary of Contributions And Loans Received

Committee: FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER

Report Date: 04/13/2008

5th Judicial Circuit Rep Comm Saint Joseph, MO 03/31/2008 $13,400.00

12th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

14th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

15th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

16th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

17th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $7,500.00

19th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

23rd Senatorial Dist Republican Comm St. Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

27th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Joseph, MO 03/31/2008 $13,400.00

85th Legislative Dist Republican Comm Saint Louis, MO 03/31/2008 $13,400.00

The Seventh State Dist Republican Comm Saint Louis, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

106th Legislative Dist. Rep. Committee Farmington, MO 03/31/2008 $13,250.00

3rd Senatorial Dist. Rep. Committee Bonne Terre, MO 03/31/2008 $13,250.00

12th Senatorial District Committee Maryville, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

People for John Griesheimer Washington, MO 02/15/2008 $1,350.00

30th Republican Leg. Dist. Comm Smithville, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

The 35th Republican Leg. Dist. Comm. Kearney, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

129th Republican Leg. District Comm Joplin, MO 03/31/2008 $12,150.00

32nd Republican Legislative Committe Kansas City, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

Republican 18th Legislative Dist Com Saint Charles, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

MO 29th Legislative District Saint Joseph, MO 03/31/2008 $13,400.00

Boone County Rep Central Comm Columbia, MO 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

Newton County Rep Central Comm Neosho, MO  03/31/2008 $13,400.00

1st Senatorial Rep. Dist. Committee 03/31/2008 $13,450.00

32nd Senatorial Republican Committee Joplin, MO 03/31/2008 $13,400.00

150th Legislative Republican Fund  03/31/2008 $13,450.00

34th Republican Senatorial Dist Comm Saint Joseph, MO  03/31/2008 $13,400.00

13. TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM PERSONS GIVING $100 OR LESS $1,680.00

[emphasis added]

We have a champion! Don’t you just love the “grass roots”? Evidently republican committees in St. Charles and St. Joseph are flush with cash. And what is it with republican committees and the last day of the quarter?  Gee, do the only cut checks four times a year? Okay, silly question. You’d think they’d go with a day that was a little more symbolic – like the vernal equinox.

C. Lillian Metzger  (D) filed a Statement of Exemption (pdf) (she will not spend more than $500.00 nor accept more than $500.00 in contributions) on March 37th (received April 1st) with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Mary Williams (D) filed an Exemption Statement Of Limited Activity For Candidate Who Filed Statement Of Exemption (pdf) with the Missouri Ethics Commission on April 15th.

Becky Plattner (D) has yet to file anything with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Richard Tolbert (D) has yet to file anything with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Michael Carter (D) has yet to file anything with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Sam Page (D) filed his first quarter 2008 campaign finance report with the Missouri Ethics Commission on April 11th.

Detailed Summary of Committee Disclosure Report

Committee[e]: PAGE FOR MISSOURI

1. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED  $664,413.69

2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD  $152,113.00

3. ALL LOANS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD  $0.00

6. IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $4,708.10

9. TOTAL ALL RECEIPTS THIS ELECTION(SUM 1B + 7A – 8A) $821,234.79

10. TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR THIS
ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $306,171.60

15. TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS ELECTION (SUM 10B + 14A) $404,425.16

25. MONEY ON HAND AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (INCLUDING FUNDS IN DEPOSITORY, CASH, SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND ALL OTHER INVESTMENTS) $354,793.02

28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 – 27) $413,035.56

[emphasis added]

Let’s take a look at campaign expenses:

Detailed Summary of Expenditures And Contributions Made

Committe[e]: PAGE FOR MISSOURI

Report[ ]Date: 04/11/2008

U.S. Post Office Saint Louis MO 01/07/2008 P.O. Box Rental $92.00

U.S. Post Office Saint Louis MO 01/18/2008 Stamps $41.00

U.S. Post Office Saint Louis MO 01/31/2008 Postage $4,510.00

U.S. Post Office Saint Louis MO 02/19/200 Postage $6,437.00

U.S. Post Office Saint Louis MO 03/12/2008 Postage $1,722.00

U.S. Post Office Saint Louis MO 03/13/2008 Postage $533.00

I sense a mail plan.

Let’s take a look at where the money comes from:

Detailed Summary of Contributions And Loans Received

Committee: PAGE FOR MISSOURI

Report Date: 04/11/2008

2nd Congressional District Democrats Ballwin, MO 03/25/2008 $5,000.00

87th LDDC Clayton, MO 03/25/2008 $680.20 In-Kind

87th LDDC Clayton, MO 03/31/2008 $5,850.00

87th LDDC Clayton, MO 03/31/2008 $5,850.00

92nd District Democrats Ballwin, MO 03/25/2008 $4,500.00

And a long list lot of contributions from individuals.