Is the Delaware GOP Going Broke?

Delaware Watch has received word that the Delaware GOP has about $75,000 on hand for operating expenses. That is a remarkably low amount in an election year. Some Republicans are wondering what kind of “rinky dink” operation the leadership in the Delaware Republican Party is running.

Although the News Journal reported that the Delaware Republican Party is tapping Governor George Pataki again to help raise “campaign funds,” will all the funds raised by the $150 – $2,500 be used solely for GOP candidates? Is the state party’s contribution to the candidates part of their “operating expenses?”

How long can the party cover its expenses on $75,000 when just one person in the headquarters makes over $60,000 per year alone?

posted & ed. by RB

UPDATE

First State Politics has raised some doubts about my figures and what he calls my “[consistent] attacks [on] the state GOP without so much as a mention of the state Democrats except in rare occasions.” I will deal with that attack issue first.

This is something I’ve stated before. I suppose I can state it again. As indicated by my post above, I wrote this piece based on a complaint and tip from a source. I get far and away more complaints and tips from Republicans than Democrats about party matters. The reason should be obvious. The Democrats are doing well in Delaware, but the Republicans are not.

I guess what troubles me is the characterization of these posts as “attacks.” It is true that I attack the state GOP leadership a great deal. But I am hardly alone in making them. Many members of the GOP do as well and with good reason. The Delaware GOP is hurting and the leadership bears the lion share of the blame. They have an awful reputation for engaging in dirty tricks—well deserved as far as I can tell—cronyism, elitism and contempt for democratic processes and rule within the party. I don’t like that because the result is Delaware’s devolution into a one-party state. That prospect is nightmarish.

I’m rapidly coming to the conclusion, however, that the point of that prospect is wasted on some people because it is just too subtle for them. Otherwise I wouldn’t have to repeat the point so often. Perhaps this statement will make it easier for them to grasp: Look throughout history and see if you can find a one-party state that was a desirable government. Starting to get my drift? So you see, I don’t like the implication that I attack the GOP per se. Quite the contrary. I want it to succeed. It’s in my self-interest for it to succeed. But those who insinuate that an attack on the state GOP leadership is an attack on the state GOP per se and its many fine Delawareans and some of its politicians are the ones confused about the nature of the party. Not me.

Now the figures.

The approximate figure my source gave me was about the same approximate figure another person within the Republican Party gave me. In any case, at the end of May 2006 the Delaware Republican Party had $64,388.59 on hand according to the FEC. That was the time period they were remembering. Their memory was indeed off. They gave the state GOP about $10,000 more than it deserved. So, yes, my sources were wrong. Things were actually worse than they had recalled.

At the end of June 2006, things had improved somewhat. The party had $92,622.15 on hand. But both my sources claim that these amounts are paltry sums compared to past election year amounts. The FEC figures bear out their claims. In May 2004 the Delaware GOP had $251,905.39 at the end of May 2004 and $214,687.65 at the end of June 2004.

Far be it from me to point out the obvious, but at the end of June 2004 the DE GOP had $122,065.50 more on hand than it does now. I suspect that most of the rank and file of the Republican Party would think that is a problem. But perhaps the party-leadership loyalists believe that having $122,065.50 less is actually a good thing when its party is hurting more. Given the sophistry that routinely stems from some Republican quarters, nearly any claim is possible.