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How Much Cash Is Schaffer Sitting On?

by: Colorado Pols

Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 09:30:31 AM MST

A couple of weeks ago, we discussed indications that GOP Senate candidate Bob Schaffer was hoarding campaign cash instead of spending it, signaling a recognition that the Senate campaign was lost and a possible future run--perhaps for his former CD-4 seat held (for the moment) by embattled successor Marilyn Musgrave.

A Denver Post article from October 25th reports that Schaffer still had somewhere around $1.5 million in the bank as of October 15th. There won't be hard numbers on his spending between then and now until after the election, but informal checking we're aware of has itemized somewhere between $350,000 and $500,000 of media buys in the ensuing period.

Which, even accounting for some other extraneous spending between then and now, would still leave Schaffer with around a million bucks in the bank.

Which again invites the question: who would end such a hard-fought campaign with a million dollars in the bank?

And the only plausible answer: someone already plotting his "comeback."

Colorado Pols :: How Much Cash Is Schaffer Sitting On?

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How Much Cash Is Schaffer Sitting On? | 22 comments

maybe his target is Governor Ritter?

by: Libertad @ Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 10:41:00 AM CST

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I like where you're going there Libzees

But Bob has to be within 1-2 points of Udall if he's going to lose this race and run statewide again in 2 years.

I would consider this Mason Dixon poll and outlier, but it has to give Bob a little bit of hope.

h/t Jeremy Pelzer

"I'll take incompetence over a business model incentivised to kill me any day." -- DtR(H)

by: redstateblues @ Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 10:55:39 AM CST

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Fed money

A good thought, but Federal law prohibits spending federal campaign dollars on a State elected office, like the Governor.

by: and another thing @ Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 11:15:57 AM CST

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Yes, forgot that lil technicality

by: Libertad @ Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 11:29:43 AM CST

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Couldn't they find some loophole?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember reading in a different thread about Bob having the ability to give the money to the RNC (or some other committee) and then when the time came for him to run in a State office, they would just donate the money to his new campaign.

"I'll take incompetence over a business model incentivised to kill me any day." -- DtR(H)

by: redstateblues @ Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 11:31:37 AM CST

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Is that true?

I hope that's not the case.

by: Half Glass Full @ Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 11:32:56 AM CST

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Great...

Money Laundering to run for political office.

"But when I see a 9-11 victim family on television, or whatever, I'm just like, 'Oh, shut up!' I'm so sick of them because they're always complaining." Glenn Beck

by: Arvadonian @ Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 12:00:47 PM CST

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We can only hope

Whatever seat the Republicans run him for, we get to keep. I don't think Bob realizes that the reason he lost is people don't want him - he's Bush lite and that flavor has lost it's mojo.

My recommendations in the 2010 primary?

by: DavidThi808 @ Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 10:43:16 AM CST

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Dave is right.

He's one of many Rs deluding themselves that they're losing because they've strayed from the conservative message. They're losing because their brand of conservativism is shrinking back to a small base with no appeal outside that base. Schaffer will not be able to win statewide in the foreseeable future.

by: BlueCat @ Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 11:03:46 AM CST

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And Bob did not stray

He ran as an unabashed conservative (and kudos to him for that honesty). But that clear conservative message killed him. Look at the race, it wasn't that Mark Udall came out with a compelling message and beat him, it's that Bob Schaffer's message (and mistake of the week) killed him.

My recommendations in the 2010 primary?

by: DavidThi808 @ Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 12:26:05 PM CST

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He's lost two bids in a row for the Senate.

I'm curious who is behind the scenes encouraging him to run for something in 2010, if that is indeed the case. I'd guess it's his clueless friend, Dickie.

"The only way you could be worse is if you were Wade Norris." Ralphie

by: Middle of the Road @ Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 11:16:00 AM CST

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Go Bob Go!

Reclaiming the seat he gave up because he was naive enough to keep his pledge* is going to be more of an uphill battle than he thinks if Markey wins. OTOH, if Musgrave manages to just squeak by again, she's going to get her expensive ass primaried and I'm sure the CD4 'pubs will be more than glad to send "term limits" Schaffer back to Congress.

Too bad that there's all that Weld County development happening now, and too bad that Dems are as likely to move to new developments as 'pubs nowadays. It's going to take a lot more money to win that seat than in the past.

* And a big thanks to the potted plant for doing the same.

What are you talking about?...I don't get it." - bjwilson83

by: Aristotle @ Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 11:21:12 AM CST

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He would have company

in a Republican primary field. If Markey wins, expect people like Cory Gardner, Mark Hillman and perhaps even Sean Conway (Allard Chief of Staff, running for Weld County Commissioner) to announce their candidacies for the 4th CD seat.

by: nonlawyerlobbyist @ Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 12:02:31 PM CST

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Wadhams/Schaffer full employment act?

Why throw good money after bad? Makes sense to hold on to a million or so-Wadhams has a job, Schaffer can pretend to have a political future, and the twin architects of disaster enjoy a soft landing. Personally, I'm grateful-the money would just have gone to skanky campaign flyers/commercials/direct mail pieces...but at last, Bob & Dick are doing something positive for the environment! Way to save trees, guys!!

by: H-Dog @ Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 11:32:14 AM CST

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Can donors legally demand their money back?

I mean really: when you donate money for a political campaign, you expect it to be used then, for the office you donated it for. Not hoarded for some other personal purpose.

by: Half Glass Full @ Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 11:33:48 AM CST

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Wadhams is banking for his 'Win Bonus'. It could happen...

by: It's Me @ Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 12:52:43 PM CST

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And I could win the Miss America title next year

Both have an equal probability of happening.

My recommendations in the 2010 primary?

by: DavidThi808 @ Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 13:17:22 PM CST

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I think he gets the bonus

if he beats the spread, so a big chunk of that million bucks might be going Wadhams' way.

by: RedGreen @ Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 13:32:09 PM CST

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Bob's got that State Board of Ed seat

to defend. Could he wind up spending even more than Polis did to win his seat on the board?

by: RedGreen @ Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 13:33:17 PM CST

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no, rb, same rules apply to board of ed as gov

as another thing sez above:
A good thought, but Federal law prohibits spending federal campaign dollars on a State elected office, like the Governor.

by: bob ewegen @ Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 15:54:52 PM CST

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Yeah, I was kind of kidding

No one needs to spend as much as Polis did! Not even Bob Schaffer!

I bet he folds it into a leadership PAC and starts racking up IOUs around the country. Since he'll pretty much be at the center of the new rump GOP after all the moderates are defeated (Chris Shays, etc.) and the conservative intelligentsia bolts, he's got a bright future ahead of him, even if it doesn't involve another run in Colorado.

by: RedGreen @ Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 19:57:06 PM CST

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how much is he expected to tip his campaign manager?

by: One Queer Dude @ Mon Nov 03, 2008 at 14:23:21 PM CST

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How Much Cash Is Schaffer Sitting On? | 22 comments