Vito Fossella's vulnerabilities: cash on hand

Cash on Hand is the actual cash a candidate has in the bank that they can spend today if needed. This is probably a better metric to look at compared to total contributions. While Fossella is likely to bring in over $1 million dollars the question for this cycle is how much will he actually have to spend against his Democratic opponent?



Fossella has done well raising cash, even though it is noticably lower than in the past. However he is blowing through that cash faster than he probably ever has. This cycle he has raised $850,000 yet he has already spent $600,000 of that. That is simply astounding given he is not actively campaigning.

At the end of his 2002 election he had one of the highest cash on hand totals in the past four elections. We see he spent nearly all of it holding onto his seat and started off with very little in 2003. After that he steadily raising his cash on hand total for four years straight even while having two competitive elections during that time period; Barbaro in 2004 and Harrison in 2006. After the 2006 election he had almost no money left at all, and actually carried more debt than cash at that point. Even though 2004 and 2006 had his most competitive races he started each of those with an overwhelming cash on hand advantage that meant his opponents would probably never be able to catch him. That is not this case this cycle. Due to his struggle against Harrison in 2006 he was forced to spend all of his money and now trails Domenic Recchia in cash on hand.

If you take out the fourth quarter from 2007 he actually has been bleeding money each quarter this cycle instead of saving. His cash on hand from Q2 to Q3 in 2007 went down. Again his cash on hand from Q4 to Q1 of 2008 went down. Since 2002 he has never started a cycle with this little money and since 2002 he has never gone into an election year with this little money available. In his last election he had twice the cash that he does now.

If you notice the trends in 2006 as Harrison's campaign became a stronger opponent for Fossella his cash on hand fell each quarter going into the election. We can expect an even harder fight this year and should see his cash falling, if not between Q1 and Q2 you should expect to see it fall going into September from Q2 to Q3. I can't believe that Fossella wanted to associated himself with Dick Cheney but with numbers and trends like this he had little options left to save himself;

via the NY Times;

“Republicans in New York are in free fall, and Cheney’s visit to New York just proves Vito Fossella’s campaign is flagging,” said Carrie James, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in Washington. “Rather than bring home necessary resources to meet the needs of his district, Vito Fossella is embracing Dick Cheney and his Big Oil money to resurrect his failing campaign.”

Cheney's fund raiser should really boost Fossella's next filing. If with all of that money Recchia and/or Harrison are still able to stay ahead of Fossella in cash on hand expect to see this race get bumped up in rankings by the various firms.

Fossella is vulnerable. Humorously he is putting himself in that position because of his inability to manage and spend money, not quite as fiscally conservative as he would have you believe.

see also:
Part I: Vito Fossella's vulnerabilities: fund raising
Part II: Vito Fossella's vulnerabilities: campaign expenditures

Even more coverage of the Fossella and Cheney fund raiser

* Cheney stumps for Vito — yet he still leads!, The Brooklyn Paper;

The widely unpopular veep endorsed Fossella (R–Bay Ridge) at an Upper East Side fete on April 21, but opponents were more than pleased that Fossella had called in a man described by his critics as a “Prince of Darkness” to fill the coffers.

“Who is Vito Fossella going to be beholden to if he is elected?” Democratic candidate Steve Harrison asked a crowd of protestors outside the 71st Street home of billionaire industrialist David Koch, who hosted the fundraiser. “It will be Dick Cheney.

“These are not people from whom you [should] accept campaign contributions — these are the people to whom you give campaign contributions back when you find out who they are,” added Harrison, who got 43 percent of the vote against the cash-rich Fossella in 2006.

see also:

* Steve Harrison on Fossella and Cheney fundraiser

* More coverage of Dick Cheney and Vito Fossella fundraiser

Steve Harrison on Fossella and Cheney fundraiser

Coverage;
* Harrison Talks Green, Slams Fossella and Cheney, Daily Politics

Harrison goes on to assail Cheney and his history with Halliburton, adding: "We know how he feels about the environment. And who is Vito Fossella going to be beholden to if he's elected will be Dick Cheney. We can't allow that to happen."

* Harrison Doth Protest, Tom, polit.bureau
* Cheney Attends Fossella Fundraiser To Boost City’s Only GOP Congressman, Brooklyn Daily Eagle
* Fossella entertains Cheney at billionaire's fund-raiser, SI Advance

Democrat Stephen Harrison lambasted Fossella for joining with Koch, whose oil company has been fined millions of dollars for environmental violations.

snip

He said the fund-raiser featuring Cheney, whose approval rating hovers around 20 percent, "shows that Congressman Fossella continues to be out of touch with what's happening out there."

NYS Dem Party assails Fossella over Cheney and Oil money

via NYS Dem Party;

FLAILING FOSSELLA CAMPAIGN BRINGS IN VP CHENEY TO RAISE BIG OIL MONEY

New York City – Today Vice President Dick Cheney came to Park Avenue to raise money from oil executives for his longtime buddy, Congressman Vito Fossella. At a fundraising luncheon at the Park Avenue home of billionaire oil executive David Koch, Cheney helped pad Fossella’s re-election campaign with money from Big Oil.

“What can we expect from Congressman Fossella in return? Higher prices at the pump and no accountability for oil companies banking record profits,” said NYS Democratic Chair June O’Neill.

“Vito Fossella’s campaign must be in serious trouble to have to import Dick Cheney and his oil buddies,” said O’Neill. “Vito Fossella has already received nearly a hundred thousand dollars in campaign contributions from Big Oil and sends his thanks by consistently voting against laws that would conserve energy. It’s sad that as gas prices continue to rise and too many are without health care, Vito Fossella is accepting thousands of dollars from the very people who are furthering the squeeze on the middle class. Vito Fossella should spend his time helping middle class families deal with rising gas prices instead of rubbing elbows with oil executives and Dick Cheney on Park Avenue.”

Vito Fossella’s votes in congress have consistently favored Big Oil to the determinant of the middle class. Whether it’s voting to cut Big Oil subsidies or voting for middle class tax cuts, Vito is always on the side of special interests.

Background information on Fossella’s “Thank You” to Big Oil for their past checks:

*Representative Fossella voted against the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act (H.R. 5351), which will end unnecessary taxpayer subsidies to Big Oil companies and use that money to make investments in clean, renewable energy and promote energy conservation. [H.R. 5351, #84 http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll084.xml , 2/27/08]

*In 2005, Representative Vito Fossella voted in favor of the energy conference report that included an estimated $85 billion worth of subsidies and tax breaks for most forms of energy – including oil and gas. [HR 6, Vote #445 http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll445.xml , 7/28/05]

*Representative Vito Fossella receives strong financial support from Big Oil. Representative Fossella has received $81,800 from Big Oil contributors. [OpenSecrets.org]

Votes against the Middle Class

*Representative Vito Fosella voted against a budget that contained middle class tax relief in the form of AMT reform for 20 million American families.

*The budget also created thousands of new jobs through funding of the innovation agenda, renewable energy development and green jobs

*The bill also contained investments in infrastructure development and repair. [H Con Res 312 establishes the budget for the government of the United States for Fiscal Year 2009. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll141.xml

More coverage of Dick Cheney and Vito Fossella fundraiser

* The Brooklyn Paper; Dick Loves Vito, with podcast!

* Daily Politics covers the Cheney visit, and by cover they give it a short sentence buried down the page of updates;

VP Dick Cheney is in town today to attend a fundraiser for Rep. Vito Fossella.

* The NYTimes covers it, as we mentioned last night;

Vice President Dick Cheney is scheduled to attend a fund-raising luncheon on Monday in Manhattan on behalf of United States Representative Vito J. Fossella Jr., who is running for a sixth full term. Mr. Cheney’s visit puts a spotlight on a race that Democrats believe they can contest even though Mr. Fossella is an incumbent from the strongly Republican 13th Congressional District.

* Joshing Politics;

Why on Earth would Dick hang around a liberal town like ours for any longer than necessary? Well, its to raise money on the bi-partisanly (sp?) rich Upper East Side for the anti-troop, anti-Staten Island Republican Congressman Vito Fossella that supposedly represents the borough.

NYTimes covers Fossella and Cheney fundraiser

via the NYTimes;

The fund-raiser for Mr. Fossella will be at the Upper East Side home of David H. Koch, the billionaire executive vice president of Koch Industries, a company with major oil and gas holdings.

Democrats from Staten Island to Washington said that Mr. Cheney’s support signaled that the Bush administration had to come to Mr. Fossella’s aid.

“Republicans in New York are in free fall, and Cheney’s visit to New York just proves Vito Fossella’s campaign is flagging,” said Carrie James, a spokeswoman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in Washington. “Rather than bring home necessary resources to meet the needs of his district, Vito Fossella is embracing Dick Cheney and his Big Oil money to resurrect his failing campaign.”

Remember today's protest at 10am.

Vito Fossella brings Dick Cheney to NYC for help, protests Monday

via Truth13;

Progressive groups protest Dick Cheney/Koch Industries’ Vito Fossella fundraiser

Truth 13 and other progressive groups are organizing a protest Monday morning [April 21] outside a fundraiser for New York City’s only Republican House member, Vito Fossella, organized by Vice President Dick Cheney and polluters Koch Industries (pronounced Coke)..

Fossella’s Democratic opponent Steve Harrison is scheduled to appear.

When: 10 AM Monday April 21
Where: 740 Park Avenue (71st Street). [Google Maps]

About Truth 13: Founded in 2007, Truth 13 is an independent group of concerned citizens dedicated to removing New York's 13th Congressional District representative Vito Fossella from office. Their mission is to educate voters of the 13th Congressional District about their Congressperson's track record of voting for the interests of organizations like Koch industries instead of those of his constituents.

Here is another example of Fossella's vulnerability. Dick Cheney has a 15% approval rating, meaning a majority of his own party disapproves of him. Fossella clearly believes Cheney's money is far more important to his campaign right now than worrying about being associated with this administration. Fossella has had Cheney raise money for him before, but never has he openly flaunted his regard for Dick Cheney.

update: Democrats.com are joining the protests and just sent out an email to supporters asking for their participation;

Vice President Cheney will be in town shilling for cash for NY Congressman Vito Fossella. They'll be hosted by NYC's wealthiest resident, David Koch, the billionaire head of Koch Industries, a conglomerate with hugely polluting oil and gas holdings. Koch Industries is the second largest privately-held company in the U.S. and a major contributor to Republican campaigns.

Let's tell the luncheon guests: Fossella must go!

Vito Fossella's campaign shows more signs of vulnerability

Following the announcement that Fossella's own party thinks he is vulnerable and will throw money at his race comes this news;

Dick Cheney will be a featured guest at an April 21 fund-raising lunch for Vito Fossella, the city’s only Republican congressman, a sign that the national Republican Party is putting in a major effort to hold onto the seat.

If you didn't think Fossella was scared or at the very least taking his re-election very serious given the challengers he is facing, he is bringing Dick Cheney in for a fund raiser. Dick Cheney has an approval rating around 22%, worse than the President who many Republicans will not campaign with in their districts. Now Fossella will continue to tell people he is an "independent" as a way to create separation between himself and the President but that description is now moot given he is stooping to bring someone nearly 4/5 of the country despises in to help shore up his failing fund raising efforts. Fossella is not bringing Cheney to town for fun, Fossella is vulnerable.

update: This isn't the first time Dick Cheney has helped Vito Fossella