If you are Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), and you are in charge of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), and you are $2.4 million in debt, how do you recruit candidates to run for office and fund them?
Answer: You find people willing to spend millions of their own dollars.
Faced with lingering debt and a losing fundraising battle, House Republicans are recruiting a slew of self-funding candidates to run in many of their top races this election cycle.
At least seven candidates with the ability to self-fund millions have stepped forward in key districts for the GOP so far, and more could be on the way.
I don’t see that they really have any alternative. Self-funding candidates have an abysmal track record, but they’re better than no candidates.
The problem is, most super wealthy people have already figured out which way the wind is blowing and have thrown their lot in with the Democrats.
[Rep. Kirsten] Gillibrand [D-NY] has already raised more than $2 million, which ranks second only to Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) among House members running for reelection.
Because Charlie Rangel’s Harlem district is so at risk.
The whole spectacle is enough to make you vomit.