I’m no stranger to bashing the MSM, but I am really at a loss for words today. Apparently, now the tactics have switched. Carl Cameron, of Fox News, is talking of Thompson’s fundraising success this quarter on his FNC blog and on his television reports:
FOX News has learned that Fred Thompson will report having raised in excess of $8 million in his first full quarter of fundraising. That does not include an additional $3.5 million he raised in June.
Thompson raised an average of $200K a day after his official campaign launch in September. He had more than 70,000 donors, far outpacing most candidates in both fields in their first quarters.
As recently as last week, Thompson aides were aggressively downplaying expectations, predicting they would raise barely over $5 million (it’s called lowballing). Today, those same aides are eager to report having topped their own low targets.Other candidates have banked significantly more than Thompson in their first quarters, and in this one. Money is always a good index of support, and while Thompson’s performance is better than expected, it’s not the flood of cash Thompson aides were predicting all summer.
Thompson kicks off the fourth fundraising quarter in Iowa, where he plans to talk about the Republican Revolution of ‘94. The implied contrast with his Republican rivals: while Fred was being elected to the Senate endorsing the same principles he’s talking about today, Mitt Romney was endorsing gay and abortion rights while distancing himself from Ronald Reagan in Massachusetts, and Rudy Giuliani was endorsing Democrat Mario Cuomo for governor of New York.
Now, everyone on our side is thrilled. He’s raised well over 11.5 million including the June kickoff. In his television report, Cameron was also very impressed with Thompson’s kickoff theme today.
Before everyone says, well that’s just Fox spin, let’s go back a few weeks ago. Most of the Thompson supporters were ready to declare on all out war on Mr. Carl Cameron. Mr. Cameron has been very negative towards the Thompson campaign up until now. Here is Cameron’s reaction to Thompson’s kick off in New Hampshire, as published in Rolling Stone (via Smirkingchimp):
I’m still trying to process this when I spot Carl Cameron, the right-wing hatchet man for Fox News. Cameron is whaling on Thompson, doing a mocking impersonation of the candidate’s “Security, Unity, Prosperity” campaign shtick.
“We’re, uh, gonna be yoo-nited bah owre yoo-nity!” Cameron cracks.
A crowd of reporters doubles over in laughter. Then they get in their vehicles and chase after Thompson to the next event, so they can feverishly record those same hackneyed lines again and again for posterity. They’ll laugh in private, but they’ll be repeating that shit on air with a straight face for the next 400 days.
Well, I think as I stand by myself on the curb, so much for Fred Thompson. After all, logic dictates that anyone who’s too much of a lightweight for Fox News is probably…
Now, you can understand why I’m a little suprised by his reaction. Cameron is the one who labeled Fred with the Gucci shoes schtick, as well.
However, at the same time, no one inside or outside the campaign has ever said Thompson was going to raise 20 million dollars this quarter. Thompson beat his expectations, and might possible come within the top two this quarter. However, MSNBC wants to call this a disappointment. I’m sorry, but MSNBC is trying to change the rules after the fact. A couple of days ago, everyone was saying Thompson would be lucky to beat out McCain this quarter. Not since the early days of summer when some were talking him up to unrealistic levels did anyone ever say that he was going to raise twenty million or be a bust. This is September, not January. Thompson had a bullseye on his back long before he ever started actually fundraising, partly in thanks to MSNBC’s Mark Murray. Team Thompson’s not expecting miracles, but in dry fundraising, this ain’t to bad.
From hotair:
Since this is, after all, Fred’s first quarter of fundraising, NBC compares his numbers to the first-quarter totals for Rudy McRomney and finds them wanting. Not really fair. The campaign season was still fresh in January and donors had money to burn. Now the fatigue has set in and they’ve already peeled off a few bills so they’re cutting back.
What we’ve got here is the media trying to build expectations up even higher than they already are, and it’s kind of sad to watch them.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:02 pm
So, since April Fred has been testing the waters and he comes up with 8.5 million?
Doesn’t that suck for a 6 month period?
October 1st, 2007 at 1:09 pm
No.
nowandlater. It doesn’t include his testing the waters. Including that, which didn’t begin until June, not April, he’s brought in over 12 million.
This is for the third quarter, as I have said about 50 times already in the last two days, not for the last five months, because that would suck.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:10 pm
FOX News has learned that Fred Thompson will report having raised in excess of $8 million in his first full quarter of fundraising. That does not include an additional $3.5 million he raised in June.
Read carefully. What part is difficult?
October 1st, 2007 at 1:11 pm
Very impressive numbers for Fred Thompson, just proves how strong a candidate he is going to be.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:13 pm
Yes its important to remember that this is for THIS QUARTER! It doesnt include the testing the waters money, so for this quarter this is very impressive money folks…..Very impressive!
October 1st, 2007 at 1:17 pm
nowandlater is right. Fred has been out there running for a long time. His campaign delayed entering the race until after the 3rd quarter began so that no one could claim his fundraising was a disappointment. If it was low, he could simply say he’s only been in the race (officially) for a few weeks. NBC’s comparison of Rudy & Romney’s 1st quarter is a fair comparison. Romney, after all, raised $6M in one day. While “hotair” claims back in January “donors had money to burn,” undeniably GOP donors have been holding out. Simply look at the difference between Dem. and Rep. fundraising. In aggregate, the Dems are ahead nearly 2-1.
Just to be clear, I do not think Thompson’s numbers were a disappointment, but I also do not think they were hugely successful either. Simply put, the donors he got were dissatisfied with “Rudy McRomney” and were waiting for someone else to come along.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:17 pm
Thanks, all I’m going to say to other candidate supporters is this… you can like Thompson or not, that’s fine, but many in the MSM have been put off by his style or lack of attention he pays to them. You can believe whatever you read if you want to, but remember to have some skepticism when dealing with them. They, like you, have their own agenda and perspective.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:18 pm
Tommy,
Any idea when the other candidates amounts will be announced? Or how much Romney and Giuliani will come out with? Thanks…
October 1st, 2007 at 1:19 pm
http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/1007/McCains_money.html
McCain raise over 5 million.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:19 pm
terry,
No, it’s not great, but it’s not bad at all. That’s the point. There’s no reason in comparing January to now. Thompson had a big bullseye on his back BEFORE he ever started raising funds for his campaign, and could only raise so much, or have even more run ins with the Nutroots blogger who likes to turn in GOP candidates.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:20 pm
But since June, it is only 11.5 million dollars (3-4 month period). Wasn’t Thompson suppose to be the “Savior” of the Republican party. Thompson has been spoken of as a candidate for many months, and people commented that many Republicans were waiting for his entrance to donate. I remember people commenting about that as one explanation as to why Republican fundraising has low compared to the Dems.
I think if Giuliani and Romney come in around 10 million, then it will be okay for Thompson. If both come in around 13-17 (which I don’t know if it is possible) then it will be a bust. Lower fundraising in addition to his campaign miscues could be the beginning of the end.
How much COH does Thompson have, or was that not reported?
October 1st, 2007 at 1:21 pm
Bryan,
Obviously, McCain just announced what he’ll turn in. I’ve heard Rudy will be at 10 million, and with Rommney, I’ve heard anywhere from 6-15 million, but it’s impossible to know his until we know how much he put in personally.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Thanks Tommey, yea i just saw McCains number’s right after i wrote, thanks for the other’s updates!
October 1st, 2007 at 1:23 pm
ilfigo,
We won’t know for a while. Look, Thompson has been a candidate for three weeks. Nobody claims him to be the savior anymore, but the bottom line is that if the other candidates had been up to expectation, then there wouldn’t be any of this going on anymore. Thompson is not the savior, but he is a legit candidate, and that’s what the anti thompson folks need to accept.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:23 pm
I heard 10 for rudy (which could explain why Ann was replace), but some think that Ann was going to leave his campign anyway for personal reasons and they lowballing too.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:23 pm
No problem. I need a little break from constant bickering of the last two days. Taking a break from commenting, will continue to update news when I hear of it.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:24 pm
That’s pretty much what I’ve heard too, Paul.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Ok, so Fred raised 8 million this quarter and McCain raised 5 million as well. That is decent but not impressive.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Thanks Tommy for the updates from the Thompson campaign, and yea you do need a break from people bickering you all the time, but you do a good job holding your ground….Keep up the good work man…
October 1st, 2007 at 1:28 pm
“Since this is, after all, Fred’s first quarter of fundraising, NBC compares his numbers to the first-quarter totals for Rudy McRomney and finds them wanting. Not really fair. The campaign season was still fresh in January and donors had money to burn. Now the fatigue has set in and they’ve already peeled off a few bills so they’re cutting back.”
True, but he damn well better be able to beat their third quarter numbers. Fred still has low hanging fruit that the others tapped long ago. If Fred doesn’t come in first this quarter, he’s in trouble.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Tommy, all the “big four” had bullseyes on their backs when they started. Rudy = social liberal, MSM gave his candidacy no chance at nomination. McCain = Campain Finance Reform, Immigration “Amnesty”. Romney = social liberal flip-flopper, Mormon. The point I was making is that Thompson is asking for money for the first time around. Rudy McCain & Romney are asking for the 3rd time around. The latter is clearly harder to do, be it January or September.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Tommy…
I am not saying that Thompson is not a legit candidate, I think there are 5 for the GOP. However, people can’t back down from the fact that for many months before his announcement, he was proclaimed as the Savior of the Republican party. Sadly, his 3 weeks have not been as impressive as people had hoped. The expectations placed upon Thompson were too high and he hasn’t yet lived up to it. Finally the Thompson campaign worked it right with his 1st Quarter numbers, lowball the expectations so your candidate looks better when he overperforms. Maybe this is a signal that the Thompson campaing will stop tripping over itself and now has its house in order.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Richard,
I dont believe that he will come in first, but he will be close behind Giuliani and Romney probably and that is a great success, its not a failure, i dont know where you get off calling that a failure, he is doing a fine job and he is still in good position.
October 1st, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Expectations games are one the msm’s devices to always be able to downplay good news a repub might get credit for. What matters is what’s in the bank, how many jobs get created, the actual DOW average, dead terrorists, ie results.
FOX, more and more becomes just another msm shill following the NYT front page as what is news.
October 1st, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Bryan,
Just matching Mitt and Rudy in the third quarter will be very underwhelming for Fred. He has an opportunity here to put together some donors and come out very strong in September. Strategically, I don’t see how such a strategy could have gone wrong. Instead, he chooses to under perform, and in so doing, feeds the speculation that he’s lazy and unwilling to do what it takes to win.
I understand he likes to play to his own beat, but he has an opportunity to do well and he seems to have chosen not to. I don’t get the rationale in that.
October 1st, 2007 at 2:39 pm
On second thought, I’m not sure Fred coming in under Mitt and Rudy means much when they all get punished by the Democrats. We have some bigger issues than this.
October 1st, 2007 at 3:19 pm
I received a personalized request for funds from the FDT campaign. I wasn’t sure where they got my name and address from, since it’s not likely that Mitt has been selling Fred its donor lists. I am a registered Republican, however, and if they are soliciting funds from all registered Republicans they should be able to raise a lot of money. Since I didn’t receive this letter until today, October 1st, maybe they will report big bucks in January.
October 1st, 2007 at 6:08 pm
[...] Tommy Oliver says that there is no spinning Fred Thompson’s fundraising as paltry. He has exceeded expectations and cites the reporting of Carl Cameron as evidence. Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]
October 1st, 2007 at 7:30 pm
How much of Thompson’s money has come from the Tennessee Mafia (Howard Baker/Lamar Alexander/Bill Frist/Bill Haslam machine)? Fred Thompson’s been here in Tennessee quite a bit, but rarely to hobnob with actual voters. He’s been working the donors in Williamson County and Knoxville quite heavily. I wonder, in the end, what percentage of his totals come from his home state? If it’s very high then he looks little better than Romney and his Mormon base. It’s just not a good indicator of widespread support if all his money is coming from home state donors. Any word out there on how much money Thompson’s been able to raise elsewhere? The Tennessee GOP has money, but it’s got nothing compared with Texas, Florida or California. Look beyond the actual numbers if you want a better measure of national support.
October 2nd, 2007 at 7:20 am
Here is a question for those who know fundraising. Why is Romney, who is a lagging third in the national polls, able to raise more cash nationwide? Part of it is his business and mormon connections, but that does not explain, for example, that he has raised more money in Missouri.
And is it possible there is some Hsu-like funneling going on? I ask that only because the mormon church is awash in cash and secrecy and it would be fairly easy for Romney’s church to grant its members a holiday from tithing with a wink and a nod.