Maryland GOP is Almost Broke -- Party is $50,500 in the Hole with Only $4,615 in Cash

News Type: Event — Seeded on Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:41 AM EDT

Article Source: The Baltimore Sun

politics, republican, gop, debt, maryland, fundraising, access, general-assembly, broke, jim-pelura, rovert-l-ehrlich-jr, wayne-t-gilchrest

Seeded by Killfile

The Maryland Republican Party, reeling from the loss of the governor's mansion, is nearly broke, according to a copy of its financial statement obtained by The Sun.

The state GOP treasurer's report from July 31 shows the party had $4,615 in cash and $50,500 in debt. Because of lackluster fundraising, the party operated at a $103,536 deficit in the first six months of the year.

A report from the party's accountants shows that funding from major donors has dried up, and that the party's major annual fundraising event, the Red, White and Blue Dinner, netted $15,572, less than 10 percent of the amount the party had been counting on.

The poor fundraising comes at a time when conservative and moderate wings of the party are fighting over whether the party should take sides in state Sen. Andrew P. Harris' primary challenge to Rep. Wayne T. Gilchrest, a stark contrast to the unity and strength that the party displayed during former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s term.

"It's no secret that the Maryland Republican Party is having financial problems" in the wake of Ehrlich's loss, said state GOP Chairman Jim Pelura. "Why do big donors give a lot of money? It's for access. I'd be the first to admit that access is limited right now, but that will change. With every piece of lousy legislation that comes out of the General Assembly, our position will strengthen."

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Groups: Election News, Left of Center, Political Analysis, The Big 2008 Election
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8.2

{"commentId":942927,"authorDomain":"killfile"}

Killfile

Wow. What a shame.

{"commentId":942927,"threadId":"137119","contentId":"893607","authorDomain":"killfile"}

2 votes

#1 - Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:50 AM EDT

{"commentId":942969,"authorDomain":"acidreflux"}

AdipicAcid

Considering they chased most of the moderates (like myself) out, this is hardly surprising. I still get fundraising letters from them. I shred them with the credit card offers.

{"commentId":942969,"threadId":"137119","contentId":"893607","authorDomain":"acidreflux"}

4 votes

#1.1 - Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:17 AM EDT

{"commentId":1001186,"authorDomain":"bktcarey"}

Dr. BC

Credit card offers, most of these guys have negative credit and/or bad credit card scores. Who would give them a credit card. May its time to stop supporting their King....Bush.

Ron Paul 2008

{"commentId":1001186,"threadId":"137119","contentId":"893607","authorDomain":"bktcarey"}

#1.2 - Wed Sep 5, 2007 2:38 PM EDT

{"commentId":943027,"authorDomain":"rstilt"}

hseldon

Now if the rest of the country would only follow Maryland's example.

{"commentId":943027,"threadId":"137119","contentId":"893607","authorDomain":"rstilt"}

3 votes

#2 - Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:46 AM EDT

{"commentId":943035,"authorDomain":"killfile"}

Killfile

If I'm a Maryland Democrat I'm hooting "party of fiscal responsibility indeed!" right about now.

{"commentId":943035,"threadId":"137119","contentId":"893607","authorDomain":"killfile"}

3 votes

#2.1 - Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:48 AM EDT

{"commentId":943094,"authorDomain":"wharrison55"}

Bill Harrison

Heh. The Maryland GOP should just get a loan from the estates of all those Democratic voters who turn out each election in Bawlmer City and Bawlmer County. Next to Lousiana, it's hard to beat Maryland for political corruption. From Nancy Armani's diddy, to Spiro Agnew, to Marvin Mandel, to Gerard Evans the beat goes on.

{"commentId":943094,"threadId":"137119","contentId":"893607","authorDomain":"wharrison55"}

1 vote

#3 - Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:16 AM EDT

{"commentId":943132,"authorDomain":"killfile"}

Killfile

The Maryland GOP should just get a loan from the estates of all those Democratic voters who turn out each election in Bawlmer City and Bawlmer County.

Bill, you wouldn't happen to be personally in charge of the Maryland GOP would you? I'm just asking because, based on your comment, I can see what the problem is.

See... Loans aren't free money. That's where the $50,500 in debt came from in the first place. Loans.

Suddenly the Republican position on Iraq and raising taxes makes so much more sense....

{"commentId":943132,"threadId":"137119","contentId":"893607","authorDomain":"killfile"}

9 votes

#3.1 - Mon Aug 13, 2007 10:34 AM EDT

{"commentId":943968,"authorDomain":"Catch22"}

Catch22

From Nancy Armani's diddy, to Spiro Agnew, to Marvin Mandel, to Gerard Evans the beat goes on.

Nancy Armani - Juvenile
Spiro Agnew - GOP Vice President from over 40 years ago.
Gerad Evans - Lobbyist with ties to Republican Governor Ehrlich despite conviction.
Marvin Mandel - Dem Governor from 40 years ago. He was sentenced to four years in prison, but after Mandel had exhausted his appeals, President Ronald Reagan shortened the term to 19 months. In 1989 the Supreme Court upheld a lower court decision overturning his conviction. He is currently practicing law.

So thats the best you can do to compare to Louisanna? Nixons VP, a lobbyist who the Ehrlich administration worked with despite his felony and a Regan commutted overturned sentence from 40 years ago?

{"commentId":943968,"threadId":"137119","contentId":"893607","authorDomain":"Catch22"}

4 votes

#3.2 - Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:16 PM EDT

{"commentId":943312,"authorDomain":"SirAce79"}

SirAce79

I'm a MD registered Dem, but unfortunately, nothing good stems from one party in charge. Not locally, nationally, not even on the playground. Balance is always key. And as a Baltimore City resident, I don't know that balance was ever here.

{"commentId":943312,"threadId":"137119","contentId":"893607","authorDomain":"SirAce79"}

1 vote

#4 - Mon Aug 13, 2007 11:55 AM EDT

{"commentId":943703,"authorDomain":"drydiggins"}

drydiggins

I've watched all seasons of HBO's "The Wire", therefore I am an expert on Ball'mur
politics. SirAce79 is right. But I'd still like to have the Republican party in Grover Norquist's
bathtub.

Today's secret code word: Schadenfreude!

{"commentId":943703,"threadId":"137119","contentId":"893607","authorDomain":"drydiggins"}

1 vote

#4.1 - Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:45 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"137119","isPrivate":false}

KILLFILE

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Maryland GOP is Almost Broke -- Party is $50,500 in the Hole with Only $4,615 in Cash

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