Press Releases

Excerpts from The Wall Street Journal

By Kimberley A. Strassel

January 12, 2012

“As the GOP presidential field battles over the morality of capitalism, the candidates might be grateful that at least one Republican isn't ashamed to be hauling in the cash. Reince Priebus may not have worked at Bain, but he knows the value of a buck. 

“One year into his chairmanship of the Republican National Committee, Mr. Priebus will soon be announcing the fruits of his 2011 labors, and the news is that the GOP is (finally) back in the money game. The party may not have a nominee, but what it does have is an organization that looks ever more able to support one. 

“A source confides that the RNC landed $27 million in the fourth quarter, bringing its year-end fund-raising total to a sizable $87 million. Nearly $12 million was collected in December alone, the largest monthly sum in a non-election year since the early George W. Bush days. This also marks four out of the past five months that the RNC has beat its Democratic counterpart—despite President Obama's formidable fund-raising powers...

“Mr. Priebus...walked into headquarters facing $24 million in debt and was told the group didn't even have enough money to cover the postage for an initial fund-raising effort.

“Republicans who know the Wisconsinite say his response was to spend a year sweating the boring stuff. He's cut expenses and staff, getting fund-raising costs below the 50% mark (down from 62%). He's been putting new focus on voter registration and turnout operations. He does TV and speeches, though he picks his spots. Mostly, he's to be found personally coaxing back those crucial, big-dollar donors.

“Of all the numbers the RNC is releasing, it is this one that has GOP operatives the happiest...The RNC will be announcing that in 2011 it raised $24 million from this crowd—an all-time record for the party in a non-election year. By the end of 2010, a big midterm election year, the RNC counted 100 donors who had given $15,000 or more. A year later, that number sits at 943.

“These figures suggest Republicans are regaining confidence in the RNC, and with that, a new enthusiasm for committing money to beat Mr. Obama...

“The nominee will at least have something to work with in the RNC. Considering recent history, that's no small thing.”

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