McGovern Uses Excess Funds to Help Other Democrats
FECworcester
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Katherine Geyer
Boston University News Service
October 18, 2006
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18– While many Democratic congressional candidates around the country are finishing up fundraising efforts and pouring their funds into the final days of their own campaigns, Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester, has used his funds to help other Democrats secure victories in November.
Mr. McGovern has raised $672,349 over the past two years – to go with the $45,093 he had in the bank after his last election – and because he is unopposed in this election, he is able to give thousands of his excess dollars to other Democrats throughout the country.
As of the end of September, the most recent reporting period, Mr. McGovern had spent all but $101,103, according to his filings with the Federal Election Commission, and his spokesman, Michael Mershon, said there will probably not be any more major expenses during this election cycle. Most of the campaign money was used for fundraising, payroll expenses and the overhead of keeping a campaign office. But according to Mr. Mershon, “a big chunk” of his money has gone to supporting other Democrats.
Unopposed candidates can keep their funds for their next campaign, or they can donate to other candidates to help them out.
Over the past two years, Mr. McGovern’s Re-elect McGovern Committee has given $150,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to help support what the committee spokeswoman Jen Psaki described as “our best opportunities across the country to pick up Republican House seats.”
Mr. Mershon said that the Mr. McGovern also wrote individual checks to Democratic candidates. In 2005 and 2006, Mr. McGovern’s campaign committee donated a total of $5,000 to Democrats in Indiana, Kentucky, Texas and Vermont.
He spent an additional $4,500 supporting Democrats not on the targeted list, such as Reps. Chris John of Louisiana and Doris Matsui of California, both of whom, Mr. Mershon said, are close friends of Mr. McGovern.
In July, Mr. McGovern sent a letter to his donors asking for contributions so that he can continue to support Democratic candidates in need.
“This November, we will have an opportunity to dramatically change the direction of this country by electing a new Congress,” he wrote. “If Democrats are going to win, we must be able to counter Republican attack ads that are being developed right now in Karl Rove’s office.”
Donald Melville of Worcester donated money to Mr. McGovern in 2005 and 2006 and said he doesn’t mind that his money may be going to an out-of-state candidate.
“He’s not going to give it to Republicans,” Mr. Melville said. “He’s going to give it to Democrats, and frankly, the more Democrats we can get into Congress, the better off we’re going to be.”
But according to Massie Ritsch, communications director for the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks campaign finance issues, some donors may be disappointed to learn that their donations may not be going toward their candidate’s own campaign.
“I think many donors would be surprised to know that their contributions ended up in the campaign of someone else,” he said. “Within the Democratic Party, as in the Republican Party, there are a number of ideologies. Donors who agreed with the candidate they gave to might not agree with the candidate to whom he turns over their money.”
Mr. Ritsch said that donating to other candidates shows the candidates and party leaders that the candidate is a team player, and “that can be rewarded.”
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