RNC Foresees Big Cuts For Voter Drives

[Geee]

Washington Times:

RNC foresees big cuts for voter drives
Steele faces budget woes

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele faces greatly diminished projections for the party's get-out-the-vote "victory" programs.

With the party banking on major gains in midterm elections, the Republican National Committee is suddenly being hit with a severe cut in money originally budgeted to help state parties identify and get voters to the polls on Nov. 2, The Washington Times has learned.

The cuts, which RNC officials say still must be approved by the budget committee, would slice by a third the amount of money originally budgeted for targeted political operations, including funds to help state parties hire staff and beef up get-out-the-vote operations.

The $12.2 million downward revision means that state GOP operations will have to trim theirElection Day "victory" programs, according to a new budget blueprint prepared for RNC Chairman Michael S. Steele and sent to members of the budget committee for approval.

Mr. Steele also faces fresh controversy within the party over his comments last week questioning the war in Afghanistan and dismissing it as a "war of [President] Obama's choosing." Mr. Steele has tried to soften his remarks, but GOP neoconservatives are saying he should resign.

Republicans are hoping for major gains in November in House, Senate and gubernatorial races.

Other conservative organs, including the Republican Governors Association and the Karl Rove-backed independent American Crossroads group, have reported impressive fundraising numbers in recent days. Mr. Rove was a senior adviser to President George W. Bush.

"We have a great opportunity to take the House and Senate, but now with this kind of financial kick in the pants we may not have the resources to pull it off," a senior member of the Republican Party's national governing body told The Times, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

According to RNC sources, the new budget blueprint foresees a $12.2 million drop — 34 percent in the fund for political operations, as well as lower projections for contributions from both small and major donors. The lower figures likely will mean corresponding cuts in state-level victory programs.

RNC spokesman Doug Heye denied that the party's national governing body faced a funding shortfall and said the budget committee would vote on any revisions for the second half of the year at the RNC's summer meeting. He did not address a question specifically asking about the proposed cuts to political operations.

"Adjusting budget numbers is a common practice," Mr. Heye said in an e-mail response. "For instance, in 2006, the RNC revised its budget on five separate occasions.

[Argyle58]

Poor timing for donor's to start withholding, but I doubt that things will change until Steele is out. Many are donating because of him.