Petrelis Files

FEC: Kerry's Presidential Campaign Has $13 Million in Cash

The PoliticalMoneyLine on Sunday provided a round up of Democratic presidential candidates, past and maybe future hopefuls, and their recent filings.

This is what the money-tracking site had to say about the 2004 loser who couldn't oust a moron from the Oval Office and part of his financial situation:

John Kerry’s Presidential Campaign still has $13.8 million in cash. The John Kerry for President has cash-on-hand of $8,556,597, even after transferring out $600,000 to his U.S. Senate campaign committee, the Friends of John Kerry. The Kerry-Edwards 2004 Inc General Election Legal Accounting Compliance Fund still has cash-on-hand of $5,275,171, even after paying $129,875 for legal services.

More than two years after Kerry lost to George W. Bush, I still do not understand why the senator didn't spend every dime to win the White House. Were there really no get-out-the-vote efforts or TV spots and radio spots and online banner ads that could have used funding from Kerry and put him in the Oval Office, especially in Ohio?

What about Kerry's running mate and his PAC? Seems to be having a hard time raising cash.

Former Sen. John Edwards’ PAC, One America Committee, reported raising $286,842 and spending $302,722, leaving cash-on-hand of $7,159, and debts of $108,279.

And this is a boring footnote about the Democrats, though I should probably be careful when using that term when speaking about Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman, who often relishes being Bush's Democratic lapdog. Curious that this fund had reason to spend money on polling.

The Gore/Lieberman General Election Legal and Accounting Compliance Fund reported transferring $40,000 to Gore 2000, Inc. that then paid $40,000 to Penn Schoen Berland Inc. on 3/22 for “polling.”

Last but not least, Mark Warner appears to have no trouble bringing in funds in the six-figures, then using the money for campaign expenses.

Forward Together PAC, the federal PAC of former Gov. Mark Warner of Virginia, reported raising $1,850,171 and spending of $1,100,588, leaving cash-on-hand of $3,242,110. The PAC raised $1.8 million from individuals. Two hundred and sixty four donors identified themselves as attorneys, giving a total of $371,375. The top seven states of donors were Virginia ($325,858), New York ($307,150), Texas ($208,864), Massachusetts ($199,475), DC ($174,560), Maryland ($149,740), and California ($125,108), amongst others.

Should Kerry decide he wants another shot at the White House in 2008, he's got quite a war-chest with which to wage his campaign, a fact that might scare off possible Democratic contenders as we get closer to the next presidential election.