TX-21: Lainey Melnick Reports Less Than $2,500 Cash on Hand

At least she's running (3.00 / 2)

I'm proud of Lainey for running.  No Dem ran last cycle.

It's cool to state the facts, as was done in this post, but I vote we give Lainey genuine encouragement.  She stepped up and is trying.

We're proud of ya' Lainey.  Keep focused, keep positive, and best of luck.

Best,
David

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by: David Kobierowski @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 01:50:05 AM UTC

The votes just aren't there. (0.00 / 0)

Frankly, I think this indicates Democrats are sending their money where it can do some good. I've covered the Austin congressional districts for the Chronicle ever since Tom DeLay helpfully redrew them for us. Democrats are a very rare species in that part of Texas. Get all the Democrats in Comal County together in one place, and you might could fill up one bathroom at Schlitterbahn.

Too weird to be a Texan, too Texan to live anywhere else.

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by: ernesttubb @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 02:01:19 AM UTC

A win is possible (0.00 / 0)

I have to disagree with you after researching the specifics from 2008 and 2006. If you look at the numbers and the swing factor moving away from Smith, a win in this district is possible.

In the 2008 general election, the average Democratic candidate in a competitive race in TX-21 achieved a 41% performance with a 22% swing factor of people who voted across party lines. In the mid-term 2006 election, the average Democratic candidate in a competitive race achieved a 38% performance with a 32% swing factor of people who voted across party lines.

In 2008, 72,386 people voted in the Republican Primary while 102,157 voted in the Democratic Primary. Of those who voted in the 2008 Republican Primary, only 64,350 voted for Lamar Smith, an under-vote of 11%. In 2006, 34,785 people voted in the Republican Primary while 11,651 voted in the Democratic Primary. Of those who voted in the 2006 Republican Primary, only 27,166 voted for Lamar Smith, an under-vote of 22%.

--
Lainey Melnick
Candidate for US Congress
Texas 21st District
http://www.LaineyForCongress.com
lmelnick@laineyforcongress.com
512-799-0626 cell
On Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/pages/...
On Twitter http://www.twitter.com/lmelnick
Paid for and authorized by the Lainey Melnick for Congress Committee  

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by: Lainey Melnick @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 03:43:30 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The glass is half full (0.00 / 0)

You are certainly not looking at the positives from the report. Your numbers are incorrect. The in-kind contributions are $2835 for this quarter. 86% of my contributions came from donors giving $200 or less. When you attract that kind of contribution, you need to get a whole lot of them to make the numbers look good. I had 100 donors this quarter. Remember that I didn't come into this race with a base, I have never run for office before and I needed to use the majority of the quarter to work the field and get my name out. I only started really fund-raising the last couple of weeks of the quarter.

I have gotten overwhelmingly positive support from all 6 counties included in district 21, and I believe that support will grow exponentially from now on. My supporter list is filled with over 200 influential Texans including Sen. Leticia Van De Putte and Representatives Mark Strama, Donna Howard and Elliott Naishtat; Six Democratic Party County Chairs; Austin City Council Members Chris Riley
and Sheryl Cole; Constables Bruce Elfant and Richard McCain; 1972 vice presidential nominee Sissy Farenthold; Grammy-Award winner Ruben Ramos; environmentalist Robin Rather; and activist Ruth Epstein.

I truly appreciate the support and genuine encouragement I've gotten from people from all walks of life all across this country.

Thank you!
--
Lainey Melnick
Candidate for US Congress
Texas 21st District
http://www.LaineyForCongress.com
lmelnick@laineyforcongress.com
512-799-0626 cell
On Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/pages/...
On Twitter http://www.twitter.com/lmelnick
Paid for and authorized by the Lainey Melnick for Congress Committee  

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by: Lainey Melnick @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 03:51:46 AM UTC

In-kind number (0.00 / 0)

The total was $5835, including $3000 from the Texas Democratic Party.

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by: Lainey Melnick @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 03:57:41 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Sissy Farenthold (0.00 / 0)

Sissy Farenthold wasn't the 1972 vice presidential nominee. Thomas Eagleton was the nominee, before withdrawing and being replaced by Sargent Shriver.  

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by: sos @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 04:24:00 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Nominated but Came in 2nd (0.00 / 0)

"She served as a delegate to the 1972 Democratic National Convention in Miami and was nominated for Vice President of the United States. This was the first time a woman had ever been nominated and voted on for the position. She came in second, but her nomination proved that women were contenders for the top spots on the ticket."

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by: Lainey Melnick @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 04:29:24 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

here's the key point (0.00 / 0)

...one can run in seats they know they will likely not win but can use their campaign to build the party and assist other candidates running

Sure, maybe its a long shot but I wish Lainey the best of luck and I'll happily accept the consolation prize.  

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by: blake @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 05:28:28 AM UTC

Melnick and Email (0.00 / 0)

As a career IT professional, I don't expect candidates to be technological gurus.  Lainey was the unfortunate victim of an Internet Service Provider's poorly designed services.  This is an easy situation for any first time candidate to stumble into.  Once Lainey's campaign recognized the problem, she took quick action in dumping that company, and contacting her supporters to apologize.

I was very upset too over the email issue, but was greatly encouraged by how Lainey worked hard to take corrective action.  She did not shoot the messenger.  Instead, she learned from her mistake and became a better candidate for it.

James Van Sickle
Darwood Technology, LLC
http://www.darwood.us">http://www.darwood.us
http://www.facebook.com/DarwoodTechnology

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by: jvansickle @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 14:43:56 PM UTC

Thank you for the understanding (0.00 / 0)

I really do appreciate the understanding and support that I received after this issue. I haven't heard anyone complain about this in months. I feel that we definitely were able to learn from it and move beyond it. I am building a new email list, if you're interested in getting updates, please fill out the Get Updates form at http://www.laineyforcongress.com. Thank you for your understanding.

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by: Lainey Melnick @ Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 21:24:04 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Need to build, just like in CD10 (0.00 / 0)

Look at the history in CD10 after the boundaries were redrawn:

November 2004: Only a write-in candidate (me)
October 2005: Candidate (Ted Ankrum) with almost no money
October 2007: Two candidates (Larry Joe Doherty and Dan Grant) with far more support and money than Ankrum.
October 2009: A really strong candidate (Jack McDonald) with the best fundraising of any Democratic challenger in the country.

Now look at CD21 since the lines were redrawn in the middle of John Courage's 2006 run:

November 2008: No candidate
October 2009: A candidate with limited funds but unlimited energy.
October 2011: ??

Do I think that Lainey can beat Lamar Smith this time? Probably not. But she can do a ton of good putting up a good fight, giving voters a real choice, and building for the future. Let's give her all the help that we can.  

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by: LSadun @ Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 02:08:13 AM UTC

Remember Thorton Keel? Terry Keel's Brother (0.00 / 0)

The Keel's were supposed to be unbeatable in SW Travis County. Terry Keel was unopposed in 2004 in the General Election. The Travis County Democratic Party had also written off the Constable's race in SW Travis County, yet current Constable Richard McCain won in 2004 beating Terry's brother Thorton. Then in 2006 current Rep. Bolton beat Terry Keel's handpicked replacement candidate plus Justice of the Peace Susan Steeg beats incumbent R, Melissa Goodwin. Then in 2008 Pct 3 Commissioner Karen Huber beats Gerald Daugherty with Constable Adan Ballesteros beating a 12 year R incumbent for Constable in Pct 2, both won in very tough precincts.

Point: If you do not field a team, you have no chance of winning. If you believe you cannot win, you will not win. Quit whining and figure out a plan to beat Lamar Smith and Jeff Wentworth in 2010. The impossible can happen even if it is an uphill battle. I am sticking with Lainey and Courage for 2010.

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by: ssuits @ Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 05:12:05 AM UTC

ease up on lainey (0.00 / 0)

this is a tough district for a dem, no doubt.

but there is a strong swing demographic there and with the substantial amount of disgruntled voters out there, it is too early to call this "unwinnable".

most folks would argue that the culberson race was more unwinnable than this one from day one...but because the Democrat had money, everyone was crowing about his campaign and flocking to give him awards and cuddle up to him.

lainey will surely have to increase her numbers to be competitive, we're still a year off. not everyone has jack mcdonald's rolodex or doggett's personal millions. lainey has time to right the ship and get her money on point.

Please refer to KT's signature.

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by: colin @ Fri Oct 16, 2009 at 21:03:54 PM UTC