A new report by Democracy North Carolina shows that members of the state’s congressional delegation are raising four times as much money as they did a generation ago, even adjusting for inflation.
“They just love pulling in the money, I guess,” said Bob Hall, executive director of the non-partisan watchdog organization. "Most of them are not facing that much competition. I think a lot of it is building your war chests to push away competitors.”
In 1980, the average congressional incumbent from North Carolina who faced a challenger raised $145,500 -- or $356,000 in today’s dollars, reports Barb Barrett.
In 2006, the average amount was nearly $1.4 million, according to the project.
Last year, the state’s 13 members of Congress raised a collective $17 million, the report said.
About 40 percent of that came from political action committees sponsored by groups such as real-estate agents, unions, medical providers and political parties.
Challengers raised about a third as much, the report said. Only one of the challengers – Democrat Heath Shuler of Waynesville – won a race. Shuler defeated GOP Rep. Charles Taylor, who had raised more than $4 million, including $2.5 million of his own money.
“It’s certainly not 100 percent that if you get the most money you will win,” Hall said.
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I wonder...
...how much of the 1980 average was made up of contributions from PAC and special interest cash. It would be interesting to compare that figure with the same from the 2006 average.
I'd be willing to bet that therein lies a significant portion of the increase...