Pat Meehan (R-Delaware) ended 2013 with more than $1.5 million cash on hand, the Congressman’s campaign announced Thursday.
The numbers include campaign contributions raised during the fourth quarter: October, November and December. It’s a step up from Meehan’s Q3 totals; he raised $162,500 and had $1.4 million on hand then.
“Thanks to the continuous generosity of our supporters, we can enter the 2014 election year with confidence that we’ll be able to keep fighting for the voters of the 7th Congressional District,” Meehan said in a press release.
“I am truly grateful for strong friendships and support for my agenda to create jobs here in Pennsylvania, stop reckless spending, and protect hardworking taxpayers from Obamacare’s harmful effects.”
Meehan consistently has performed at the head of the Pennsylvania delegation vis-a-vis fundraising. Only Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Blair), who chairs a major House committee, eclipsed him in 2013.
The full report, which details specific contributions, is due to the FEC on Jan. 31. Candidates typically announce their fundraising numbers ahead of the deadline as a way of showing strength.
In this case, it may be an effort to deter Meehan’s potential opponents. No Democrat has thus far made any public moves toward a 2014 matchup in PA-7, which prior to Meehan was represented by Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak.
His fundraising success is one of the factors contributing to the fact that Democrats have struggles to recruit opponents to Meehan, a former District Attorney and U.S. Attorney.
Another hurdle for Dems: redistricting. GOP map-makers turned PA-7 from a mostly compact, Delaware County-based seat to one of the most gerrymandered districts in the country. It went from a 3 point generic ballot advantage for Democrats to 1 point in favor of the GOP.
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3 Responses
Drew-
We are well past despair.
Impressive take when you consider he’s got nobody running against him. At this point, the Dems don’t even have a sacrificial lamb to offer up on the ballot.
But don’t despair, Delco Dems. David Landau is on the case!
The Delco Dem Leadership and the House Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee are letting this get too far ahead without even putting any candidate out there, much less a legitimate candidate. The lack of Democratic Party Leadership is on full display here, and makes this vulnerable, empty-suit candidate Meehan look invincible. The lack of a legitimate candidate (and if there is nobody declared at this point legitimacy is highly questionable a la George Badey) will mean low energy in 7th CD, which hurts state legislative and governor elections.