While Ray Miller Twiddles Thumbs, Joyce Beatty Outraises GOP

So while all of us were at our backyard July 4th barbecues, someone at the Secretary of State's office was busy posting on their website all of the post-primary campaign filings for the three-month period ending June 30th. The results are surprising. While the Ohio Senate Dems, lead by coup installed Sen. Ray Miller of Columbus, raised a paltry $17,000 for the period, the Ohio House Dems, lead by Rep. Joyce Beatty, raked in over $421,000 in contributions, almost doubling up the Ohio House GOP's $231,000. Most of the donations to the party's Ohio House campaign fund were either from individuals or candidates, while the House GOP of course received lots of PAC money. Fifth Third Bank may be broke enough to cut their dividend and sell $1 Billion worth of new shares to raise capital, but their PAC apparently still had $500 to spare for the Ohio House GOP. 

All of this leads me to repeat something I've said before. I'm glad the Ohio House Dems are having fundraising success and appear to have a shot at taking back the House this year. But, State Reps elected in 2008 will NOT be voting on Ohio's 2012-2022 Congressional map. Senators elected in 2008, on the other hand, will. And there are some winnable seats up this term, the 2nd, the 16th, the 20th, and the 24th are all winnable for Democrats this year. Why our party is not investing resources in these races is beyond me.