GOP groups ponder fund-raising strategy

[struggle4progress]

Election officials may put off a decision on whether to restrict fund-raising by interest groups spending unlimited checks in this year’s elections, a move Republicans predict would embolden their donors to follow Democrats’ lead and pour millions of dollars into the presidential race.
In a step with broad political implications, Federal Election Commission attorneys Tuesday urged the FEC to take at least three more months to review the issue. If the commission agrees, it is unlikely groups collecting “soft money” — corporate, union and unlimited donations — would face new rules before the Nov. 2 election.
The FEC is expected to consider the proposal Thursday.
<more>
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4961774/

Delay Urged for FEC Action on Pro-Democratic Groups
General Counsel Says Issue Involving 'Soft Money' Is Complex
The Federal Election Commission's general counsel said yesterday that the agency should delay by 90 days its decision whether to restrict the "soft money" expenditures of groups opposing the reelection of President Bush -- sharply increasing the likelihood that no action would be taken before the November election.
A delay would be a major boost to the presidential campaign of Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) and a setback for an alliance of campaign watchdogs, the Bush campaign and the Republican National Committee, which are seeking to thwart the activities of pro-Democratic semi-independent political organizations.
Lawrence H. Norton, FEC general counsel, who had been a proponent of tough regulation, wrote that the issue is far too complex to be resolved in a hurried rule-making process. "Even the most conservative approaches raise issues that need to be thought through in a manner that the current schedule makes difficult," he said.
<more>
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18917-2004May11.html?referrer=email

This is the potentially important question of what rules will govern groups like MoveOn.

[Old and In the Way]

1. Someone speculated that the Republicans will use their own 527's

and raise another $250MM. I really don't think so. Yes they will raise more, but who wants to piss good money after bad. They spent $50MM last month and Kerry's poll numbers are rising. At some point, giving money to this loser (Dimson) just doesn't make business sense.

[Democat]

2. But it's not their money, it's Hannity's listener's money

There is nothing too stupid for right wingers to spend other people's money on.