Himes posts record fund-raising numbers
Greenwich Post, Wednesday, April 16, 2008
By Ken Borsuk, Staff Reporter
Cos Cob resident Jim Himes knows he has an expensive fight on his hands in challenging longtime incumbent United States Rep. Christopher Shays of District 4 this fall, but if his fund-raising numbers are any indication of voter support, the campaign is gaining steam.
On Monday, the Himes campaign released numbers, claiming his Democratic campaign for Congress had raised more than $420,000 in the first quarter of 2008 and more than $1.3 million this cycle, and had $1 million cash on hand. These numbers are significant, the campaign says, because they represent both the highest total amount and the most cash on hand ever raised by a challenger to Mr. Shays, who has been in office since 1987, by the end of the first quarter of an election year.
Mr. Himes said the fund-raising totals show people in the district are hungry for change in their representation.
"Our success this quarter is further evidence that people want a leader who will address the problems that face us before they reach the crisis point," Mr. Himes said in a campaign statement. "Whether the issue is the economy, the war or protecting the middle class, the problems we face are real and complex. These issues have become worse under Chris Shays' watch."
The campaign has received boosts from high-profile Democrats. Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, has twice made local campaign visits to stump for Mr. Himes, and Congressman Steny Hoyer, the House of Representatives' majority leader, appeared at a Stamford fund-raiser for him. But money has also come from small donors, something campaign officials are quick to point out.
According to them, more than 25% of contributions to the Himes campaign in the first quarter were $25 or less.
"It shows the high degree of grassroots support out there for the campaign," Mr. Himes told the Post on Tuesday. "A lot of the smaller donors are driven by excitement for what we represent and our stance on the issues."
Mr. Himes said he has been "running around the district" and visiting two to three towns a day for the last few months and that people are starting to pay more attention to the race. He told the Post the issues people are most concerned with are the state of the economy and the war in Iraq.
"More than ever, people are understanding that those are linked issues," Mr. Himes said. "The money spent in Iraq is money not being used for health care and housing, and is being added to our burgeoning debt."
Michael Sohn, Mr. Shays' campaign manager, said the congressman had raised more than $454,000 during the first quarter, giving him more than $1.3 million cash on hand. He praised Mr. Shays' "wonderful donor base" which gave everything from $5 to the $2,300 pre-nominating convention maximum and said Mr. Himes' numbers were not a surprise.
"Chris has for the last several cycles defeated well-funded opponents," Mr. Sohn said. "We had no doubt he would be facing another one this year."
