Dreier’s foe raises nearly $130K in 3-month period
By Will Bigham, Staff Writer
A Democratic challenger to David Dreier's House seat raised nearly $130,000 in the three-month period ending Sept. 30, campaign filings show.
The money raised by Russ Warner, a Rancho Cucamonga resident, is far larger than what is typically raised this early in the race by Democratic candidates in the Republican-leaning 26th Congressional District.
Despite the progress made by Warner, the Democrat's coffers remain minuscule compared to Dreier's.
Dreier raised nearly $270,000 in the three-month period ending Sept. 30, and has about $2.2 million in the bank. Warner has about $194,000 cash on hand.
"The most anyone's ever raised in total contributions against David Dreier, during their entire campaign, was $115,000," Warner said. Janice Nelson raised that amount in the 2000 race, he said.
Warner said he has hired a full-time campaign manager and finance manager. He has also hired several consultants, and is being assisted by five part-time volunteers.
"I'm running this like a real campaign," Warner said. "It's professionally done, and I don't think this has been done in a long time in this area."
Jo Maney, Dreier's press secretary, declined to comment on Warner's fundraising efforts.
The fundraising effort by Warner is significant because it shows that "Warner is a serious candidate," said John J. Pitney, government professor at Claremont McKenna College. "If you raise close to $200,000 in a quarter you're not a fringe candidate."
Pitney said he believes Dreier is "reasonably secure" in the 2008 race, though it may be a down year for the Republican Party, adding additional worries for the congressman.
Pitney downplayed boasting by the Warner campaign that he had raised more than previous Dreier challengers.
"That's kind of like being the tallest skyscraper in Claremont," Pitney said. "Dreier has not had extremely strong challengers. It's not hard to beat the baseline in this case."
Warner ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic nomination in the 26th District in 2006, though his campaign was assisted by several high-profile Democrats. The nomination was captured by Cynthia Matthews.
Former Army Gen. Wesley Clark, a presidential candidate in 2004, recorded phone messages expressing his support for Warner that were sent to voters during last year's race.
After Warner lost the Democratic nomination he kept much of his campaign staff intact and has continued to stage media events such as speeches denouncing Dreier's votes in Congress.
Hoyt Hilsman, a Democrat running for the 26th District, reported $118,000 cash on hand and $100,000 debt.
Grace Napolitano, the Democratic representative for the 38th District, reported about $250,000 cash on hand and $160,000 debt. No candidates have filed papers to challenge her.
Joe Baca, the Democratic representative for the 43rd District, reported $57,000 cash on hand and $40,000 debt. A Republican challenger for the seat, Scott Lloyd Folkens, has only $254 cash.
Gary Miller, the Republican representative for the 42nd District, has $800,000 cash. A Democratic challenger, Edwin Chau, reported $1,229 cash and $3,000 debt.
Ken Calvert, the Republican representative for the 44th District, reported about $230,000 cash and about $2,400 debt.
Martin Collen, a Republican challenger to Calvert, reported no cash and more than $500,000 debt. Louis Vandenberg, a Democrat, reported nearly $10,000 cash.
The deadline for candidates to file to run for office is March 7.
