Findley Obviously Got Miller’s Attention
- Tuesday, July 20, 2010, 10:26
- Blogs, Krusty Konservative
- 1,120 views
- 8 comments
When Brenna Findley announced her candidacy to be Iowa’s next Attorney General, Tom Miller basically blew her off. His peeps said that she wasn’t qualified to be the state’s top attorney, and then Miller went on with his day.
Findley has proven herself to be an aggressive campaigned and a surprisingly strong fundraiser. Before posting her latest report, Findley has raised an impressive $150,000. Miller was caught flat-footed, but seems like he is taking Findley seriously now.
Miller raised $97,285.00 in the last month and a half and has $186,000 cash-on-hand. Miller’s fundraising was aided by a number of high dollar contributions. Bill Knapp and Jerry Crawford each coughed up $5000, Fred Hubbell gave $1000, and whole slew of out-of-state attorneys made large contributions.
Once again Findley impressed in the fundraising department. Findley raised $72,000 and has $164,000 that she can use to wage war against Miller with. What impresses me about Findley’s fundraising is not her large contributions, but number of people who are donating to her campaign from all across the state.
I have no doubt that Miller will continue to raise money, but I think its very interesting to see the predicament that he finds himself in. There is quite a bit of excitement behind Findley’s race and her ability to fund her campaign will make this one of the best races to watch across the state.
Findley doesn’t need to raise a ton of money to be successful. Bill Northey and Dave Vaudt didn’t drown out their opponents with TV and Radio ads, but both campaigned hard across the state and had enough money to run ads to raise their name ID across the state. Findley has already accomplished that, which means Miller is going to have a stressful fall.
Miller and the other Democrat statewide candidates having tough races will also hurt Culver and the Democratic legislative candidates. Crawford and Knapp have never had to dump that kind of money into Miller’s race, so every dollar they give him is a dollar that isn’t going to Culver, Gronstal, or Murphy. Republicans basically have the Democrats surrounded. That’s a horrible position to be in politically just four months from the election.
When one of these down ballot races is close, the person who pulls it out is typically from the same political party of the candidate who won at the top of the ticket. If that holds true, November 2nd could be a long night for the Democrats.
About the Author
Krusty Konservative has written 284 stories on this site.
Herschel Krustofski is the pseudonym for the anonymous author of Krusty Konservative, a blog which focuses on Iowa Politics. Created in February of 2006, Krusty Konservative is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the Iowa blogosphere. Since its conception, Krusty Konservative has never shied from tackling controversial issues, and providing insight to the inner workings of Republican politics in Iowa.
8 Comments on “Findley Obviously Got Miller’s Attention”
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Findley is an excellent candidate. To have a shot, she needs a 10 pt. (or more) win by Branstad, which is also possible but not necessarily likely. Even so, she is, by all accounts, a bright and competent person, staunchly conservative, and a tenacious fundraiser and campaigner.
This is a hugely important down ballot race and this is our first real shot at unseating Miller in a very long time. It is my hope that Branstad uses some of his stockpile to help Findley.
Everyone should be spreading the word about her. Name ID is huge in this race. We need to get her elected.
Brenna Findley is a very impressive candidate. Very smart, knowledgeable and tough. Brenna would annihilate Miller in a debate, and smile while doing it. I’d pay to watch her take him apart.
I am very excited about this race. Our AG’s office needs a shakeup and Findley seems like a great candidate. Culver’s weakness will really hurt Miller. He basically has gotten a pass during his elections. With no strength at the top of the ticket, Miller may be grasping for air in November.
Brenna is indeed an amazing candidate. A snarky Dem friend had the gall to ask if she had passed the Iowa bar, referring to her youth (she is 34 years old, the same as Miller was back in 1978 when he ran for attorney general and beat the incumbent). Not only has she passed the bar, this woman is a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School, practiced for a Silicon Valley Firm, has worked inside a congressional office as Chief-of-Staff and served as Rep. King’s point person in the House Judiciary Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, and she is now in private practice. She will help clean up lazy and corrupt practices in state government and will run a very good AG’s office. Can’t wait to cheer her on at Tom Miller’s retirement party which after nearly 4 decades in office he deserves. Can’t wait to bid him adios.
Well..some obvious stark contrasts as well here… Findley’s donations are coming from Iowans….Miller’s are coming from high dollar Dems and out of state trial lawyer interests.
Iowans are finally starting to wake up to see that all Tom Miller does is to use the AG’s office to further a political agenda and to provide cover for fellow Democrats.
Way to go!!! “Team Brenna” is a textbook example of grass-roots politics at it’s finest. Her “campaign workers” are just regular folks(like me) stuffing envelopes, etc. as are most of her donors.
In all my days I have never(and I suspect everyone else) have seen such enthusiasm for a Atty. Gen. candidate. I don’t think the trial lawyers will be able to “buy” this election!!!
Tom Miller was elected attorney general in 1994, so he has already proven he can survive a tough political environment for Democrats.
I think Krusty’s numbers are a bit off. Here’s the link to Miller’s July 19 filing. I see $127,165 raised and $230,324.70 cash on hand.
I am certain Richard Turner is smiling down from his Cadillac by asset judgment in heaven. If Richard Turner had only followed more of the example set by Robert Ray. Would we perhaps not be cursed with Tom Miller to this very day?
Ms. Findley is indeed the best hope in ages to set things right.