‘Is that Good?’ Latest Numbers Showing GOP Trouncing Dems With Cash On Hand Sparks Fierce Debate

(AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

New York Times national political correspondent Shane Goldmacher kicked off a fierce debate on Friday when he posted the current financial standings of both parties on social media.

Goldmacher reported on the latest Federal Election Commission filings for both the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee, writing:

DNC:
Cash: $16.05 million
Debts: $17.9 million

RNC:
Cash: $130.4 million
Debts: $0

The GOP trouncing the Democrats in terms of cash on hand stunned many observers, but also led to a debate about why the RNC doesn’t seem to be spending the way the Democrats are with the midterm elections just over two months away.

CNN conservative commentator Shermichael Singleton crowed, “While money doesn’t always change the dynamics, it certainly helps going into a midterm cycle with significant cash on hand and zero debts. The same can’t be said for my friends on the other side.”

Former House Democratic staffer Aaron Fritschner posted the other side of the argument, “I keep seeing these as it gets later and later in the year and that RNC number is shiny and big and their debt number is zero and the more time goes by the more I think this isn’t as smart and good for Republicans as folks think.”

“The Republican rich guys and super PACs and committees are sitting on a zillion dollars and they are going to hit a point where their rates are much higher and the impact is much lower and a lot of the definition of issues and candidates is already baked. Who else remembers 2012?” he later added, explaining his thinking further.

Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI) reacted to a comment on the post warning that despite the cash advantage, “R candidates have a lot of work to do.”

“Correct. We cannot just sit on our hands or we will be responsible for losing America. I am unwilling to do that,” wrote the Wisconsin Republican.

Veteran GOP operative Steve Guest shared the numbers as well and asked, “Is that good?”

Below are some additional reactions from across the political spectrum:

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