Monaghan Fails Brownback
Fri, Oct19, 2007 - Category: Miscellaneous
All indications are that Sen. Sam Brownback will
withdraw from the campaign for President late this
afternoon. Reports from yesterday indicated that he
had only $95,000 cash on hand; he was near the bottom
in total funds collected among the Republican pack.
Today, the AP reported the following:
Republican Sen. Sam Brownback, the Kansas conservative who struggled to raise money and gain recognition in the 2008 presidential campaign, will drop out on Friday, people close to him said Thursday.
Money was a main reason for his decision, said one person close to Brownback who requested anonymity because the candidate had not yet announced his plans.
If money is Brownback's primary problem, Tom Monaghan shares largely in the defeat. Monaghan is a Brownback campaign advisor, particularly in the area of fundraising. When Monaghan joined the campaign, William Donohue, head of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, said “In Legatus [Monaghan's club for ultra-rich Catholic CEOs], he's got thousands of members who are all Catholics, all well-to-do. This is the cream of the Catholic community. And they all have friends. You talk about where to go for fundraising, there's a list there that's been around for a number of years." Monaghan curdled the Cream.
But there are implications well beyond Tom Monaghan's impotence to raise even modest funds from his circle of wealthy conservative Catholic friends. Monaghan's failure extends beyond fundraising and into the wider realm of influence. Brownback's support slipped from an all-time high of 3% (Summer 2007) to less than 1% currently. That is in sharp contrast to candidates like Ron Paul (a Baptist) who seem to be making strong gains among conservative Catholics. At the outset, Brownback depended upon Monaghan's influence:
"He brings to the table recognition in the Catholic community," said Marlene Elwell, a Michigan political activist who used to work for Monaghan. "It's always positive to have a leader in a community endorse you." (McClatchy Newspaper, 12/5/2006)
Brownback's flop may indicate that Tom Monaghan is losing his position as a leader who conservative Catholics will follow and trust.
UPDATE - As expected, Brownback confirmed his withdrawl this afternoon. "We're out of money," he said.
Republican Sen. Sam Brownback, the Kansas conservative who struggled to raise money and gain recognition in the 2008 presidential campaign, will drop out on Friday, people close to him said Thursday.
Money was a main reason for his decision, said one person close to Brownback who requested anonymity because the candidate had not yet announced his plans.
If money is Brownback's primary problem, Tom Monaghan shares largely in the defeat. Monaghan is a Brownback campaign advisor, particularly in the area of fundraising. When Monaghan joined the campaign, William Donohue, head of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, said “In Legatus [Monaghan's club for ultra-rich Catholic CEOs], he's got thousands of members who are all Catholics, all well-to-do. This is the cream of the Catholic community. And they all have friends. You talk about where to go for fundraising, there's a list there that's been around for a number of years." Monaghan curdled the Cream.
But there are implications well beyond Tom Monaghan's impotence to raise even modest funds from his circle of wealthy conservative Catholic friends. Monaghan's failure extends beyond fundraising and into the wider realm of influence. Brownback's support slipped from an all-time high of 3% (Summer 2007) to less than 1% currently. That is in sharp contrast to candidates like Ron Paul (a Baptist) who seem to be making strong gains among conservative Catholics. At the outset, Brownback depended upon Monaghan's influence:
"He brings to the table recognition in the Catholic community," said Marlene Elwell, a Michigan political activist who used to work for Monaghan. "It's always positive to have a leader in a community endorse you." (McClatchy Newspaper, 12/5/2006)
Brownback's flop may indicate that Tom Monaghan is losing his position as a leader who conservative Catholics will follow and trust.
UPDATE - As expected, Brownback confirmed his withdrawl this afternoon. "We're out of money," he said.