Cash-Poor GOP Taps Rich Candidates

Suddenly losing the fundraising race, House Republicans are recruiting wealthy candidates to run for vulnerable seats next year, the Times reports. With $2.5 million on hand—compared to $29.2 in Dem coffers—the GOP is grooming candidates in competitive districts. Fourteen Republicans have already invested over $100,000 in their own campaigns, the Times reports.

Self-financed hopefuls include a GE founder’s grandson and a dairy mogul. Candidates spending their own money have a bad track record in winning elections—and a law raises the contribution ceilings for their opponents—but the infusion of personal dough can at least be expected to make Democrats redirect money that might have gone to battling GOP incumbents. (More Election 2008 stories.)