Monday, Oct. 05, 2009

Miller vs. Wilson: Race on course for fundraising record

'You lie!' spurs donations to both candidates

WASHINGTON - The suddenly national congressional contest between U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, of Lexington County, and Democratic challenger Rob Miller has blown past the $4 million fundraising record for any U.S. House race in South Carolina - and is on pace to challenge the most expensive campaigns in the country's history.

While saying they want to move beyond Wilson's now-famous "You lie!" yell at President Barack Obama, Wilson and Miller continue to capitalize on the national attention that Wilson's outburst has brought their campaigns.

As the Sept. 30 deadline for third-quarter fundraising approached, both men were bombarding prospects for money.

"Help us take back Washington," Wilson tweeted supporters Wednesday. "Please watch this video and make a donation today."

With 12,163 Twitter followers, Wilson is the third-most popular House member on the social-networking Web site, ahead of his congressional boss, House Republican leader John Boehner, of Ohio, and gaining ground on Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

After an initial surge of online donations, Wilson received thousands of mailed donations from around the country, Preston Grisham, Wilson's campaign manager, said Friday.

Meanwhile, Miller, a Beaufort Democrat, attended a $250-a-plate fundraiser at a popular seafood restaurant in Washington, hosted by former aides to U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, a Democrat from Columbia, and former U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings, a Democrat from Charleston.

"Thanks to everybody that was able to contribute last night before the end of the quarter!" Miller tweeted Thursday to his backers. "Honored by your support."

The number of Miller's Facebook friends vaulted to 3,000 on Sept. 13 - four days after Wilson shouted at Obama as he addressed Congress - climbing to 6,000 on Monday.

Wilson strayed far from his district last week, embarking on what he called a "Thank You Tour" to greet Upstate supporters who, along with conservative activists around the country, have hailed him as a hero for rebuking Obama.

Wilson later traveled even farther afield, with scheduled appearances at weekend fundraisers for Republican lawmakers in Michigan and Missouri.

The congressman said he'd turned down most requests to speak to Republican groups or raise money for GOP officeholders and candidates across the country.

"I've received hundreds of invitations," Wilson told McClatchy. "I've had dozens of members of Congress ask me to appear in their districts. (Rep.) Michele Bachman said, 'Joe, you're a hero in Minnesota.' I love traveling the country, but I love traveling the Second District more."

Miller mocked Wilson for basking in his newfound fame.

"He's out there on his 'Thank You Tour,'" Miller said Friday in an interview. "He should be doing an apology tour. He should be apologizing to every teacher, every law enforcement official, every man, woman and child in South Carolina for being disrespectful to the president."

Wilson apologized to Obama after his Sept. 9 outburst on prime-time TV, and the president accepted his apology. The U.S. House passed a "resolution of disapproval" reprimanding Wilson on Sept. 15, largely on party lines.

While Wilson has appeared at several enthusiastic rallies in his district after his outburst, Miller has held no public events. He also declined to speak with any reporters for three weeks, only breaking his silence Friday for the McClatchy interview.

Miller said he'd "been meeting with a lot of local leaders throughout the district," but he declined to identify them, only saying he'd "been out talking to business owners."

Miller also declined to explain why he'd stopped talking with reporters, though he indicated the sudden national focus on his contest caught him off guard.

"None of us ever imagined that our race would begin so early and on such a large scale," Miller said. "The game has changed. The campaign has changed."

Wilson, a retired Army National Guard colonel, and Miller, a former Marine Corps captain, aren't required to file third-quarter fundraising data with the Federal Election Commission until Oct. 15.

But veteran campaign operatives said the Wilson-Miller money totals through Sept. 30 will certainly exceed the $4 million spent by Democratic U.S. Rep. John Spratt of York and Republican Ralph Norman over the entire 24-month campaign cycle for their 2006 race, the highest combined total ever for a South Carolina congressional race.

Within a week of Wilson's yell, the retired military lawyer said he had raised more than $2 million, while Miller claimed a fundraising haul in excess of $1.5 million. They've declined to disclose more recent figures.

That combined total of $3.5 million-plus from mid-September included only Internet donations. Contributions mailed since then have driven the figure above $4 million, according to fundraising experts in Washington with no ties to the Wilson or Miller campaigns.

A $4 million total through three quarters would put Wilson and Miller on pace to raise nearly $10.7 million during their race.

In the most expensive House race on record, incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Rogan and Democratic challenger Adam Schiff spent more than $11.5 million.

That race, in which Rogan was voted out of office, was in a Southern California district based in Burbank, near Los Angeles, one of the nation's biggest and most expensive TV markets.

In ousting the incumbent, Schiff received 113,708 votes - spending an astounding $101 per vote.

Despite their nationalized race, it's unlikely the victor in the Wilson-Miller contest will have to spend as much for each vote.

Wilson's district stretches from the Midlands into the Lowcountry. With the Columbia-based TV market at No. 83 in the country, the political ads that dominate the stretch run of competitive congressional races will cost far less than in the Los Angeles area.

Wilson, first sent to Congress in a December 2001 special election to replace the late U.S. Rep. Floyd Spence, and Miller, an Iraq War veteran, have more than doubled the nearly $1.8 million they raised in their first race.

Wilson defeated Miller by a 54 percent to 46 percent margin last November, by far the closest election result in Wilson's political career in the U.S. House and the S.C. Senate.

Now, in the wake of Wilson's "You lie!" cry, their 2010 election replay is getting national attention, with the Republican and Democratic national parties fully engaged.

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, of Michigan, head of the "incumbent protection" initiative for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said Wilson has emerged stronger politically from his "You lie!" episode.

"He went from 'safe' to 'solidly safe' in the (2010) election," Rogers said. "Joe has become the symbol of taking on this president when he's wrong on policy."

U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen, of Maryland, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Committee, said Wilson is in for the fight of his life.

"As a Marine and small-business owner, Rob Miller is a good fit for his district. By offering real solutions to the challenges facing South Carolina families, Rob gave Joe Wilson a run for his money last election. ... This time, Rob has the resources to fully engage South Carolinians in his campaign."

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