The news release hits the wire Monday morning,but we’ve learned that Beth Krom has exceeded her fundraising goal for the first quarter of 2009 in her race to replace John Campbell in Congress in California’s 48th district. Â Krom, who announced about three weeks ago, set a goal to raise $50,000 by March 31. Â
The announcement tomorrow reports that Krom raised more than $63,000.
So voters in CD-48, tapped out from an expensive presidential election and a demanding Prop 8 fundraising effort, are excited about Krom’s candidacy to the point of giving generously. Â Krom has held only one major fundraiser, two weeks ago in Shady Canyon, which netted about $39K of the $63K total.
And for those who read conservative Republican pollster Adam Probolsky’s column in Saturday’s Irvine World News, there are a couple of significant errors.
More after the jump….
1. Â Adam writes that John Campbell consistently votes for low taxes and smaller goverment. Â Adam must have forgotten that Campbell voted for Bush’s bailout of the banks and AIG last fall at the urging of President Bush and presidential candidate John McCain; and Campbell went the extra mile encouraging his colleagues to vote for the bailout too. Â A borrow and spend Republican true and true.
2. Adam write that Krom voted for and favors higher taxes. Â City law doesn’t permit Krom or other city council members to raise taxes. Only voters can do that. Â And as a former city planning commissioner quick to correct others who make mistakes about city government, Adam should have known better before making this erroneous statement. He needs to retract this lie about Krom immediately.
Also, would it be so hard for the editors of the Irvine World News to identify Adam for who he is than who he portrays himself in the column? The tag line says Adam is the CEO of a research company and lives in Turtle Rock. And while that’s all true, its not completely accurate. With due respect to the late Paul Harvey, Adam is a Republican pollster active in party politics and appointed to many local government posts via Republican legislators. He’s as partisan as I am, but for the wrong side. But no one will ever accuse the Register of having a liberal media bias. And now you know..the rest of the story.
Dan,
I am a resident of Lake Forest. I can categorically assure you that all of the things that Beth has done “for Irvine”, don’t amount to a hill of beans in the rest of the 48th district or to me. When are you people going to learn that Irvine is NOT the whole universe. You and Beth both think that you can win soley based on her past election performance in YOUR city and by propagandizing on this blog. Where on her website are her stands on the issues? All I see is GIVE ME $$$ GIVE ME $$$!!
John Campbell is NOT taking you guys seriously. He is laughing his head off at you!!
I have been a registered Democrat for 35 years. But that does not automatically mean that I will cast a robot-like vote for “the party candidate”. I CAN ignore that office on the ballot and may do so if Beth does not become a serious candidate seeking the votes of the entire district. And I can assure you that other dems will too.
I agree with Mr. Cooper. I live in San Juan.
I’m not saying I like John Campbell – nothing could be further from the truth! – but I went to look at Ms. Krom’s website and didn’t see anything that tells me why she would be better. I get that she’s a Democrat, and that she has done stuff for Irvine. Ok. And apparently she has access to money, which to me says she has rich friends. Good for her?
What I don’t see anywhere is what her position is on any of the issues. What is her plan for the 48th? Is she one of those Democrats who decided to throw her hat into the ring because Obama won the 48th and she thinks she can win? Or is she running because she thinks she’ll be better than Campbell?
Right now, the only thing that I’ve seen about her campaign is that she wants money from me, and that she can raise money from other people. So until I see different, I’m going to assume what we’ve got here is another Democrat that thinks Obama’s coattails will drag them into victory in 2010.
Eric –
Her site is still a work in progress and I’m sure both you and Nicole will see the detail on issues you seek in the weeks and months ahead. But fundraising is a priority now to be able to pay for the things the campaign needs.
Eric — I see Beth’s election to Congress as an extension of her work in Irvine. But now she’s working for the entire district and not just Irvine. And she’s been able to accomplish quite a bit. Since you’re in Lake Forrest, I’m sure you’re glad that there’s no commercial airport at El Toro. Beth had a lot of do with the succes of Measure W. So you have directly benefitted from her work.
I’m counting on John Campbell underestimating Beth.
Nicole, I’d ask you “what’s Campbell’s plan for the 48th?” What is his record? He’s been in Congress since 2005. Other than voting party line, what has he done to help the district? What did he do as a state legislator? Name one meaningful thing.
Thank You Dan. Your response has vindicated my position, therefore I stand by what I said. As for Measure W, I indeeed applaud Beth Krom’s participation. But I need to remind you that nearly all south County local politicians of both parties as well as a myriad of concerned citizens (including myself) gave of their time and money to fight against the airport. So I think it is rather presumptuous of you to want me to “thank Beth” for Measure W.
Eric — no question that the South County fight was bipartisan — and that’s a strength for Beth. And I didn’t suggest you thank Beth for her work on Measure W and I certainly didn’t give her full credit for that effort. But you have to acknowledge she played a major role in the defeat of the airport. And you still haven’t told me why Campbell should be re-elected.
Neither John Campbell nor Beth Krom have done anything for me. That is why I am not voting for either of them.
Over $63,000 RAISED?
Am I correct in assuming that doesn’t include one of those pesky trick end of filing “loans” that is in the account for under 24 hours?
Inflating your numbers through a bookkeeping trick reduces a candidate’s credibility.
More important is “Cash on Hand” number, minus “Loans and Obligations.”
I’m anxiously waiting for an FEC report online.
Looks like she’s well on her way to the 6 figures by June 30 it will take to get the attention of the DCCC.
Publius — Beth doesn’t play those games with her fundraising. There are no loans in the accout for 24 hours. Thus far, there are limited loans and obilgations but there’s going to change as she adds staff and infrastructure. But I’m happy to know bookkeeping tricks are something Republicans know something about. Thanks for sharing.
Eric — through her work on Measure W, I’ve already demonstrated how Beth’s work has benefited you as a resident of Lake Forest. If that’s not enough and you’re chosing to blank a race as important as Congress 18 months before the election, well, there’s not a lot I can do to convince you is there?
Thnaks for reading the blog and commenting. We love new readers.
Mr. Chmielewski, are you Beth’s Press Secretary? Because it seems to me you are speaking pretty definitively for her campaign in a way that I haven’t seen other bloggers on this site do for other candidates.
I live in the 42nd, so I’m just wondering if Ron Shepston, or whoever it ends up being, is going to get this kind of personal treatment from this blog?
And if you are Beth’s press person or communications person or whatever, it seems kind of disingenuous to not fully disclose that you are staff.
Amanda — Thanks for writing. I am not Beth’s press secretary. I do support Beth’s candidacy’s via this blog and with my money. I’m proud to count her among my friends. I am not her press secretary, but I do have a PR background and do give her advice. Its always her decision to follow it or not. And sometimes, I’m wrong (and she doesn’t let me forget it). I am not paid staff or a paid consultant to the campaign. I have my own business to run.
That all said, I am a huge Ron Shepston fan and will promise you he will get much love and support from this blog when he makes his next run for office. Plus, I’ll offer any advice he may want to hear.