Emerging financial reports from the campaigns of last weeks midterms indicate that Democrat candidates spent upwards of three-quarters of a million dollars just to fly in Hillary or Bill Clinton, or both, as celebrity endorsers. Howd that work out for the candidates? As usual when Democrats spend a lot of other peoples money, not very well. Most of the candidates the couple was allegedly trying to help went down to substantial defeats. By one count, barely 40% of the 54 candidates either Clinton helped actually won their election. Thats not a very good return on campaigns investments in hiring private jets to ferry a Clinton in and out along with a posse of personal aides, plus the handful of Secret Service agents required for former first families. Her lackluster results raise the question, if she cant elect Dems this year, how well can she do for herself in two years? To be fair, besides party loyalty, celebrity pols of any party also fly in to campaign for their own reasons, mainly earning chits for future use on their own campaigns. In Kentucky, Rand Paul worked hard to help secure the reelection of Mitch McConnell, who worked hard early on to block Pauls first Senate election. This time, a grateful McConnell turned right around and endorsed Paul for president in 2016, although Paul has yet to announce a candidacy. And endorsements have always seemed iffy to me, especially in higher profile races where most of us have watched candidates in public and formed our own opinions. Sarah Palins endorsements seem to retain impact; 19 of her 21 won. But this year, Whooee! Democrat endorsements especially seemed counter-productive, even more toxic than helpful. Barack Obama campaigned for five Democrat gubernatorial candidates in Wisconsin, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maine and Maryland. All lost. In fact, Maryland Dem Anthony Browns huge poll lead over Republican Larry Hogan began evaporating right after Obamas appearance, plummeting nine points in the next week. Hogan triumphed 52%-47%. Clinton also tried to help Brown. And she and her husband pitched in numerous times to assist Alison Grimes take on McConnell. The Republican won going away, 57%-41%. Both Clintons tried to help U.S. Senate candidates Michelle Nunn in Georgia and Bruce Braley in Iowa. To no effect. Nunn lost by eight points to David Perdue. Braley by eight to Joni Ernst. No one was sufficiently suicidal to believe they could rescue Wendy Davis doomed bid for the Texas governors office; she lost by 20 points to Greg Abbott, 59%-39%. Read More At Investors Business Daily: news.investors/politics-andrew-malcolm/111414-726497-hillary-clinton-campaign-endorsements-worthless.htm#ixzz3J5lYBy9U Follow us: @IBDinvestors on Twitter | InvestorsBusinessDaily on Facebook
Posted on: Sat, 15 Nov 2014 01:10:22 +0000
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