While their numbers dwindle, the Blue Dog Democrats are raking in large amounts of cash to keep their special brand of Republican apologetics alive:
Center for Responsive Politics research shows that 17 of the lawmakers had healthier campaign bank accounts in 2011 than in 2009, as they geared up for midterm elections in 2010.
Tennessee Rep. Jim Cooper leads the pack in fundraising growth, hauling in about $634,000, an increase of 112 percent from 2009. Incumbent Reps. Mike McIntyre of North Carolina and Ben Chandler of Kentucky have also made solid gains of 74 percent and 56 percent, respectively, from their 2009 levels.
Ben Chandler raised $571,909 in 2009, compared to $893,140 in 2011.
On the flip side, Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, the House Majority Whip, was in Louisiville recently keynoting a GOP Young Guns fundraiser for Garland Barr IV, Chandler’s opponent — CN|2′s Pure Politics has the video.
Garland has raised $431,000 so far.
