Ned Lamont, Connecticut's rebel Democrat, is financially supported by contributors outside Connecticut and Lamont's personal fortune. Not counting the $1.1 million the Greenwich millionaire and anti-war campaigner, contributed to his own campaign in the last two months, the darling of the blogosphere's left wing only raised $829,936 in the two-month reporting period ending June 30.
Even more discouraging to the leftist netroot challenge to Senator Lieberman, 70% of the $800,000 came from outside Connecticut.
But a list of campaign donors shows there are hundreds of nonresidents seeking Lieberman's ouster, from celebrities such as Barbra Streisand to an ex-"Baywatch"-lifeguard-turned-activist to a California strawberry farmer and craft-store owner in Illinois.
[. . .]
Streisand is one of the celebrities who gave $1,000. The entertainer was joined by talk-show host Rosie O'Donnell, "All In the Family" producer Norman Lear, Rock n' Roll Hall of Famer Jackson Browne and film director Richard Donner.
Donner, who directed the 1978 movie "Superman" and directed and produced all three "Lethal Weapon" movies also contributed $2,000.
According to the Stamford Advocate, the Lamont donor list also includes several friends and family members:
His daughter, Emily Lamont of Greenwich, made one of the largest donations -- $4,200. His wife, Ann, a venture capitalist, gave her husband $2,100 toward his campaign.
Former classmate James Townsend of Oyster Bay, N.Y., donated $700. Karl Essig, a friend and an investor living in Honolulu gave $500.
"We were in Yale management school together," Essig said. "He's a terrific guy. I wish him the best in his endeavor."
Lamont's uncle, Scott Buzby of Vero Beach, Fla., said he does not see eye to eye with his nephew but cut him a $500 check anyway.
"I'm for the war in Iraq, and he's against it. I prefer to stay in there until the job's done, he wants to get out earlier," Buzby said.
Lamont's failure to resonate with Connecticut contributors continues. Over the weekend the Democratic challenger found it necessary to contribute yet another $500,000 to his campaign to unseat Senator Lieberman.
It gets even worse for the anti-Lieberman lefties. Lamont has had to spend nearly everything he has been able to raise. At the end of June the campaign only had $276,976 on hand. Senator Lieberman's necessary campaign reported raising $1.3 million during May and June and had $4.3 million cash on hand at the end of June.
With just three weeks to go, I'm more confident than ever that Senator Lieberman will win the August 8th primary.
I know you had to work really hard to craft a new headline for a Stamford Advocate piece and make a sweeping conclusion about it, but if you had spent 3 1/2 minutes doing any original research of your own, you would have found that LIEBERMAN has more out-of-state donors than Lamont.
I look forward to your follow up article in which you will conclude that Lieberman is more out of touch with CT voters and Lamont is now heading to a primary victory. Can we expect that today, or do you need the Stamford Advocate to do the research first?
Posted by: Maura | Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at 12:39 PM
And close to 80% of Joe Lieberman's money comes from out of state.
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/geog.asp?CID=N00000616&cycle=2006
Do some basic research first.
Lieberman has also gotten over $2 million from Lawyers/lobbyists. Lamont? $0.
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/sector.asp?CID=N00000616&cycle=2006
Posted by: Scarce | Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 01:56 PM
It seems Joe Lieberman recieves almost 80% of his financial support form out of state sources. I can't post the link but if you go to opensecrets.org you can see the numbers. You can also go to Taegan Goddard's site PoliticalWire.com to see a link to the numbers.
Posted by: Blue Neponset | Tuesday, July 18, 2006 at 01:56 PM