TO: Interested Parties
FR: DCCC Communications
DT: Oct. 31, 2014
RE: Brad Schneider Enters GOTV Positioned to Win
As we enter GOTV weekend, Brad Schneider has a strong financial advantage, a message that connects with middle class voters, and a fired up set of volunteer supporters, putting him in a strong position to win his-re-election on Tuesday.
Unlike 2012, Schneider Has Resource Advantage
In 2012, Republican Bob Dold was fired by the voters, despite outraising Brad Schneider by $2 million during the campaign. This cycle, Schneider has outraised Dold by about $1 million, according to FEC reports. Much of his fundraising success has been powered by small grassroots donors – Crain’s recently reported that 94 percent of his contributions in the most recent quarter are under $100. “In the 21-month period ended Sept. 30, Mr. Schneider raised $556,082 in un-itemized contributions below $200, about 19 percent of the nearly $3 million he raised from individuals. Only 6.5 percent of the $2.4 million Mr. Dold raised during the same period from individual contributors was un-itemized.” Small donors are powering Schneider’s campaign.
Schneider’s Message is Resonating with Middle Class Voters
The reason Schneider is firing up small donors is that he has a better record and a message that is focused on the values of his district. Schneider has pushed to raise the minimum wage, renew unemployment insurance and protect a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions. Bob Dold was already fired once by the voters for being a reliable Republican who supported reckless budget plans that raise Medicare costs on Illinois seniors in order to cut taxes for the ultra wealthy, and he’s still dedicated to those same out-of touch priorities now.
Dold on Defense
Voters will also decide on Tuesday on a referendum over whether to raise the minimum wage. Former Congressman Bob Dold has entered the closing weeks of the campaign on defense on his position on the minimum wage – in recent debates, Dold absurdly tried to deny that he once wanted to lower the minimum wage, despite the fact that he once said so on a radio interview. Since then, he won’t commit to raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. In fact, Dold consistently refuses to answer a simple question as to what the minimum wage should be.
Conclusion: Schneider Grassroots Support, Will Power Him to Victory Tuesday
While reliable Republican Bob Dold plays defense on core issues of economic security, Schneider has been building an aggressive volunteer operation to get out the vote. The Schneider campaign recruited hundreds of additional volunteer shifts during Vice President Joe Biden’s visit. These additional volunteer efforts, along with Schnedier’s financial advantage, will play a key role in ensuring Brad Schneider wins his re-election on Tuesday.