What Will $275,000 Buy A Senate Candidate?
Posted on July 10, 2008 at 7:59 amAmong other things, it appears, a (semi) serious profile treatment from the dean of Tennessee politics, Tom Humphrey:
Eaton says that, in the latter race, he recognized early in the campaign that former U.S. Rep. Bob Clement, a friend, and Karl Dean, the ultimate winner, were likely headed for the runoff so “I laid back and didn’t do much,” not spending the money that would have been needed for an all-out effort. He backed Clement in the runoff.
The Senate race, Eaton said, is different, and with encouragement from Clement, he decided to run seriously.
He may not have been taken seriously by his chief primary opponents, former state Democratic Chairman Bob Tuke and former Knox County Clerk Mike Padgett, until putting $275,000 of personal funds into the effort, hiring a staff and launching a tour of all 95 counties.
Eaton said he has made 72 counties so far and has plans to buy radio and cable television advertising before the Aug. 7 election date, relying almost exclusively on self-financing.
Eaton’s infusion of a significant amount of cash in this race certainly does throw a wild card into what was already an intriguing, if low stakes, race between two very different Democratic Senate candidates. The question is: If Eaton’s money gets him any kind of traction, who does it hurt most? Padgett or Tuke?
Eaton’s ideology seems muddled and his issue portfolio eccentric so it really could go either way, could it not? Or, even with the money, will Eaton end up having no real impact whatsosever on the Padgett/Tuke showdown?
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One Responses to “What Will $275,000 Buy A Senate Candidate?”
Even if he “laid back,” even with a small investment, having been on the televised debates, you’d think he could’ve at least broken half a percent on election day.