Pat Toomey (on left) and Joe Sestak
Whatever your opinion of him, ex-Rep. Joe Sestak has always been a strong fundraiser, which makes his weak first-quarter haul quite surprising. Sestak
pulled in just $312,000, a small sum for a big state like Pennsylvania—especially when many local (and even some national) Democrats have been thirsting to see an alternative challenge him in the primary. (By comparison, in his very first fundraising report during his first run for the House in 2006, Sestak
pulled in $427,000.)
So what's going on here? There are a few possible alternatives: 1) The DSCC and Pennsylvania Democrats are trying to dry up his fundraising and succeeding; 2) Sestak, the Honey Badger of Pennsylvania politics, is just campaigning his own way, doesn't give a damn if people are gunning for him, and will raise money when he feels like it; or 3) Sestak is yesterday's news and simply lacks the fundraising firepower he used to have.
The first and last options would spell real trouble for Sestak, but if we're behind door number two, he may yet be able to pour it on. However, the sharks are swarming, and Sestak already has a rival for the nomination, Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski. Pawlowski's no one's idea of an instant threat, but Sestak just flashed a sign of real weakness, whether he intended to or not.
He does still have $1.7 million banked, but that doesn't look impressive compared to GOP Sen. Pat Toomey's $7.2 million war chest. That gap might be enough of an inducement for a stronger candidate, like Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro, to enter the race after all. Sestak's going to have to turn things around if he doesn't want to see that happen.